Leapsome’s Jenny von Podewils Wins Female Founder of the Year at German Startup Awards 2023

We’re excited to announce that Jenny von Podewils, Leapsome’s co-founder and co-CEO, has been awarded Female Founder of the Year at the German Startup Awards 2023. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 11, at the glamorous Tipi am Kanzleramt event venue in Berlin.

Honoring the German startup ecosystem

This year marks the fourth iteration of the German Startup Awards, which continue to honor outstanding achievements and personalities within the German startup ecosystem. Over 500 guests attended the award ceremony organized by the German Startups Association. There was an electric atmosphere with the passion and innovation driving this sector fully on show.

Jenny’s nomination for the Female Founder of the Year category was announced in March, and the winners were ultimately decided by jury evaluation and through nominations. Jenny was in excellent company, with fellow nominees including Kristina Nikolaus, co-founder and CEO of OKAPI:Orbits, and Lisa Dahlia, co-founder of Localyze. 

Awards criteria

To qualify for the Founders of the Year 2023 category, nominees needed to have been active in the startup ecosystem for at least three years and founded at least one company that meets the German Startup’s Association’s definition of a startup*. The judges were looking for founders with an interesting story to tell and with demonstrated ability in handling the rollercoaster of successes and failures involved in starting a business, making them role models for the startup ecosystem. We’re incredibly proud that Jenny has been recognized for her exceptional leadership and impact on the industry.

Leapsome's journey so far

As co-founder and co-CEO of Leapsome, Jenny has been instrumental in the development and growth of the company. Since Jenny and co-founder Kajetan von Armansperg started Leapsome seven years ago, it has become a leading people enablement platform used by more than 1500 global, forward-thinking CEOs and HR leaders to drive employee productivity, engagement, and development. Jenny’s commitment to creating a better workplace for all, combined with her unwavering drive and resilience in the face of challenges, sets her apart as a true role model and inspiration for entrepreneurs everywhere.

The German Startup Awards are organized by the German Startups Association, which has been committed to fostering a founder-friendly Germany since its founding in 2012. Representing over 1,200 members, the association is the voice of startups nationwide, working tirelessly to create an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.

From the entire Leapsome team, we would like to congratulate Jenny for her well-deserved recognition as Female Founder of the Year. This award is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and impact on the German startup ecosystem. Congratulations, Jenny!

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* “Startups are younger than ten years, have a planned growth in employees/revenue and/or are (highly) innovative in their products/services, business models and/or technologies.”