Itziar Estevez Latasa wins KfW Capital Award 2023 for Best Female Investor
Itziar Estevez Latasa wins KfW Capital Award 2023 for Best Female Investor
The award recipients were selected in a multi-stage procedure. “Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem."
KfW Capital Award 2023 awarded Itziar Estevez, partner at IRIS as “Best Female Investor 2023” and Tim Schumacher, partner at World Fund, as “Best Impact Investor 2023”. On behalf of the jury, they were presented with the KfW Capital Award in their respective categories by Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head of the SME Policy department at theFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Eva Wimmer, Headof the Directorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministryof Finance, and the Managing Directors of KfW Capital, Dr Jörg Goschin and Alexander Thees.
The award ceremony was held in Berlin alongside the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for outstanding start-ups for the second year and the ceremony, like last year, included two new categories for investors.
“Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem. The aim of the KfW Capital Awards is to recognise outstanding personalities while highlighting the relevance of more diversity and more impact in our industry”, said Dr Jörg Goschin.
“We received many excellent applications again this year, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners as the finalists in the Best Female Investor category included, for example, Juliane Hahn (Signature Ventures) and Dörte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital), and in the category of Best Impact Investor personalities such as Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger (Chi Impact Capital). We extend our warm congratulations to them”, said Alexander Thees.
The jury for Best Female Investor chose Itziar Estevez for clear reasons:
“Her mechanical engineering degree and careerstart at a BMW production plant allowed Itziar Estevez to gain deep technicalexpertise that helped her build a successful track record in the venturecapital market over the past years. After having managed due diligence projectsat Boston Consulting Group in London and spent many years at Siemens VentureCapital, she is now based in Munich with IRIS, investing in key technologies suchas climate tech, industry 4.0, deeptech, cybersecurity, supply chains andlogistics across Europe and especially Germany. Itziar Estevez also supportsthe BMW Foundation’s Respond Accelerator on her free time.”
The jury for Best Impact Investor chose Tim Schumacher based on his rich career:
“Tim Schumacher started his career as asuccessful digital entrepreneur and started investing using his exit money. Hefocused from the beginning on impact companies such as Ecosia, Zolar or GridX.Lately he and his team successfully launched ‘World Fund’, a climate tech fundthat funds climate impact startups in Europe. Tim Schumacher has a deep networkwithin the climate tech ecosystem and is active as a mentor in differentstart-up programs.”
The “Best Female Investor” categoryrecognises VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovativetech companies in Germany, while the category “Best Impact Investor” focuses oninvestors and their funds which have defined impact as the key element of theirinvestment strategies and invest in start-ups and innovative technologycompanies in Germany.
The jury for Best Female Investor included key experts:
Dr Alex von Frankenberg,Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Directorof the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), Chair ofthe “Young Digital Economy” Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry for EconomicAffairs and Climate Action, Prof. Heike Hölzner, Professor for Entrepreneurshipand SME Management at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin andCo-Chair of encourageventures e.V., Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of theDirectorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministry ofFinance), and for KfW Capital Dr Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capitaland Theresa Bardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
The jury for Best ImpactInvestor included key specialists:
Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head ofthe SME Policy Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and ClimateAction, Verena Kempe, Head of Investment Management at KENFO – German NuclearWaste Management Fund, Felix Oldenburg, CEO of project bcause and BoardSpokesman of gut.org gAG, Dr Andreas Rickert, Chief Executive Officer ofPHINEO, Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital and Chair of the Federal Initiative on ImpactInvesting, and for KfW Capital Alexander Thees, Managing Director and TheresaBardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
KfW Capital Award 2023 awarded Itziar Estevez, partner at IRIS as “Best Female Investor 2023” and Tim Schumacher, partner at World Fund, as “Best Impact Investor 2023”. On behalf of the jury, they were presented with the KfW Capital Award in their respective categories by Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head of the SME Policy department at theFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Eva Wimmer, Headof the Directorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministryof Finance, and the Managing Directors of KfW Capital, Dr Jörg Goschin and Alexander Thees.
The award ceremony was held in Berlin alongside the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for outstanding start-ups for the second year and the ceremony, like last year, included two new categories for investors.
“Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem. The aim of the KfW Capital Awards is to recognise outstanding personalities while highlighting the relevance of more diversity and more impact in our industry”, said Dr Jörg Goschin.
“We received many excellent applications again this year, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners as the finalists in the Best Female Investor category included, for example, Juliane Hahn (Signature Ventures) and Dörte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital), and in the category of Best Impact Investor personalities such as Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger (Chi Impact Capital). We extend our warm congratulations to them”, said Alexander Thees.
The jury for Best Female Investor chose Itziar Estevez for clear reasons:
“Her mechanical engineering degree and careerstart at a BMW production plant allowed Itziar Estevez to gain deep technicalexpertise that helped her build a successful track record in the venturecapital market over the past years. After having managed due diligence projectsat Boston Consulting Group in London and spent many years at Siemens VentureCapital, she is now based in Munich with IRIS, investing in key technologies suchas climate tech, industry 4.0, deeptech, cybersecurity, supply chains andlogistics across Europe and especially Germany. Itziar Estevez also supportsthe BMW Foundation’s Respond Accelerator on her free time.”
The jury for Best Impact Investor chose Tim Schumacher based on his rich career:
“Tim Schumacher started his career as asuccessful digital entrepreneur and started investing using his exit money. Hefocused from the beginning on impact companies such as Ecosia, Zolar or GridX.Lately he and his team successfully launched ‘World Fund’, a climate tech fundthat funds climate impact startups in Europe. Tim Schumacher has a deep networkwithin the climate tech ecosystem and is active as a mentor in differentstart-up programs.”
The “Best Female Investor” categoryrecognises VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovativetech companies in Germany, while the category “Best Impact Investor” focuses oninvestors and their funds which have defined impact as the key element of theirinvestment strategies and invest in start-ups and innovative technologycompanies in Germany.
The jury for Best Female Investor included key experts:
Dr Alex von Frankenberg,Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Directorof the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), Chair ofthe “Young Digital Economy” Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry for EconomicAffairs and Climate Action, Prof. Heike Hölzner, Professor for Entrepreneurshipand SME Management at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin andCo-Chair of encourageventures e.V., Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of theDirectorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministry ofFinance), and for KfW Capital Dr Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capitaland Theresa Bardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
The jury for Best ImpactInvestor included key specialists:
Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head ofthe SME Policy Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and ClimateAction, Verena Kempe, Head of Investment Management at KENFO – German NuclearWaste Management Fund, Felix Oldenburg, CEO of project bcause and BoardSpokesman of gut.org gAG, Dr Andreas Rickert, Chief Executive Officer ofPHINEO, Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital and Chair of the Federal Initiative on ImpactInvesting, and for KfW Capital Alexander Thees, Managing Director and TheresaBardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
KfW Capital Award 2023 awarded Itziar Estevez, partner at IRIS as “Best Female Investor 2023” and Tim Schumacher, partner at World Fund, as “Best Impact Investor 2023”. On behalf of the jury, they were presented with the KfW Capital Award in their respective categories by Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head of the SME Policy department at theFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Eva Wimmer, Headof the Directorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministryof Finance, and the Managing Directors of KfW Capital, Dr Jörg Goschin and Alexander Thees.
The award ceremony was held in Berlin alongside the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for outstanding start-ups for the second year and the ceremony, like last year, included two new categories for investors.
“Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem. The aim of the KfW Capital Awards is to recognise outstanding personalities while highlighting the relevance of more diversity and more impact in our industry”, said Dr Jörg Goschin.
“We received many excellent applications again this year, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners as the finalists in the Best Female Investor category included, for example, Juliane Hahn (Signature Ventures) and Dörte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital), and in the category of Best Impact Investor personalities such as Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger (Chi Impact Capital). We extend our warm congratulations to them”, said Alexander Thees.
The jury for Best Female Investor chose Itziar Estevez for clear reasons:
“Her mechanical engineering degree and careerstart at a BMW production plant allowed Itziar Estevez to gain deep technicalexpertise that helped her build a successful track record in the venturecapital market over the past years. After having managed due diligence projectsat Boston Consulting Group in London and spent many years at Siemens VentureCapital, she is now based in Munich with IRIS, investing in key technologies suchas climate tech, industry 4.0, deeptech, cybersecurity, supply chains andlogistics across Europe and especially Germany. Itziar Estevez also supportsthe BMW Foundation’s Respond Accelerator on her free time.”
