5th Female Innovation Forum: Versatile presentations and six awards

The Female Innovation Forum took place this year for the fifth time in a row. Previously, female founders and startups had already been supported for another five years with the "Angels For Ladies" format. The founder and president of the jury Sandra-Stella Triebl emphasizes: "The Female Innovation Forum stands for a support network that takes hold. Together with all partners, we have created the largest ecosystem for young female entrepreneurs, which continues to grow."

In addition to BMW and Kurz, sponsors include Swisscom, DQSolutions, and the Canton of Zurich in the form of the Equal Opportunities Office and the Department of Economic Affairs. Co-sponsors such as USM, Calida, Walderwyss Attorneys, Emediately and Oppenheim & Partner also underline the broad support that the forum enjoys. As every year, the jury consists of 22 female founders, entrepreneurs, business angels and journalists, who will act as contact persons and companions for the winners after their election.

Intensive, inspiring day program

At the event, 250 innovation drivers, investors, business angels, entrepreneurs and startup founders exchanged ideas and listened to presentations on topics ranging from autonomous goods delivery and healthcare to the latest innovations in the sustainable reduction of CO2 emissions through climate technology. The crowning finale of the day was the award night in the form of a gala dinner.

Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual is Innovator of the Year

Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual is co-founder and CEO of the biotechnology company Tolremo Therapeutics. Carole Ackermann, co-chair of the jury, is enthusiastic about the entrepreneur and her ETH spin-off: "The company is pursuing a novel approach to prevent resistance to cancer drugs and to treat aggressive tumors in a variety of cancer types."

Flückiger-Mangual received a unique piece by Swiss artist Gabriela Brunner as an award, a BMW for a year, and a year of mentoring by BMW marketing manager Melanie Reinwald.
The one-year mentoring is an important part of winning in all categories. This is because the Female Innovation Forum also wants to support the start-ups beyond the once-a-year format.

"Recognition Award" for Nathalie Moral from "Clima Now

Nathalie Moral, co-founder and CEO of Clima Now, doesn't want to wait for the future, but to shape it. "The non-profit association was brought to life by Moral together with a group of people who want to assume their responsibility towards future generations and pool resources to do so," says Swiss-Ladies-Drive CEO Sandra-Stella Triebl. The purpose of the foundation is to counteract climate change and its negative consequences.

Nathalie Moral also receives a one-year mentoring by Doris Mancari, CEO of Kurz, and was delighted to receive a piece of jewelry from Chopard.

For the winner of the Social Innovation Award, Claudine-Sachi Münger, CEO of Tanne Schaffhausen, top chef Tanja Grandits is available as a mentor. The award for the best digital innovation of the year goes to Petra Marty of Netpathy.net. She is supported by mentoring from Dave Gleixner, he is a member of the Executive Board of DQSolutions. The award in the category "Diversity & Inclusion" was presented to Johanna Seeliger from Diversify; she is coached by Roger Wüthrich, member of the Group Executive Board at Swisscom. Sophia Borowka from Aison Technologies, Cristina Rossi from B-rayZ and Rhiana Spring from Spring Act also received the Newcomer Award.