In the past two months, 23 students went through the stages from the idea to the first business model to the business plan in a boot camp and a thrill camp. They were accompanied by coaches from the four StartupSÜD universities Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Ulm University of Applied Sciences and Ulm University of Technology, as well as a coach from the StarterCenter of the Ulm Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
After intensive weeks of work, five teams faced a jury consisting of university members and company representatives from the start-up sector in the final pitches on the day before Christmas Eve.
The teams had only five minutes to convince the jury with their business models. Afterwards, the jury members June Nardiello (ASAP BW), Niklas Gemp (Nexol AG), Falko Pross (Widerstand & Söhne GmbH), Anke Ruml (ITZ Plus Biberach GmbH), Michael Torka (Senioren der Wirtschaft Arbeitskreis e.V.), Thomas Bayer (HNU), Cornelia Gretz (HBC), Steffen Reik (THU) and Dana Schultchen (Uni Ulm) put the teams and their concepts through their paces in an interactive question and answer session.
The teams "sdach" and "Eiszeit Eiscreme" came off best, convincing with their sustainable ideas. The students from sdach (a combination of solar and roof) presented an energy-sharing concept that is attractive to both small investors and property owners and motivates them to invest in rooftop PV systems. The team from Eiszeit Eiscreme impressed the jury with an environmentally friendly packaged, sugar-free ice cream alternative that can be enjoyed without a guilty conscience.
Second place went to Pain Away with their app idea of a digital physiotherapy assistant for the home. Third place was shared by the students of HeyFair, who presented a platform for embroidery and tailoring where old clothes can be given a new lease of life, and the Parkadoodle team with their parking app that provides real-time information about available parking spaces.
Congratulations to all the winners of the fifth Founders' Garage.
If you are interested in participating in the next Founder's Garage in the summer semester or if you are interested in the topic of founding a company, please visit www.thu.de/startup (opens in a new window) or www.startupsued.de (opens in a new window) or contact the THU Startup Center directly.
