Munich, June 11, 2026 – The American Chamber of Commerce in Germany (AmCham Germany) hosted its seventh Female Founders Award Ceremony. This year’s award recognizes entrepreneurs whose innovations have the potential to create impact far beyond their home markets. Operating at the intersection of industrial AI and biotechnology, the winning companies reflect the importance of technology, research, and entrepreneurship within the transatlantic economy.
Award Patron of the Female Founders Award Astrid Teckentrup, Senior Vice President, Procter & Gamble DACH and AmCham Germany Vice President stated: “At P&G, equality and inclusion are at the core of how we innovate, build teams and grow sustainably as our consumer base is indeed very diverse. That’s why I’m very happy to serve as patron of the Female Founders Award. Female founders are driving innovation in some of the most important industries of our time – but to unlock their full potential, we must ensure equal access to networks, capital and visibility. The Award is a powerful platform to make diverse talent visible, strengthen inclusive ecosystems and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
The winners of the Female Founders Award 2026 are:
Miriam Corcoran, Co-Founder & CEO, MiViA GmbH
Ghazaleh Madani, Founder & CEO, CanChip GmbH
MiViA GmbH, co-founded by Miriam Corcoran in 2021, is a deep-tech company developing AI based software for automated microstructure analysis in industrial materials engineering. Its cloud-based platform enables manufacturers and laboratories to analyze metallographic images more efficiently and objectively, supporting data-driven quality assurance in the metal processing industry. "I am truly excited about this award, as it demonstrates that successful deep-tech startups are born not only from technological excellence, but also from entrepreneurial courage and the ability to put innovations into practice. I find it particularly valuable to have the opportunity to build international connections through AmCham Germany, gain new insights for growth and international expansion, and exchange ideas with other innovative companies," said award winner Miriam Corcoran.
CanChip GmbH, founded by Ghazaleh Madani in 2023, is a biotechnology company developing advanced organ-on-chip and tumor-on-chip systems to improve the predictability of drug development. CanChip GmbH provides customized solutions for pharmaceutical companies and research partners, generating reliable data earlier in the development process. By doing so, the company helps accelerate drug development while reducing costs and failure rates and improving outcomes for millions of patients worldwide. "Receiving this award is a great honor for me and a special recognition of the progress we have made at CanChip. This distinction shows that courage, perseverance, and scientific excellence are recognized and valued. I look forward to leveraging the opportunities offered by the AmCham network, building new international connections, learning from experienced entrepreneurs, and fostering valuable collaborations between the German and American innovation ecosystems," affirmed fellow award winner Ghazaleh Madani.
The following founders were shortlisted for the award:
• Stephanie Pfeil-Coenen, Co-Founder & CEO, Phaeosynt GmbH
• Lucie Toepfer, Co-Founder & CEO, pyropower GmbH
• Dr. Jana Maria Weinand, Co-Founder & CFO, leitspalt GmbH
Following individuals comprised the independent jury:
• Nadine Bütow, Head of Communications Europe, LONGi Solar and member of Digital Media Women e.V.
• Marie-Christine Doescher, Lawyer & Risk Advisory, AlixPartners
• Gabriele Hässig, Managing Director Communications & Sustainability at Procter & Gamble DACH
• Xenia Scholl, Co-Founder & COO, Aitonomi AG
• Andreas Schwaiger, Vice President and Managing Director, Texas Instruments Germany
The ceremony included a video message by Dr. Fabian Mehring, State Minister of Bavaria for Digital Affairs and prominent speakers including Gabriele Hässig, Managing Director Communications & Sustainability, Procter & Gamble GmbH and Regional Chair, Rhine-MainChapter of AmCham Germany; Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Ann-Kristin Achleitner, Co-Scientific Director, Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies (CEFS), Technical University of Munich (TUM); Simone Menne, Non-Executive Board Member, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA and Member of the Board of Directors, AmCham Germany; and Andreas Schwaiger, Vice President, Managing Director Germany, Texas Instruments Executive Vice President, AmCham Germany. Dr. Jennifer Pernau, Senior Manager Government Affairs, represented the host of the event, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH. Xenia Scholl, Co-Founder & COO Aitonomi AG, and Female Founders Award recipient 2019, moderated the panel discussion.
About the Female Founders Award:
With the Female Founders Award, AmCham Germany aims to provide a visibility and networking platform for female leaders and highlight the role women have in entrepreneurship and innovation. The award seeks to honor women who have founded solid businesses based on unique ideas and, thus, motivate other women to become entrepreneurs themselves as they are still in the minority of the start-up ecosystem on both sides of the Atlantic. You can read more about the Female Founders Award here.
