SAVE THE DATE: POWER AWARD CEREMONY ON 17.04.2026

 

OUR PURPOSE

 

The POWHER Awards have been initiated to foster and celebrate outstanding female entrepreneurship. The Awards shine a spotlight on startups led by innovative women* in the Basel region. Advocates who champion diversity, equality and inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem are also honored through the POWHER Awards.


The POWHER Awards create public awareness and visibility through celebrating (female) entrepreneurs and advocates who help to make the societal changes necessary.




* Women is defined as any person who identify as a woman


nomination



The nomination process is now open

for the award 2026.


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APPLICATION FORM

Categories

EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR

OF THE YEAR

The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes a female co-/founder who has made significant contributions in the development of an innovative products or services that have a social, economical and/or environmental impact on society. This award honors the dedication, perseverance and achievements of co-/founders who have demonstrated entrepreneurial skills, leadership and vision, positioning them as role models and inspiration for future generations.



Eligibility Criteria:

  • Female (co-)founder (Holding an active/C-level role at the company)
  • Company is less than or equal to 7 years old
  • Company is registered in BS or BL


EXCLUDED are*: Solo entrepreneurs, associations (NPO, NGO) and subsidiaries.

ENTREPRENEUR

 of the year

The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes a female co-/founder or CEO with remarkable achievements in the business landscape. This category celebrates entrepreneurs who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, innovative approaches to launch and grow their businesses across various industries, creating jobs and contributing to the economic growth and development of their communities. This award honors the role of business founders as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in diverse industries.


Eligibility Criteria:

  • Female (co-)founder or CEO (Family business or holding majority of company’s shares)
  • Company is more than 7 years old
  • Company is registered in BS or BL


Please note: For the Entrepreneur of the Year  applications are not open to the public. Nominations for this award are made exclusively by personal invitation.



EXCLUDED are*: Solo entrepreneurs, associations (NPO, NGO) and subsidiaries.

ADVOCATE

OF THE YEAR

The Advocate of the Year recognizes a remarkable individual, initiative or organisation showing outstanding commitment and dedication to advocating for gender equality and empowerment of women in female intra- and entrepreneurship. This award honors their significant contributions as a catalyst for change to promote equal opportunities for women* in the innovation ecosystem.


Eligibility Criteria:

  • Woman or man
  • Individual with remarkable support for female entrepreneurial activities - beyond the job. (e.g. investor, enabler, policy maker, government officials, educators at academia, media person, etc)

 
Please note: The Advocate of the Year is an honorary award, and applications are not open to the public. Nominations for this award are made exclusively by personal invitation. 


EXCLUDED are**: Organizations and intrapreneurs.


*To align with a focus on companies fostering economic growth and job creation within the region, solo entrepreneurs and associations are not included in the awards selection criteria.


** To align with a focus on visibility to female entrepreneurs and leaders, organizations and intrapreneurs are not included in the eligibility criteria.

“Thank you so much to the team for this incredible effort. It gives me goose bumps: The first POWHER Award in Basel. The beginning of something great! It fills me with pride to have made a small contribution!”


Martina Koch, UBS

Prizes

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MONETARY PRIZE




Recognition & VISIBILITY

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PAST AWARDS

"WOW! What an empowering moment to be the winner of the female entrepreneur of the year 2022! It was a fantastic night to celebrate so many outstanding women!"

CATHERINE MEUTER, VYN