Startup
Germany’s Start-Up Association Hands Out Annual Prizes
Gender-balanced pairs of fledgling companies and visionary entrepreneurs were honored at a gala in Berlin.
May 26, 2025
German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katharina Reiche kicked off the ceremony by proclaiming, “Growth requires courage.” Reiche said that procedures for founding start-ups in Germany needed to be radically simplified and called, among other things, for authorities to use English as an official language and for the process of hiring foreign specialists to be expedited.
Taking top honors in the category “Newcomers of the Year” were Ghazaleh Madani, whose startup CanChip strives to revolutionize cancer research, and Francesco Sciortino, whose company Proxima Fusion is working on nuclear fusion as a clean and secure energy source.
Irene Klemm, whose firm Edurino specializes in digital learning, and Daniel Khachab, whose startup works on digital infrastructure connecting restaurants and suppliers, were named “Founders of the Year.”
And recognition as “Impact Entrepreneurs of the Year” went to Julia Freudenberg (Hacker School) and Thomas Bachem (CODE University) for their efforts in digital education.
Inga vom Holtz and Philipp Möhring receives accolades as “Investors of the Year.”
