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TU Start-up Award Presented

TU Dortmund University Awards Prizes to Three Young Startups

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13 people stand on a stage, three of them hold a prize in their hands © Cynthia Ruf
Celebrating the presentation of the TU Start-up Awards together (from left to right): Dr. Anna Dieckhöfer (Slapstack), Jakob Pfrommer (Slapstack), Jonah Hadt (InTolerApp), Thilo Wattrodt (Simplyfined), Marvin Rosian (Co-Founder and CEO of Valoon), Jens Ehlhardt (Simplyfined), Prof. Tessa Flatten (Professor of Technology & Management and Vice President International Affairs at TU Dortmund University), Marén Schwandt (Simplyfined), Dr. Philipp Peitsch (former Co-CEO of idealo internet GmbH), Maximilian Spiekermann (Simplyfined), Dr. Martin Oettmeier (Head of Technology, Monitoring and Evaluation at Wilo Group), David Höltgen (Wilo-Foundation), and Sina Sadegh Nadi (CET).
Seven young start-ups presented innovative ideas from various fields – ranging from chemistry to logistics – to a panel of experts and the audience at this year’s TU Start-up Award. The top three founders from Simplyfined, InTolerApp, and SLAPStack were awarded a total of 14,000 euros, donated by the Wilo-Foundation, for their successful pitches. The start-up award is presented annually by the Center for Entrepreneurship & Transfer (CET) of TU Dortmund University to successful start-ups from the university’s environment.

The first place and thus 6,000 euros went to “Simplyfined.” The founders Max Krause, Jens Ehlhardt, and Maximilian Spiekermann, alumni of the Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, developed a process that optimizes plant oils into a bio-based platform chemical, opening new paths to sustainable products for the chemical industry. Their pitch impressed not only the expert jury but also the approximately 150 guests, earning them an additional audience award of 1,000 euros.

The second place and 4,000 euros in prize money were won by Jonah Hadt with “InTolerApp.” The TU student developed an app that helps people with allergies and intolerances while shopping by checking the compatibility of food items based on barcodes or ingredient lists.

Jakob Pfrommer, Dr. Anna Dieckhöfer, and Alexandru Rinciog from the Chair of Material Handling and Warehousing at the Department of Mechanical Engineering received the third prize of 3,000 euros with their start-up “SLAPStack.” They created an operating system that unites all necessary software components to optimally process orders in block storage warehouses, where goods are stacked over and behind each other without shelves.

Getting Informed and Networking

The expert jury, to which the seven start-ups from the TU Dortmund University context presented themselves for the competition, included Prof. Tessa Flatten (Professor of Technology & Management and Vice President International Affairs at TU Dortmund University), Dr. Philipp Peitsch (former Co-CEO of idealo internet GmbH), Marvin Rosian (Co-Founder and CEO of Valoon), and Dr. Martin Oettmeier (Head of Technology, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Wilo Group). As part of last year’s winning team, Marvin Rosian from Valoon shared tips with the participants on the highs and lows of a start-up career. The former Co-CEO of idealo, Dr. Philipp Peitsch, also provided insights into his own founding experiences.

The event also offered various opportunities to learn about and network on the topic of founding a business: Throughout the evening, 15 start-ups could present themselves in the CoWorkingSpace and engage in conversations with other guests. Small and medium-sized enterprises as well as investors were also represented through profiles on a kind of bulletin board. Using QR codes, it was possible to get in touch for potential collaborations.

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