Full speed ahead into startup fall

Dear start-up community,

We are back from our summer break. Full of energy, we're about to hit the ground running with numerous events, congresses and conferences. We've already been to the StartupGermany Summit in Berlin and the CyberLabFestival in Karlsruhe.

Tomorrow, our own events start again for you with the 121st Founder's Barbecue meets KSRI. We have a pre-program with a focus on AI, plus exciting innovation flashlights on how AI works in various fields of application. You are welcome to come by. We look forward to seeing you again and networking with you.

Afterwards, Munich is calling for this year's Bits&Pretzels. Fancy a little flashback? Then listen to our podcast special on Bits23 and reminisce with us.

If you don't want to miss out on why we're at the Heilbronn Slush'D , HighTech Venture Days or StageTwo, don′t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and/or Instagram for insights and impressions!

And if you still have power for creativity in addition to the numerous events, then let it out in our ideas competition. Simply pitch your idea on your smartphone, upload it and take part. 1st to 5th place will receive cash prizes as a thank you.

Have fun reading!

Your KIT-Gründerschmiede team

Founder of the month

This time with Prio Optics

Prio Optics is developing a new technology for the production of optical filters. They are a game changer that can push the boundaries in the production of optical filters and open up possibilities that previously did not exist.

What did their path to founding the company look like, what challenges had to be overcome, how did the team start the first production? You can find out this and much more in our podcast episode with Dr. Gerda Frank and Qiaoshuang Zhang from the founding team of Prio Optics.

Here is the interview as a blog post.

News from KIT-Gründerschmiede

Pre-program to the 121st Founders' Barbecue

Our partner, the KSRI @KIT, will be organizing the pre-program to the 121st Founders' Barbecue. The program starts on 26 September at 5:30 pm at TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum .

Look forward to impulses and innovation flashlights on the topic of artificial intelligence. Four speakers will talk about very different fields of application and how AI works in them. You can also get to know the KSRI and its community

Here you can find information about the pre-program.

121st Founders' Barbecue at TRIANGEL

You know the game: Take the opportunity to network and exchange ideas at the Founders' Barbecue on September 26 from 7 pm.

In a relaxed atmosphere, the founders' family will meet over bratwurst, music and an after-work beer at TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum. Be part of the network and the exchange and come along!

You can exchange ideas in our community corner, for example, where you can get to know partners such as PionierGarage , CyberForum , Enactus Karlsruhe e.V. , studentec and IHK Karlsruhe as well as us.

Here you can find information about the event.

122nd Founder′s Barbecue meets [x]Lab

More barbecues! For the last barbecue before winter break, we will be guests at the [x]Lab on October 23 and will meet on the grounds of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (Building K) from 7 pm.

There will be sausages (this time in hotdog version), music and cool drinks - and of course networking in a relaxed atmosphere.

You can find all the information and register here.

IMPULSE | Safety First: Celebrate safely with Xantus

KIT alumna Kim Eisenmann has been co-founder and COO of Twinvay GmbH together with her partner Sven H. since 2016, making it onto the Forbes “30 under 30” list. One reason for this is their successful product Xantus, the world's first bracelet that can be used to test drinks for K.O. drops.

As part of the Women's Business Days, Eisenmann will speak at TRIANGEL on October 17 about her exciting journey as a founder and, together with her partner, will report on what has happened in the last few months since entering the US market and what new challenges await her.

Click here to register for free.

Entrepreneurship Talks - learn from successful founders

Every week in the winter semester 2024/25, EnTechnon offers the opportunity to learn first-hand from inspiring founders and investors.

The speakers talk about their personal experiences and provide exclusive insights into topics such as business model & strategy, leadership, funding, intellectual property and business planning.

The talks are part of the Entrepreneurship lecture by Prof. Orestis Terzidis and will take place every Monday from October 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the Redtenbach lecture hall - not only for students, but for anyone interested.

Further information on the program and dates can be found here.

Backstage KIT-Gründerschmiede

TECHucate: German-Egyptian exchange

In August and September 2024, around 10 Master's students and scientists from KIT were able to exchange ideas with students and doctoral candidates from Egypt and get to know the startup ecosystem of the other country. As part of the TECH4Transition module TECHucate and the JES Camp (Joint Entrepreneurship Camp), the participants worked together in binational project teams over a period of two weeks - one week in Egypt, one week at KIT - to develop business models for technologies and patents developed at KIT, learned about the basics of entrepreneurship and exchanged ideas with their Egyptian fellow students.

Click here for the blog post.

News from our partners

21 years of CyberChampions Awards

The KIT start-up incubator was of course back at the #CyberLabFestival2024. In addition to exciting keynotes, panels and lots of networking, the CyberChampions Awards were actually presented for the 21st time at the 20th anniversary event.

