The "Women Start-up Award 2025“This impressively demonstrates how strongly female founding teams from Munich are shaping the future of technology. At the awards ceremony in the Munich Urban Colab, the finalists presented their business ideas to the jury and audience. Five startups received awards – four of them from the Munich startup scene.”
This is a positive sign, as the proportion of female founders in Germany is still only 19 percent, and even lower in the tech sector. The "Women Start-up Award" addresses this gap: it aims to promote women in technology-oriented fields, increase their visibility, and facilitate access to networks. The "Women Start-up" initiative by UnternehmerTUM, together with the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Gründerland Bayern (a Bavarian startup initiative), and partners from business and research, will award the prize for the first time in 2025 to female founders of young tech startups with ties to Bavaria.
Munich female founders on the winner's podium
First place was secured by Jade Robinson with Linq Photonics, founded in Munich. Her company develops photonic light modulators that triple the computing power of quantum computers while requiring only ten percent of the space currently needed. Robinson's goal with Linq Photonics is not only to increase the performance of quantum computers, but also to inspire more women to pursue careers in deep tech and entrepreneurship.
Naomi Jaguttis took second place with Nuno LabsThe Munich-based startup combines camera technology and artificial intelligence to transform sky data into precise solar forecasts. The technology aims to enable more efficient use of solar energy – an approach particularly relevant for expanding renewable energy in urban areas.
Third place went to Amelie Skopp and Matea Marosevic of Verdira Biotech. The young company from Straubing develops biohybrid filters that not only bind air pollutants but also break them down biologically. In doing so, the founders are contributing to cleaner air and sustainable industrial production.
The special prizes also went to innovative female founders with ties to Munich:
TUM graduate Sophia Vögler received the Vinci Energies special prize for her startup Ampway, which develops intelligent charging solutions for electric vehicles.
Esther Heyse was awarded the AI Nation Special Prize. Her startup Reworth transforms construction waste into new building materials – a positive example of circular economy in the construction industry.
More visibility for female founders
Since May 2025, female founders from Bavaria have been able to apply for the "Women Start-up Award". Following a two-month training and coaching phase, the Pitch Night took place on October 23rd at the Munich Urban Colab.
Susanne Traugott, Program Lead Women Start-up at UnternehmerTUM, emphasizes:
"The large number of applications has shown us that there are so many great startup ideas from female founders. The mission of our Women Start-up Award is to give these female founders more visibility and to support them on their entrepreneurial journey."
The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs also sees the award as an important impetus.
Manfred Wolter, Head of the Innovation, Research, Technology, and Digitalization Department, confirms:
"Bavaria also needs more female founders who develop future technologies and create new companies and jobs. We are proud to be working with UnternehmerTUM to support women in building their startups and to make their successes visible."
The "Women Start-up Award" is a sustainable funding instrument for female founders from Munich and Bavaria. Award The award was aimed at tech startups whose female founders live, study, or plan to implement their projects in Bavaria. The prize will be awarded annually, and participants will receive long-term support through the UnternehmerTUM programs.
