Announcing The European VC Awards: celebrating the change-makers in European venture capital

The European VC, in partnership with Isomer Capital, HSBC Innovation Banking, and SuperVenture, has inaugurated the first-ever The European VC Awards.

These awards aim to honour the innovators and influencers in European venture capital, celebrating those who are making significant contributions to the sector.

Andreas Munk Holm, Founder & Host of The EUVC, said: “Since we launched EUVC, our mission was to connect and champion the European venture capital industry. As we’ve grown in the past few years and witnessed the growth and changes across our beloved ecosystem, we wanted to celebrate the industry’s finest and have partnered with three great organisations to recognise the faces shaping and shifting venture capital in Europe.”

David Cruz e Silva, Founder of The EUVC, added: “As we reflect on the past year, it's clear that the European VC landscape has been shaped by a significant slowdown, a tech reset that challenged the industry. But unbeknownst to many, it also strengthened our industry. This period has tested our resilience and adaptability, yet it's also been a time of strategic realignment and innovation. The European VC Awards are not just a celebration of success; they represent our industry's ability to navigate through and emerge stronger from these dynamic times. The European VC Awards are poised to acknowledge past achievements and inspire the next wave of innovation and investment strategies that will propel our ecosystem forward.”

Isomer Capital will oversee the nomination process, with the ecosystem at large invited to submit nominations. The nomination period is set from the 1st of February until the 31st of March 2024, with finalists to be announced in May. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at SuperVenture in Berlin on the 4th of June.

The award categories are as follows:

  • Hall of Fame Award: Acknowledging lifetime achievements in European venture capital by individuals who have significantly influenced the industry over 20+ years.
  • Firm of the Year Award: Awarding a firm for its comprehensive excellence, including financial and portfolio performance, innovation, ecosystem impact, diversity, transparency, fairness, and team culture.
  • Newcomer of the Year Award: Recognising a fund that has had its first close in the past year for its innovative approach and early success in the European Venture market.
  • Achievement of the Year Award: Celebrating significant contributions and achievements in the European VC ecosystem over the past year by an individual, company, or fund.
  • Exit of the Year Award: Honouring a firm for a strategic and valuable exit that has significantly benefitted the VC and the European Venture ecosystem.

The judging panel comprises LPs with extensive VC investment experience, ensuring a credible and impartial selection process. The judges include:

  • Thomas Kristensen, Partner at LGT Capital Partners
  • Jonathan Sibilia, Partner & Head of FoFs at Molten Ventures
  • Giulia Van Waeyenberge, Member of the Executive Committee at Sofina
  • Stephen Lowery, Head of Investor Coverage & Business Development at HSBC Innovation Banking
  • Joe Schorge, Founding Managing Partner at Isomer Capital (co-chair)
  • Chris Wade, Founding General Partner at Isomer Capital (co-chair)

Joe Schorge, Founder & Managing Partner of Isomer Capital, added: “The European VC Awards are a natural extension of what we do yearly at SuperVenture. Bringing people together and naturally discussing great deals and new funds. An official award is a way to recognise the greatness of the year. In venture capital, people work excessively hard and more hours than most industries because they have a real passion. It's a passion to change the world, make great investments, and bring new products to life. We should celebrate the people who stand out above the rest and take the time to step back and recognise them publicly. We’re excited to work alongside our partners to bring this celebration to life!”