As part of the KfW Award for Startups 2025, KfW has once again recognized outstanding young companies from across Germany. One startup from each federal state was awarded the title of state winner and received prize money of €1,000. In Bavaria, the award went to the Munich-based startup [name of startup missing in original text]. Reverion, which impressed the jury with its innovative energy solution.
The KfW Award for Startups honors startups that drive the German economy forward with innovative approaches, sustainable thinking, and entrepreneurial courage. At the awards ceremony in Berlin, KfW recognized 16 state winners and also presented a national award as well as special prizes.
Stefan Wintels, CEO of KfW, describes the price:
"With the KfW Award for Startups, we honor founders who, with creative ideas, great commitment and a clear vision, are breaking new ground and thus providing important impetus for the economy and society."
State victory for climate protection and energy efficiency
The Bavarian state winner, Reverion, develops modular systems that convert biogas into highly efficient, CO₂-negative electricity and heat. The technology utilizes reversible solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which can both generate electricity and capture CO₂ from the atmosphere. In doing so, the company contributes to a climate-neutral energy future and simultaneously offers economic advantages for biogas plant operators.
In addition to the state winners, the national prize for 2025 was awarded to Qdrant Solutions from Berlin. The company develops an open-source vector database that processes unstructured data in a context-based manner, thereby enabling more precise AI applications. The special "Succession" prize went to the Hodapp carpentry workshop from Saarbrücken for its successful digital generational transition.
Audience Award and other awards
All 16 state winners are also nominated for the audience award. Voting runs until November 30, 2025. www.fuer-gruender.de/kfw-award-gruenden-publikumspreisThe jury evaluated the submitted projects based on their degree of innovation, creativity, and social and environmental responsibility.
In addition to the main competition, KfW Capital also presented the awards for Best Female Investor, Best Impact Investor, and VC Game Changer in Berlin. Among the award winners was Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, CEO of UnternehmerTUM and Vice President Entrepreneurship at the Technical University of Munich, also a representative of the Munich startup scene.
