Regional start-up ideas set standards
Two teams from the garage33 ecosystem, Paderborn University's start-up centre, had the opportunity to present their business ideas in the latest season of the well-known TV show "Die H?hle der L?wen". The aim of the participants is to convince potential investors, the so-called lions, of their products and innovations. The Bielefeld start-up "Miss Mineva's" now had the chance to prove itself on the big stage. Founder Minever Zevker's appearance was broadcast on VOX on 1 September and can also be viewed afterwards on the RTL+ streaming portal. The second start-up to make it from garage33 to television is the team from "STEETS". The pitch by founders Philipp Battisti, Phil Jan?en and Thorben Engel is also already available on RTL+ and will be broadcast on VOX on 8 September at 8:15 pm. The current season of the TV show features investors Frank Thelen, Dagmar W?hrl, Judith Williams, Ralf Dümmel, Carsten Maschmeyer and Janna Ensthaler.
"The appearances of 'Miss Mineva's' and 'STEETS' make it clear how diverse and practical the business ideas are that are emerging in East Westphalia-Lippe. We are delighted that the regional innovations of the young entrepreneurs, which we support with infrastructure, expertise and a network, are also becoming visible nationwide," explains Catharina Blome, network manager at garage33, who has accompanied both start-ups on their journey.
"Miss Mineva's": fermented diversity in everyday life
With "Miss Mineva's", founder Zevker has created a start-up that transforms the centuries-old tradition of fermentation into a contemporary form. The idea arose from a personal need: as a mum with little time, she was looking for a way to easily integrate healthy, wholesome meals into her everyday life. "Fermentation became my little superpower," says Zevker, describing her approach. Today, this results in soup and cup creations that are vegan, gluten-free and can be prepared in just a few minutes without any artificial additives. Thanks to the fermentation process, the products also offer special added health benefits - including better nutrient absorption and positive effects on the gut and immune system.
Her participation in the TV show was a special experience for the founder. In her blog, she says: "Bringing Miss Mineva's to this stage showed me that passion and dedication pay off - and sometimes a small dream becomes something really big".
"STEETS": More safety thanks to additional module for walking aids
Phil Jan?en's personal experience also gave him the idea for his start-up: even as a schoolboy, he noticed how his grandmother's walking aids kept falling over. He was looking for a solution that would make everyday life easier. Together with Philipp Battisti and Thorben Engel and with the support of garage33, he developed an additional module. Support feet can be extended with a simple lever, allowing the walking aids to be held securely upright. Since the beginning, the "STEETS" team has been supported by Janssen's grandfather Heinz Schlechtingen, who also stood by the founders' side as a test user and motivator during the TV appearance - making him the oldest guest on the programme to date at the age of 98.
The idea and implementation met with a positive response from the programme's investors. Investor Frank Thelen praised the product as "one of the most elegant solutions I have ever seen here". Viewers will see whether the founding team also secures a deal in the next episode of "Die H?hle der L?wen".
This text was translated automatically.
