Munich Startup: Who are you and what does Palimdu do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
Kati Eberhardt, Palimdu: I am Kati (37) and I founded Palimdu Foods UG this summer because I want to create a natural alternative for children's sweets to market that are vegan, free from industrial sugar, and fairly traded. The aim is to convey values related to conscious nutrition, sustainability, and fairness to children in a playful way.
The first product is Palimdu Drops. These are vegan cocoa drops with almonds as a milk substitute and sweetened with coconut blossom sugar. They are filled with four different flavors: almond, strawberry, raspberry, and passion fruit.
Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?
Kati Eberhardt: The idea came about when, as an aunt of six, I recognized the following candy problem: Everyone loves making children happy with fun sweets. Unfortunately, most children's candy products contain a lot of sugar and unnecessary additives. Furthermore, they are usually traded and produced under poor conditions. This spoils the fun and always leads to a guilty conscience. All alternatives are either not tasty or too boring for children.
To solve this problem, I started to develop my own recipe for natural chocolate products with expert advice, which led to the creation of Palimdu Drops.
Berta the spectacled bear girl is Palimdu's pleasure ambassador
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Kati Eberhardt: While there are already some great natural sweets that are vegan, free of processed sugar, fairly traded, and sustainable, what makes Palimdu special is that the sweets are specifically designed to meet children's needs and are entertaining. The entertaining part is played by Berta, the spectacled bear girl from South America. She's on a mission to make the world a happier place and has many exciting stories to tell.
Munich Startup: What have been your three biggest challenges so far?
Kati Eberhardt:
- Finding a name – a rollercoaster full of creative ups and downs … and trademark law
- The search for the right manufacturer who can work according to my recipe and produce relatively “small” quantities while at the same time meeting my values.
- Very current: The crowdfunding campaign for the first production of Palimdu Drops
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Kati Eberhardt: One year later, I launched a Palimdu product collection based on the drops. The products are available both in the Palimdu online shop and in brick-and-mortar stores.
In addition to chocolate, there will be other sweets
In five years, Palimdu aims to be firmly established in the German market and listed in various food retailers and organic markets. In addition to chocolate, other confectionery products such as gummy bears will be available. Initial markets in European countries have also already been developed.
Munich Startup: How do you rate Munich as a startup location?
Kati Eberhardt: For me, there couldn't be a better location. There's a very good network in the startup scene, and Munich residents are generally very open-minded when it comes to conscious nutrition and related new nutritional trends.
Munich Startup: Cook yourself or have it delivered?
Kati Eberhardt: When time permits, I love to cook for myself. Luckily, there are excellent delivery services in case of emergency.
