Frankfurt – November 05, 2026 -- Baden-Württemberg-based medicalvalues GmbH won the federal title at the 29th KfW Award Gründen, taking home a total of €10,000 in prize money after a record 581 companies applied across all sectors.
medicalvalues wins federal title with AI diagnostics platform
Each of Germany's 16 federal states named one state winner, and each received €1,000. The 16 state winners then competed for the federal title, and medicalvalues secured an additional €9,000.
The company built an AI platform for integrated diagnostics. It links lab values, symptoms and pre-existing conditions with medical expertise to support physicians. The solution is approved as a medical device. It is already in use at leading laboratory chains and university hospitals in the DACH region and the Benelux countries.
KfW introduces two succession prizes worth €5,000 each
The KfW awarded special prizes for business succession for the first time, and each carries €5,000.
PFS Anlagenbau UG from Salzwedel, Saxony-Anhalt, modernizes industrial plants and makes them more efficient. Drawing on its takeover of SRS Industrieofenbau, it manufactures technology and spare parts in-house.
CJBW Schiffsmakler GmbH & Co. KG from Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, coordinates the full port stay of vessels in the Flensburg commercial port. Annika-Fee Schulz took over the traditional firm in 2024, secured the last ship brokerage at the location and modernized port operations.
KfW Capital Award honors four investor-side achievements
Zoé Fabian-Frey of Noteus won Best Female VC Investor. Dr. Hendrik Brandis of earlybird received the VC Game Changer award.
Project A won VC Exit Excellence for its exit to Trade Republic. Dr. Andreas Rodin of YPOG received the special VC Legacy Award.
State winners span sectors from Bavaria to Thuringia
The remaining state winners are Energyminer GmbH (Bavaria), Rulemapping Group GmbH (Berlin), cureVision GmbH (Brandenburg), Marble Imaging GmbH (Bremen) and goodBytz GmbH (Hamburg). Voodin Blade Technology GmbH (Hesse), Mecklenburger Alltagsfeen (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and Phaeosynt GmbH (Lower Saxony) also won.
Schreinerwehr GmbH (North Rhine-Westphalia), TENTA VISION GmbH (Rhineland-Palatinate), Detesia GmbH (Saarland) and Friends not Food GmbH (Saxony) complete the list. So do Dorfkraft Holding GmbH (Saxony-Anhalt), Celtrix GmbH (Schleswig-Holstein) and Warmwind AG (Thuringia).
A jury assessed degree of innovation, creativity, and social and ecological responsibility. KfW CEO Stefan Wintels said the bank will keep backing founders through its promotional programs.
Public vote on all 16 state winners runs through Nov. 30
All state winners are nominated for the audience award. Voting closes on Monday, Nov. 30, 2026.