DBACE 2025 overview
The Finalists
DBACE 2025 received 538 entries from across the UK. The level of creativity, entrepreneurship and positive impact being made to society was as astounding as ever among applicants.
Judges for DBACE 2025
We were delighted to bring together a group of experts to judge DBACE 2025. Panel members drew on extensive professional expertise across the creative industries and have many years of experience in leadership, alongside setting up and supporting new businesses.
Karen Abbott, Managing Director, Global Head of Corporate & Investment Bank, KYC and Client Onboarding, Deutsche Bank
Dr Guy Baron, Co-Founder of Squareglass
Samantha Burke, Managing Director at Love Drinks Ltd
Ola Christian, Founder of LEVILE and DBACE alumni (winner of DBACE 2024)
Mohan Yogendran, Managing Director of Talent Circles and Chair of MeWe360
The winner announcement
The awards were hosted by the esteemed Brenda Emmanus OBE, television and radio broadcaster and journalist. We heard a keynote address from Ben Jeffries, CEO and co-founder of Influencer, and listened to the finalists’ stories. The event also featured speeches from Deutsche Bank judge Karen Abbott and Louise Nkosi, CEO of MeWe360, the DBACE delivery partner, before announcing the winners of DBACE 2025. In addition to funding and business support for the winners, Deutsche Bank was pleased to announce that the five finalists will receive a bursary for the MeWe360 business support programme. The programme offers 12 months of tailored business support designed to help their ventures reach the next level and to support each entrepreneur in developing the skills and capabilities needed to lead their business.
Support offered throughout DBACE 2025
The DBACE programme is purpose-built to provide opportunities for inspiration, connection and development throughout the application process.
Online Resources: A selection of valuable free resources includes expert videos, a guide to thinking about business plans, a resource directory, application tips, video pitch advice, an A-Z glossary, and more. Whether or not the entrepreneur applied to DBACE, the downloadable resources were available for all to benefit.
Information & Guidance Sessions: We hosted a series of events, including webinars, meet-and-greets, and, with support from local partners, 1:1 application support across the UK. A pitching workshop and practice sessions were also organised for the shortlisted applicants to prepare for the next stages.
Applicant Resources: DBACE 2024 focused on areas where creatives expressed the most need for support. This included a Financial Forecasting webinar, a 90-minute advice and guidance session, and the Application Writing webinar, both invaluable for DBACE submissions. Visit our video section to view previous webinars.
Newsletters: A series of newsletters was compiled with competition updates, tips, and advice. To join the growing community and receive the next dose of guidance sign up here.
Application Form Prompts and Advice: Tips and prompts are included within the online application form and FAQs to help applicants respond to each question.
“For more than thirty years, Deutsche Bank has been committed to fostering creative enterprise through DBACE. We take immense pride in the exceptional founders we have supported, whose ventures have demonstrated remarkable growth and delivered meaningful societal impact. This year’s winners are no exception and we are excited to follow their journeys and the difference they will make in 2025.“
Karen Abbott, Global Head of Corporate & Investment Bank, KYC and Client Onboarding, Deutsche Bank
Join our email list
Stay up to date on our latest news & events
