It was one of those balmy Berlin evenings when the light lingers just long enough to turn every guest into a portrait. At Reethaus – that minimalist haven nestled in Grunewald’s greenery – Veuve Clicquot hosted an intimate gathering of thinkers, creators, and women who turn vision into action.
The occasion? The Bold Woman Award and Bold Future Award – a toast to fearless female entrepreneurship in the spirit of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, the original Grande Dame of daring business moves. Around 100 guests, each one a character in this elegantly curated tableau, came together to celebrate the women shaping tomorrow’s economy with today’s courage.
Miriam Wohlfarth: The Fintech Trailblazer
When Miriam steps onto the stage, there’s no need for extra sparkle – her track record glows on its own. Co-CEO and co-founder of Banxware, she’s quietly rewritten the rules of embedded finance for SMEs, making capital access feel as smooth as your favourite app.
Banxware has raised over €30 million and counts more than 45 team members – a modern-day atelier of financial design. But Miriam’s story doesn’t stop there. She’s also the brain behind Ratepay and paymentandbanking.com – a woman with one foot in the future and the other firmly grounded in practicality. The Bold Woman Award suits her like a well-cut blazer: strong, structured, and impossible to ignore.
Stephanie Pfeil-Coenen: Biotech Reimagined
Stephanie is what happens when science meets soul. With her startup Phaeosynt, launched in 2023, she’s growing plant-based antibodies inside microalgae. Yes, you read that right – green, sustainable, cruelty-free biotech that could change everything from diagnostics to pregnancy tests.
Her vision? A world where no animal is harmed in the name of science. With €1.7 million in seed funding and a Digital Female Leader Award already in her pocket, Stephanie is the kind of woman who looks at a petri dish and sees poetry.
Barbe-Nicole’s Legacy Lives On
Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin was just 27 when she took over her late husband’s champagne house. In the early 1800s, that was scandalous. Today, it’s legendary. She pioneered not just a méthode champenoise, but a mindset: that boldness, when paired with brilliance, can become a brand – and a legacy.
Since 1972, the Bold Woman Award has honoured women who carry that same spirit. In Germany, it’s been a fixture since 1984 – less a trophy than a mirror, reflecting what happens when a woman dares to do things her own way.
As night fell over Berlin, champagne flutes caught the last glint of gold in the sky. Stories were told. Plans were made. And somewhere between applause and laughter, you could sense it: boldness isn’t just celebrated here – it’s contagious.