Lakera, a Zurich-based AI startup, won the 2021 DEKRA Award in the newly introduced "Startups" category, recognized for its innovative work on AI transparency, safety, and trustworthiness. The DEKRA Award, organized in collaboration with Germany's WirtschaftsWoche magazine, honors excellence in safety across various domains and included a virtual pitch competition among three finalists. Lakera's validation platform addresses the "black box" problem in AI by systematically testing AI systems to identify operating conditions, failure points, and risk assessments, promoting transparency. This platform is applicable across multiple industries, such as robotics, medical technology, Industry 4.0, and the automotive sector, and represents a significant step in ensuring AI safety and reliability.