The jury for Best Impact Investor chose Tim Schumacher based on his rich career:
“Tim Schumacher started his career as asuccessful digital entrepreneur and started investing using his exit money. Hefocused from the beginning on impact companies such as Ecosia, Zolar or GridX.Lately he and his team successfully launched ‘World Fund’, a climate tech fundthat funds climate impact startups in Europe. Tim Schumacher has a deep networkwithin the climate tech ecosystem and is active as a mentor in differentstart-up programs.”
The “Best Female Investor” categoryrecognises VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovativetech companies in Germany, while the category “Best Impact Investor” focuses oninvestors and their funds which have defined impact as the key element of theirinvestment strategies and invest in start-ups and innovative technologycompanies in Germany.
The jury for Best Female Investor included key experts:
Dr Alex von Frankenberg,Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Directorof the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), Chair ofthe “Young Digital Economy” Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry for EconomicAffairs and Climate Action, Prof. Heike Hölzner, Professor for Entrepreneurshipand SME Management at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin andCo-Chair of encourageventures e.V., Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of theDirectorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministry ofFinance), and for KfW Capital Dr Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capitaland Theresa Bardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
The jury for Best ImpactInvestor included key specialists:
Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head ofthe SME Policy Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and ClimateAction, Verena Kempe, Head of Investment Management at KENFO – German NuclearWaste Management Fund, Felix Oldenburg, CEO of project bcause and BoardSpokesman of gut.org gAG, Dr Andreas Rickert, Chief Executive Officer ofPHINEO, Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital and Chair of the Federal Initiative on ImpactInvesting, and for KfW Capital Alexander Thees, Managing Director and TheresaBardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
Itziar Estevez Latasa wins KfW Capital Award 2023 for Best Female Investor
The award recipients were selected in a multi-stage procedure. “Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem."
KfW Capital Award 2023 awarded Itziar Estevez, partner at IRIS as “Best Female Investor 2023” and Tim Schumacher, partner at World Fund, as “Best Impact Investor 2023”. On behalf of the jury, they were presented with the KfW Capital Award in their respective categories by Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head of the SME Policy department at theFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Eva Wimmer, Headof the Directorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministryof Finance, and the Managing Directors of KfW Capital, Dr Jörg Goschin and Alexander Thees.
The award ceremony was held in Berlin alongside the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for outstanding start-ups for the second year and the ceremony, like last year, included two new categories for investors.
“Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem. The aim of the KfW Capital Awards is to recognise outstanding personalities while highlighting the relevance of more diversity and more impact in our industry”, said Dr Jörg Goschin.
“We received many excellent applications again this year, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners as the finalists in the Best Female Investor category included, for example, Juliane Hahn (Signature Ventures) and Dörte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital), and in the category of Best Impact Investor personalities such as Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger (Chi Impact Capital). We extend our warm congratulations to them”, said Alexander Thees.
The jury for Best Female Investor chose Itziar Estevez for clear reasons:
“Her mechanical engineering degree and careerstart at a BMW production plant allowed Itziar Estevez to gain deep technicalexpertise that helped her build a successful track record in the venturecapital market over the past years. After having managed due diligence projectsat Boston Consulting Group in London and spent many years at Siemens VentureCapital, she is now based in Munich with IRIS, investing in key technologies suchas climate tech, industry 4.0, deeptech, cybersecurity, supply chains andlogistics across Europe and especially Germany. Itziar Estevez also supportsthe BMW Foundation’s Respond Accelerator on her free time.”
The jury for Best Impact Investor chose Tim Schumacher based on his rich career:
“Tim Schumacher started his career as asuccessful digital entrepreneur and started investing using his exit money. Hefocused from the beginning on impact companies such as Ecosia, Zolar or GridX.Lately he and his team successfully launched ‘World Fund’, a climate tech fundthat funds climate impact startups in Europe. Tim Schumacher has a deep networkwithin the climate tech ecosystem and is active as a mentor in differentstart-up programs.”
