Berlin, October 7, 2019 - As of today, successful founders from Germany and the US can apply for the Female Founders Award which will be awarded by AmCham Germany in Berlin on December 4, 2019. On both sides of the Atlantic, female founders still make up the minority in the startup-ecosystem. For this reason, AmCham Germany wants to set an example and recognize two successful female founders as positive role models. The award connects American business spirit and German entrepreneurship with AmCham Germany's activities in the fields of entrepreneurship and diversity in terms of leadership.
''The image of entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurship in general is often still characterized as being male-dominated,'' says Eveline Metzen, General Manager of AmCham Germany. ''This is why we want to give successful female founders more visibility and support by establishing new role models,'' explains Metzen. According to the Female Founders Monitor 2019 of the Bundesverband Deutsche Startups, the share of female founders in Germany is only 15 percent. Another finding of the study is that women are more motivated by social and civic issues. ''Women enrich our society with their business models and we want to help them by honoring them," states Metzen.
''In Berlin especially there is a lively startup scene that offers many opportunities for female founders,'' remarks Torsten Oltmanns, Chair of AmCham Germany's Berlin Chapter and Partner at Roland Berger. ''This is why we are focusing on female founders and are on the outlook for their innovative and successful business models,'' Oltmanns adds, who is part of the jury of the award.
Other members of the jury include: Nadine Bütow, General Manager of CommsArt and member of the Berlin team of Digital Media Women, Maria Gross, Managing Director of GERMANTECH, Carolin Schäufele, Founder of SHE works!, Dr. Edith Stier-Thomspon, Managing Director of news aktuell GmbH and Andreas Schwaiger, Managing Director Germany of Texas Instruments.
The jury will determine the recipients of the award based on the following selection criteria:
-Female start-up (co)founder (innovative technology or business model)
-Successful market positioning for 2 to 3 years (less than 10 years)
-Continuous progress in client / user numbers and company visibility
-Stable financing
-Successful increase in turnover and market share
Nominations of candidates can be submitted through November 3, 2019 through our online application process.
Press invitations to the award ceremony will be sent out within the next weeks.
Press Contact
AmCham Germany
Katharina-Luise Kittler
Manager, Head of Communications
T +49 30 2130056-34 | M +49 151 14657921 | E kkittler@amcham.de
