New ideas from the healthcare sector, innovations in biotech, and high-tech solutions were recognized at the Science4Life Venture Cup Idea Awards. A total of 81 business ideas were submitted, and eight teams, three of which were part of the Science4Life Energy Awards, were each awarded €500. Among them were EXIMMIUM from Munich and eXcite Biotech from Freising.
A total of 81 teams took part in the first phase — the idea phase — of the Science4Life Venture Cup and submitted their business ideas from the fields of life sciences, chemistry and energy.
“This year, we have strong founding teams at Science4Life, ranging from high-tech solutions based on artificial intelligence for the medical sector to seasonal energy storage of geothermal energy and software-based optimization of cancer therapies — these are all business ideas with great potential,”
explained Dr. Karl-Heinz Baringhaus, the administrative director of research and development at Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. Sanofi is the main sponsor of the competition alongside the Hessian state government.
"This year, the 2,000th business idea and the 1,000th business plan were submitted. This shows us that with Science4Life, we are making an important contribution to supporting start-ups,"
says Dr. Rainer Waldschmidt, Managing Director of the Hessian economic development agency Hessen Trade & Invest. During the ideation phase, 30 teams were invited to a workshop in Frankfurt to further develop their business idea with experts. The top five teams were rewarded with prize money of 500 euros. In addition, three energy startups each received 500 euros as part of the Science4Life Energy Awards.
Among the top 5 teams are EXIMMIUM from Munich and eXcite Biotech from Freising. EXIMMIUM has developed an innovative platform technology that can be used to generate new, tailor-made antibodies against previously unknown tumor antigens. These antibodies will be used in medicine to develop new cancer therapies and diagnostics. In the age of protein-based drugs, or biopharmaceuticals, the production of antibodies is playing an increasingly important role. The technology developed by eXcite Biotech makes it possible to isolate these antibodies using light, thus simplifying the previously complex manufacturing process.
All award-winning startups at a glance:
• eXcite Biotech (Freising)
• EXIMMIUM (Munich)
• implacit (Mannheim)
• LignoPure (Hamburg)
• Mediaire GmbH (Berlin)
The award-winning startups from the idea phase of the Science4Life Energy Award 2019:
• BRC Solar GmbH (Karlsruhe)
• Geothermal probe storage (Darmstadt)
• Smart Climate – Klimagriff GmbH (Solingen)
Next step: concept phase
Startups can now apply for the concept phase of the Science4Life Venture Cup until January 18, 2019, and develop their idea into a business concept. The concept must be submitted online along with an initial market assessment and a brief introduction of the entrepreneurial team. Important: All startups are welcome to apply; participation in the first phase is not required.
After the initial selection process, Science4Life invites the teams with the 20 best concepts to a two-day intensive workshop in Berlin, where they can further refine their business model with a personal coach. At the concept awards ceremony on March 19, 2019, the top ten business concepts will each receive €1,000 in prize money.
The third phase of the Science4Life Venture Cup then focuses on formulating a business plan and thus launching your own company. What's special about Science4Life: Founders can join at any stage and, in addition to individual coaching, win prize money totaling €82,000.
