As part of the Entrepreneurship Day of TUM and UnternehmerTUM The TUM Presidential Entrepreneurship Award, endowed with €10,000, was presented. The criteria for the award include a business idea based primarily on research findings, high growth potential, and initial financing success. The prize money is donated by the Association of Friends of TUM.
TUM Presidential Entrepreneurship Award for Twaice, Retorio and Capmo
Twaice secured first prize. Munich have developed software that optimizes and analyzes lithium-ion batteries using digital twins. Companies can use Twaice technology to improve development, plan strategies for efficient application, and monitor the condition of batteries during use. Founders Michael Baumann and Stephan Rohr developed the foundation for the technology, which also utilizes machine learning, in their doctoral theses at the Chair of Automotive Engineering at TUM. The founding of Twaice in 2018 was supported by TUM and UnternehmerTUM, including through the incubator program. Xpreneurs and with an investment of UVC Partners, the venture capital fund of UnternehmerTUM. Twaice already employs 70 people.
Second place goes to Retorio. The software of the Startups enables more objective and faster personnel selection. The technology uses artificial intelligence to recognize speech, voice, and facial expressions in videos and analyzes them based on psychologically sound models. Applicants, in turn, can use the tool to prepare for job interviews. Founders Christoph Hohenberger and Patrick Oehler developed their startup as doctoral students at the Chair of Strategy and Organization. The TUM Incubator and the Techfounders program of UnternehmerTUM helped with the founding in 2018. Today, Retorio has more than 20 employees.
Capmo achieved third place. The software solution of start-up digitizes the management of construction sites. Participating companies can collaborate seamlessly and gain data-based insights into their projects. This makes processes more transparent for clients. The founders, Florian Biller, Patrick Christ, Florian Ettlinger, and Sebastian Schlecht, joined forces on CDTM The joint TUM and LMU institution offers an additional degree program in which students work in interdisciplinary teams to design new technologies, develop concrete products, and prepare to establish a company. The startup was supported by the UnternehmerTUM programs EIT Climate KIC and Xpreneurs, as well as funding from UVC. The Capmo team comprises approximately 60 people.