The “Best Female Investor” categoryrecognises VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovativetech companies in Germany, while the category “Best Impact Investor” focuses oninvestors and their funds which have defined impact as the key element of theirinvestment strategies and invest in start-ups and innovative technologycompanies in Germany.
The jury for Best Female Investor included key experts:
Dr Alex von Frankenberg,Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Directorof the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), Chair ofthe “Young Digital Economy” Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry for EconomicAffairs and Climate Action, Prof. Heike Hölzner, Professor for Entrepreneurshipand SME Management at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin andCo-Chair of encourageventures e.V., Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of theDirectorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministry ofFinance), and for KfW Capital Dr Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capitaland Theresa Bardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
The jury for Best ImpactInvestor included key specialists:
Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head ofthe SME Policy Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and ClimateAction, Verena Kempe, Head of Investment Management at KENFO – German NuclearWaste Management Fund, Felix Oldenburg, CEO of project bcause and BoardSpokesman of gut.org gAG, Dr Andreas Rickert, Chief Executive Officer ofPHINEO, Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital and Chair of the Federal Initiative on ImpactInvesting, and for KfW Capital Alexander Thees, Managing Director and TheresaBardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
KfW Capital Award 2023 awarded Itziar Estevez, partner at IRIS as “Best Female Investor 2023” and Tim Schumacher, partner at World Fund, as “Best Impact Investor 2023”. On behalf of the jury, they were presented with the KfW Capital Award in their respective categories by Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head of the SME Policy department at theFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Eva Wimmer, Headof the Directorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministryof Finance, and the Managing Directors of KfW Capital, Dr Jörg Goschin and Alexander Thees.
The award ceremony was held in Berlin alongside the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for outstanding start-ups for the second year and the ceremony, like last year, included two new categories for investors.
“Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem. The aim of the KfW Capital Awards is to recognise outstanding personalities while highlighting the relevance of more diversity and more impact in our industry”, said Dr Jörg Goschin.
“We received many excellent applications again this year, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners as the finalists in the Best Female Investor category included, for example, Juliane Hahn (Signature Ventures) and Dörte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital), and in the category of Best Impact Investor personalities such as Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger (Chi Impact Capital). We extend our warm congratulations to them”, said Alexander Thees.
The jury for Best Female Investor chose Itziar Estevez for clear reasons:
“Her mechanical engineering degree and careerstart at a BMW production plant allowed Itziar Estevez to gain deep technicalexpertise that helped her build a successful track record in the venturecapital market over the past years. After having managed due diligence projectsat Boston Consulting Group in London and spent many years at Siemens VentureCapital, she is now based in Munich with IRIS, investing in key technologies suchas climate tech, industry 4.0, deeptech, cybersecurity, supply chains andlogistics across Europe and especially Germany. Itziar Estevez also supportsthe BMW Foundation’s Respond Accelerator on her free time.”
The jury for Best Impact Investor chose Tim Schumacher based on his rich career:
“Tim Schumacher started his career as asuccessful digital entrepreneur and started investing using his exit money. Hefocused from the beginning on impact companies such as Ecosia, Zolar or GridX.Lately he and his team successfully launched ‘World Fund’, a climate tech fundthat funds climate impact startups in Europe. Tim Schumacher has a deep networkwithin the climate tech ecosystem and is active as a mentor in differentstart-up programs.”
The “Best Female Investor” categoryrecognises VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovativetech companies in Germany, while the category “Best Impact Investor” focuses oninvestors and their funds which have defined impact as the key element of theirinvestment strategies and invest in start-ups and innovative technologycompanies in Germany.