The startup Alithea Bio won first place in the field of cancer therapy. With Prefiro GmbH , the harvest helper of the future, a KIT startup won two prizes: the Innovation Award and the Audience Award. We congratulate all finalists and winners of the evening and the CyberForum for a successful event!

EXI Digital start-up workshop Cyberforum

Attention founders, those interested in starting a business and those undecided. On October 14 at 2 p.m., the CyberForum is offering an online event with practical information and time for questions.

You can find all the information and register here.

Competitions

Ideas competition 2024

Even a small idea can become something big: We are looking for creative ideas and crazy ventures for the third edition of our ideas competition. You can still take part until October 15.

Pitch us your idea:

1. find your idea

2. record your video (2min)

3. upload the video file here

4. win up to 500 euros if you're lucky

We will celebrate the winners with a great final event at TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum on November 2.

Start2 CASHWALK

The exclusive CASHWALK pitch event brings selected start-ups together with 60 top investors. The application phase for the upcoming project round runs until October 5.

You can find more information here.

Up2B Exploration

The Up2B Sales Booster program is aimed at B2B and tech startups that are looking for further sales growth and want to professionalize their sales processes.

Here you can expect several 1on1 sessions with renowned sales coaches and the exchange with other startups in a digital environment

You can apply for the program from 28 to 29 October until September 29 and find more information here.

European Pitch Contest

On September 29 and 30, the Bits&Pretzels will once again see pitching on a grand scale. The best of the best teams will present their companies to more than 1,500 VCs and business angels in Munich. Exciting teams will compete for victory with their pitches. KIT-Gründerschmiede will also be on site and busy networking.

Up2B Exploration

The Up2B Exploration program is aimed at B2B and tech start-ups that are just at the beginning of a promising idea, are about to be founded or have founded their start-up in the last year.

The program offers support in mastering the problem-solution fit in workshops and individual mentoring sessions. It starts with the boot camp from November 4 to 22, followed by the master class from December 2 to 13. The application deadline is October 13.

You can find more information here.

Events

HerImpact: 02.10. Lunch & 17.10. Masterclass

Are you the founder of a company, the successor in a family business or would you like to take over a business? The HerImpact Masterclass is aimed specifically at women who have embarked on this path. On October 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., experienced female entrepreneurs will share their practical knowledge and you will have plenty of opportunity and space to discuss and exchange ideas with each other.

Prior to the online event, you will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and network with other female founders on site at the HerImpact Founders Lunch on October 2 in Karlsruhe.

You can find more information here.

Hightech Venture Days 08. to 09.10. in Dresden

On the money, get set, go! Capital-seeking start-ups and growth companies will have the opportunity to present themselves to over 150 international investors in Dresden on October 8 and 9. The focus is on industrial high-tech: IP-based technologies, B2B and hardware.

You can find more information here.

StartUP SüD Summit 10.10. in Ulm

In October, the University of Ulm, in cooperation with the TFU, will be transformed into a vibrant center for innovation and entrepreneurship. Welcome to the StartupSüD SUMMIT! Together with Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Ulm University of Applied Sciences and Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, you are invited to get involved in this unique forum. Under the powerful motto “Let's create Future!”, the spirit of entrepreneurship will be brought to life.

You can find more information here.

BRAIN BITES 02. & 09.10. to 11.10. at TRIANGEL

How will we deal with flood disasters in the future? In a new edition of BRAIN BITES on October 2, Peter Oberle from the KIT Institute for Water and Environment will give us an insight into protective and precautionary measures for flood disasters from 12:30 to 13:30. As part of the Knowledge Week Mathematics, on October 8 we will get to the bottom of the question of how mathematics taught airplanes to fly and on October 9 we will discuss the safety of mathematical models. Last but not least, you can look forward to a BRAIN BITES on weather forecasts using AI on 11.10. Pack your lunch, come along and make yourself comfortable! Admission is free.

You can find more information here.

SCIENCE SLAM 12.10. from 3 p.m. TRIANGEL

Clear the stage: the concentrated science in fast-forward is waiting for you! At the Science Slam, slammers will present a wide variety of scientific topics in a short, clear and engaging way. You decide who wins in the end!

You can find more information here.

Heilbronn Slush'D 24.10. in Heilbronn

On October 24, Heilbronn Slush'D will once again bring together around 1,000 of the most important players in the European startup ecosystem and bring together innovative startups, leading companies and future-oriented investors.

You can find more information here.

And psssssst, here are discounted tickets with a 25% discount for you.

STAGE TWO 30. to 31.10. in Berlin

Stage Two is the largest pan-European competition for student startups. The competition brings together leading European universities and offers their startups a stage to pitch in front of top investors and industrial companies.

The participating universities select start-ups from their university to compete against each other in Berlin in October. We are keeping our fingers crossed for KIT spin-off Validaitor!

You can find more information here.