This year, we gather for the nineteenth time at the Founders Awards Gala to present the winners of the Founder of the Year award as recognition for long-term, responsible ownership and social benefit. In order to contribute to equal ownership, from this year onwards we award both women and men in all phases of their entrepreneurial journey.
The world is at a turning point in many ways, and the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic is worrying. At the same time, entrepreneurs are used to dealing with and overcoming adversity. They also see this crisis as an opportunity for accelerated development for a more sustainable society.
The driving force for founders is freedom, creativity and the opportunity to make their dreams come true. It's not about selling the business quickly. On the contrary, entrepreneurial companies are characterized by stable owners who guarantee more and long-term jobs, sustainable products and services and the funding of welfare.
Founders Alliance is a collaborative forum where founders meet and exchange experiences and knowledge regardless of gender, age or origin. Differences are a prerequisite for development. But we don't stop there.
Our most important mission is to inspire more business builders to act long-term. We know that founders build the world. We know that owners build strong companies. And that real success takes time. Because it's not about reaching the top first, it's about staying the longest.
We also know that far too few women own the highest performing companies. We want to change that, which is why we from this year onward are handing out the awards to both women and men.
founders awards - the growth rings
To encourage long-term, sustainable and equal ownership, Founders Alliance pays attention to women and men in every step of the entrepreneurial journey and honor winners in five categories: from the young founder, through all phases of a company’s growth cycle to the founder who through a lifetime achievement has developed one or more companies, and who embodies a true role model for other founders.
All founders embody a seed that grows into a successful company. Just like trees in a forest, founders are the most important organism in the ecosystem that creates growth in the world. The symbol that pays tribute to these successful founders we call The Growth Rings.
“It starts as a seed in the founder’s mind. For it to grow strong, patience is required and real perseverance. During a company's development, strong years with good conditions alternate with meagre and tough years without development."
The Founders Awards annual growth rings symbolize this story.
We all depend on founders working together and nourishing each other in both good and bad years. Because founders look beyond themselves and their business, convinced that together they can change the world.