The jury for Best Female Investor included key experts:
Dr Alex von Frankenberg,Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Directorof the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), Chair ofthe “Young Digital Economy” Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry for EconomicAffairs and Climate Action, Prof. Heike Hölzner, Professor for Entrepreneurshipand SME Management at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin andCo-Chair of encourageventures e.V., Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of theDirectorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministry ofFinance), and for KfW Capital Dr Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capitaland Theresa Bardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
The jury for Best ImpactInvestor included key specialists:
Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head ofthe SME Policy Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and ClimateAction, Verena Kempe, Head of Investment Management at KENFO – German NuclearWaste Management Fund, Felix Oldenburg, CEO of project bcause and BoardSpokesman of gut.org gAG, Dr Andreas Rickert, Chief Executive Officer ofPHINEO, Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital and Chair of the Federal Initiative on ImpactInvesting, and for KfW Capital Alexander Thees, Managing Director and TheresaBardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
KfW Capital Award 2023 awarded Itziar Estevez, partner at IRIS as “Best Female Investor 2023” and Tim Schumacher, partner at World Fund, as “Best Impact Investor 2023”. On behalf of the jury, they were presented with the KfW Capital Award in their respective categories by Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head of the SME Policy department at theFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr Eva Wimmer, Headof the Directorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministryof Finance, and the Managing Directors of KfW Capital, Dr Jörg Goschin and Alexander Thees.
The award ceremony was held in Berlin alongside the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for outstanding start-ups for the second year and the ceremony, like last year, included two new categories for investors.
“Diversity in investment and Impact are key themes with great strengthening potential for the VC ecosystem. The aim of the KfW Capital Awards is to recognise outstanding personalities while highlighting the relevance of more diversity and more impact in our industry”, said Dr Jörg Goschin.
“We received many excellent applications again this year, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners as the finalists in the Best Female Investor category included, for example, Juliane Hahn (Signature Ventures) and Dörte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital), and in the category of Best Impact Investor personalities such as Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger (Chi Impact Capital). We extend our warm congratulations to them”, said Alexander Thees.
The jury for Best Female Investor chose Itziar Estevez for clear reasons:
“Her mechanical engineering degree and careerstart at a BMW production plant allowed Itziar Estevez to gain deep technicalexpertise that helped her build a successful track record in the venturecapital market over the past years. After having managed due diligence projectsat Boston Consulting Group in London and spent many years at Siemens VentureCapital, she is now based in Munich with IRIS, investing in key technologies suchas climate tech, industry 4.0, deeptech, cybersecurity, supply chains andlogistics across Europe and especially Germany. Itziar Estevez also supportsthe BMW Foundation’s Respond Accelerator on her free time.”
The jury for Best Impact Investor chose Tim Schumacher based on his rich career:
“Tim Schumacher started his career as asuccessful digital entrepreneur and started investing using his exit money. Hefocused from the beginning on impact companies such as Ecosia, Zolar or GridX.Lately he and his team successfully launched ‘World Fund’, a climate tech fundthat funds climate impact startups in Europe. Tim Schumacher has a deep networkwithin the climate tech ecosystem and is active as a mentor in differentstart-up programs.”
The “Best Female Investor” categoryrecognises VC investors who successfully invest in start-ups and innovativetech companies in Germany, while the category “Best Impact Investor” focuses oninvestors and their funds which have defined impact as the key element of theirinvestment strategies and invest in start-ups and innovative technologycompanies in Germany.
The jury for Best Female Investor included key experts:
Dr Alex von Frankenberg,Managing Director of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Directorof the German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVK), Chair ofthe “Young Digital Economy” Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry for EconomicAffairs and Climate Action, Prof. Heike Hölzner, Professor for Entrepreneurshipand SME Management at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin andCo-Chair of encourageventures e.V., Dr Eva Wimmer, Head of theDirectorate-General for Financial Market Policy at the Federal Ministry ofFinance), and for KfW Capital Dr Jörg Goschin, Managing Director of KfW Capitaland Theresa Bardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
The jury for Best ImpactInvestor included key specialists:
Dr Sabine Hepperle, Head ofthe SME Policy Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and ClimateAction, Verena Kempe, Head of Investment Management at KENFO – German NuclearWaste Management Fund, Felix Oldenburg, CEO of project bcause and BoardSpokesman of gut.org gAG, Dr Andreas Rickert, Chief Executive Officer ofPHINEO, Co-CEO of Nixdorf Kapital and Chair of the Federal Initiative on ImpactInvesting, and for KfW Capital Alexander Thees, Managing Director and TheresaBardubitzki, Sustainability Manager.
