Award Categories

VC Fund of the Year

This award is for professional excellence and is open to all European venture capital firms and corporate venture firms that make investments in high growth companies.

The judges will be looking for evidence demonstrating:

1. A track record of innovative fundraising, investments and exits
2. A reputation for adding considerable value - not just finance - to portfolio companies
3. A reputation for working closely with the early stage investment community

Exit of the Year

This award is open to all European investors who achieved an exit for shares or cash over the past 12 months.

The judges will be looking for evidence demonstrating:

1. Your role in growing the business
2. Your role in the exit strategy and executing the deal
3. The shareholder value created by the exit
4. The impact on the Founder shareholders
5. The positive impact on the wider community

VC Personality of the Year

This award is to acknowledge individuals who have made a significant impact on the European venture capital market within the past 12 months.

The judges will be looking for evidence demonstrating:

1. A strong network from which to source deals
2. An ability to assess opportunities, manage the due diligence process and close deals in difficult circumstances
3. A reputation amongst portfolio companies for providing valuable support
4. A significant role in driving the venture capital industry forward

Entrepreneur of the Year

This award is to acknowledges European entrepreneurs and their contributions to the European economy. We are looking for the stand out Entrepreneur of the year who has made a significant impact in the past 12 months through:

- Their contribution to the Entrepreneurial eco-system.
- Successes in the past year such as business growth, leadership excellence and delivering value to shareholders.
- The viability and future growth potential of their business.

CleanTech Investor of the Year

This award is for professional excellence and is open to all Venture Capital firms and Corporate Venture firms that make investments in high growth CleanTech companies.

The judges will be looking for evidence demonstrating:

1. A track record of innovative fundraising, investments and exits in the CleanTech sector
2. A reputation for adding considerable value - not just finance - to portfolio companies in the CleanTech market
3. A reputation for working closely with the early stage investment community

Private Investor Network of the Year

This award is open to all business angel networks, private investor clubs and family offices across Europe.

The judges will be looking for evidence demonstrating:

1. A track record of sourcing high quality investment opportunities
2. An ability to attract and retain active provate investors
3. A process for disseminating "best practice" amongst members
4. A strong working relationship with the venture capital community
5. An impressive track record in securing finance for small businesses

Service Provider of the Year

This award is open to specialist advisory firms across all disciplines that serve the European venture capital industry. This includes services such as legal advisors, placement agents, venture debt firms, head-hunters and due diligence providers.

Buyout/Development Capital Fund of the Year

This award is for professional excellence and is open to all European buyout and development capital firms that make investments in high growth companies

To submit an entry for this award please provide:

1. A track record of innovative fundraising, investments and exits
2. An explanation of how the fund has added considerable value - not just finance - to portfolio companies
3. Examples of how there has been a close working relationship with the early stage investment community

Equity Gap Fund of the Year

This award is open to all European funds that are active primarily in the sub £1 million investment market, including all Seed Venture Capital Funds, Regional Venture Capital Funds and Enterprise Capital Funds.

The judges will be looking for evidence demonstrating:

1. An ability to source and manage unique deal flow - Your skill in structuring, negotiating and making investments
2. Your involvement in supporting local small business initiatives
3. Your ability to work together with other seed funds, private investors and follow-on investors

VCT of the Year

This award is open to all Venture Capital Trusts (VCT's), Fonds Commun de Placement dans l'Innovation (VCT/FCPI), and other Government promoted investment funds where there is tax relief for private investors in the funds and restrictions placed on the type of investments the fund can make.

Outstanding Contribution of the Year

An award that acknowledges those individuals who have made an outstanding long-term contribution to the Venture Capital industry in Europe. 'Lifetime achievement award'