DemoDay Pitch Batch #3

Nine students in seven teams from different faculties of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences presented their ideas for business start-ups at DemoDay Pitch Batch #3, part of the StartGlocal Academy, on January 12, 2022. The concepts were as diverse as the presenters themselves: On the one hand, ideas for alternatives to animal feed were presented, including products made from mealworms. Other proposals such as a university starter package for international students, heat-reflecting stickers for clothing or a delivery service for Indian food for lunch breaks in companies were represented. The jury, consisting of the StartGlocal team and representatives of all three sponsoring associations of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, awarded prizes to the three best ideas at the digital event:

1st place: Antonia van Schwamen and Leah Freyberg plan 'Vividules' a modular system for fences that support insect biodiversity.

2nd place: Ropafadzo Matuzula wants to make it easier for international students to equip their own households and thus start living in Germany with the university starterkit 'Kutsva'.

3rd place: Vignesh Gandham from 'Bioticens' developed a method to recycle organic waste into protein-rich feed with the help of insects.

Vividules voted best idea

Often the best ideas come to you in everyday life. This was the case for Antonia van Schwamen. The "Biological Resources" student looked at a plain, gray concrete wall during her workout in the gym. "It could be more beautiful," the 27-year-old thought to herself, "The holes in the wall directly reminded me of an insect hotel." A short time later, she told her fellow student Leah Freyberg about the idea, who was immediately enthusiastic. Vividules are living walls designed to provide habitat and food sources for various species of animals and plants as an alternative to walls and fences. A unique feature is the possibility of modular, individual design of the walls. The individual modules can be used, for example, as insect houses or for various plantings. In addition to habitat for insects, other barriers for animals are also solved: Hedgehogs can pass property boundaries with ease through small tunnels, and birds and bats should also find food here.
By participating in the twelve-week StartGlocal Academy, the idea could be developed further and further: "We are very happy about the victory and the opportunity to participate in the StartGlocal Academy. Through the wide range of workshops, such as market analysis and property rights, we were able to acquire skills as future founders. We also found the regular exchange with the other participants particularly valuable," says Leah Freyberg.

In addition to their master's thesis, the next step for the two students is to build a first prototype in the FabLab at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Thanks to sponsoring associations

The university and the StartGlocal team would like to thank all StartGlocal Academy participants, mentors* and experts. Special thanks go to the three sponsoring associations - Campus Cleve e.V., Campus Camp-Lintfort e.V. and the sponsoring association of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences - for their participation as jury members at DemoDay Pitch Batch #3. To mark the successful conclusion of the Academy, the sponsoring association Campus Cleve e.V. will donate a tree for the GlocalForest, which will be planted in the show garden on the campus in Kleve.