Bright Minds, Big Stage
Rivopump and SparkVision won the Startup Your Idea Contest. The spacious auditorium of the University of Cologne provided the big stage for the eight best student teams that made it to the final of the competition organized by Cologne's Gateway universities.
The jury was so impressed by xxx and xxx's ideas that they awarded the teams first place in both the ‘Idea Level’ and ‘Product Level’ categories. This allowed them to take home prizes totalling 2,000 euros each.
The teams were divided into two categories based on their stage of development: ‘Idea Level’ at a very early stage and ‘Product Level’ with a minimum viable product (MVP) already developed.
Winners of the Idea Level:
1st place
Rivopump
2nd place
MediFlow
The prizes in the ‘Idea Level’ category were financed by dompatent von Kreisler
Winners of the Product Level
1st place
SparkVision
2nd place
STRAPTIC
The prizes in the ‘Product Level’ category were financed by NRW.BANK
Winner of the Award for Female Entrepreneurship:
Female entrepreneurship was also rewarded in the contest. Teams with at least 50% female founders in the team entered the competition.
The start-up ‘A silent grief’ with founder Emma Marlen Kohlemann won the prize of €1,000. A silent grief is a grief management package that uses five physical print components to meet the diverse needs of women who are struggling with the emotional and physical consequences of an unwanted pregnancy loss.
The prize is funded by Ford Philanthropy and Global Giving.
Highlights of the Startup Your Idee Contest 2025
Anyone who wanted to could exchange ideas and network at the Start-up Market with the more than 15 start-ups present as well as the Gateway start-up centres of the five universities and partners.
Those who were infected by the energetic start-up atmosphere and would like to set up a team themselves were able to look for suitable job vacancies at the start-up wall.
The evening was hosted by Andreas Klein.
The next Startup Your Idea Contest will start in summer 2025, when students, scientists and employees will be able to submit their ideas again.
Info:
Members of the Gateway Universities Cologne (University of Cologne, TH Köln, Rheinische Hochschule, CBS and Sporthochschule Köln) can use the FoundFactory matchmaking service free of charge.
About the Startup Your Idea Contest
Gateway Excellence Start-up Center at the University of Cologne, in collaboration with TH Köln, Sport University, Rheinische Hochschule, and CBS International Business School, is looking for the most innovative start-up ideas through the Startup Your Idea Contest. Students and scientists will get the opportunity to test out innovative concepts and receive input from professionals in the startup industry.
The contest also seeks to foster networking and collaboration among students and academics from other universities and fields, something that is unique in the German university landscape.
The competition is once again under the patronage of Henriette Reker, Mayor of the City of Cologne.
