From 3 to 7 June, Düsseldorf was once again a hotspot for everyone interested in startups: the 9th Startup Week Düsseldorf. More than 5,000 participants took part and around 120 events over the five days provided a platform for getting to know each other, exchanging ideas, networking and learning. The event has become an extremely important element and catalyst for the local startup ecosystem. Since the premiere of Startup Week in 2015, the number of startups has increased from 135 to 550 in 2023! Today, we would like to introduce you to three of these courageous founders: altus, consalio and O.C. Hairsystems.

SUSTAINABLE ALTBIER

An organic Altbier? It didn't exist until 'altus' was launched. Since January 2023, supported by the NRW startup grant, the innovative drink has been available in a number of bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area. The two founders, Anthony Boniteau and Tim Kasparek, had been wanting to start something of their own for some time, and the idea was born during the first COVID lockdown: “As we are both sustainability-minded and like to enjoy a beer from time to time, it was a no-brainer for us," says Tim. Initially, the duo brewed at home in their kitchen using simple equipment, but quickly reached their limits. “We still liked the idea, so we decided to go for a more professional approach,” says Anthony. No sooner said than done: the result was a sustainably produced Altbier, which stands out from conventional Altbiers thanks to its organic ingredients and mild flavour. However, organic Altbier is not the only focus: “Part of our income and a lot of our time goes into cultural and social projects here in the city. We are also very happy to supply various events, such as art and cultural events in Düsseldorf, with altus. This allows us to reach a broad target group,” says Tim. The response so far has been very positive. Especially people who are usually not traditional Altbier fans are developing a taste for it. •

ALTUS BRÄU GMBH

SONNBORNSTR. 2

40625 DÜSSELDORF

WWW.ALTUS-BRAEU.DE

altus founders Anthony Boniteau and Tim Kasparek combine brewing with sustainability.

EFFECTIVE COST CONTROL

CTO Seong-Min Kang and CEO Felicia Mundhenke shed light on the "black box" of consulting costs with consalio.

Throughout her career, Felicia Mundhenke has worked a lot with external consultancies, freelancers and agencies. They were often the "extended workbench", so to speak, and there was a close partnership that lasted for years. What often clouded the relationship was the feeling of flying blind, never being able to look into the 'engine room' and not being able to keep an eye on the costs. “In fact, the only time I ever knew what the costs were was when the invoices came in," she explains. This is how the idea for 'consalio' was born in 2021 - a consultancy cost management software that sheds light on the black box. By analysing the timesheets of service providers, it makes it possible to accurately track project progress, keep an eye on budgets and also uncover irregularities in performance records. For companies, this means less work and clear cost savings. “After initial positive feedback from department heads in different parts of the company, I took the plunge and started the company from a secure corporate position," says the young CEO. Co-founder and CTO Seong-Min Kang, who develops the software and AI components, came on board in 2022. Thanks to him and his strong team, we were able to go to market in the same year. The customer base now includes large corporations such as E.ON, as well as fast-growing companies such as Flixbus. The goal for the future is clear - and ambitious: consalio wants to set a new cross-industry standard as a seal of quality for how service providers and companies work together on the basis of transparent communication. •

REVOLUTION OF THE TOUPET

Alessando Causarano knows from personal experience that hair loss can have a significant impact on quality of life and self-esteem. After successfully selling his first startup and setting up Frame Ventures in Düsseldorf, Germany, the entrepreneur focused on the hair loss market. He quickly identified a promising solution for those suffering from hair loss that did not require a hair transplant. Together with Dr Linus Deike and Janos Bluhm-Saffran, he founded O.C. Hairsystems. After a year of intensive product development, the team launched in June 2020, at the height of the pandemic. We guarantee a full head of hair within two hours - no surgery, no risk. For many of our customers, this is a huge relief after years of suffering,' explains Alessandro Causarano. Two categories of products are offered: For the early stages of hair loss, hair cosmetics under the O.C. Haircare label, available online and on Amazon. For the later stages of hair loss, O.C. Hairsystems is used as an invisible hair replacement suitable for everyday use. More than 20,000 customers, including men and women, have already tried the products. O.C. has its own stores in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Since 2022, we also have well-known investors on board and are planning to expand to other European countries from 2025. We also want to launch other innovative products in the fight against hair loss. •

O.C. HAIRSYSTEMS GMBH

ZOLLHOF 17

40221 DÜSSELDORF

WWW.OC-HAIRSYSTEMS.COM

Janos Bluhm-Saffran, Alessandro Causarano and Dr Linus Deike are developing innovative solutions against hair loss.

Words: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Michelle Duong, consalio, O.C. Hairsystems GmbH

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