On September 18, 2025, the Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot was presented in Switzerland for the 40th time. In the ballroom of the Dolder Grand in Zurich, two women were recognized for their innovative strength and commitment with the Bold Woman Award and the Bold Future Award.

A Festive Evening

The ceremony was hosted by well-known presenter Sven Epiney who guided guests through the evening in English, French and German. «Bold is not just an award – it is a movement. Visibility creates opportunities. Inspired women drive change, and when young women see bold entrepreneurs, they say to themselves: I can achieve that too,» said Brune Faillot, International Communication Director of Veuve Clicquot. Maurice Lebet, Managing Director of Moët Hennessy Schweiz & Österreich, also emphasized the importance of the Bold Woman Award in Switzerland, noting that the path to full equality is still long.

Following the award ceremony, guests enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere with a flying dinner featuring culinary delights and Veuve Clicquot champagne. Adding a modern dynamic to the ballroom, DJane Shirin Dörig provided the musical entertainment with her sets.

These Are the 2025 Winners

The «Bold Woman Award» was presented to Evelyne Pflugi, co-founder and CEO of The Singularity Group, which she founded in 2017. With the establishment of her investment firm, Pflugi has pursued a clear strategy: providing investors with access to companies that use technological innovation to transform entire industries. With the creation of the Singularity Index, she launched the first benchmark dedicated to applied innovation.

The «Bold Future Award 2025» went to Margaux Peltier, CEO and co-founder of start-up Enerdrape. Her company develops geothermal panels that can be installed in existing infrastructure, such as parking garages, opening up new avenues for urban energy generation. Peltier studied civil engineering at der EPFL, has already been named to the «Forum der 100» and is among the Forbes 30under30.

The Winners Evelyne Pflugi (left) and Margaux Peltier. (Image: zVg)

The other nominees were also honored for their entrepreneurial courage:

• Isabel Bischof, Cohaga AG, innovative solutions in data research
• Mara Catherine Harvey, Marty’s Smart Way GmbG, focus on early childhood financial education
• Leonie Bode, Ayun AG, concepts for longevity clinics
• Selen Ercan Jenny, Layered GmbH, robotic-supported construction methods

For the «Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman AwardZ, the jury included Marc P. Bernegger (entrepreneur and innovator), Silvia Binggeli (editor-in-chief «Schweizer Illustrierte»), Kévin Germanier (fashion designer), Madeleine von Holzen (editor-in-chief «Le Temps») und Raquel Marquard (entrepreneur).

The Jury of the Bold Woman Award. (Image: zVg)

The «Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award» jury was composed entirely of former award winners: Babette Keller Liechti (Keller Trading), Barbara Lax (Little Green House), Bea Petri (Schminkbar), Fanny Queloz (Arts & Design Manufacture) and Monika Walser (de Sede) all of whom had stood on stage themselves to receive the «Bold Woman Award» in earlier years.

The Jury of the Bold Future Award - former winners. (Image: zVg)

A Prize with History

The «Bold Woman Award» traces its roots back to Madame Clicquot, who in the 19th century became one of the first women entrepreneurs worldwide to successfully lead a champagne house for decades. Her defining qualities of innovative spirit, entrepreneurial courage and strong sense of responsibility continue to form the foundation of the award today.

First introduced in 1972, the award has been presented in Switzerland since 1985, making 2025 its 40th edition. Since 2014, the Bold Future Award has complemented the program to support young female entrepreneurs.

Founded in 1772 and today part of the LVMH Group, the champagne house shipped its first bottles to Switzerland as early as 1773 – a key market to this day. With its guiding principle «Only one quality – the finest» Veuve Clicquot has become the world’s second-largest champagne house, known for classics such as Brut, Rosé, and the prestige cuvée La Grande Dame.