Fresh ideas from Düsseldorf
From AI-based building management systems to sustainable organic fertiliser: the local start-up scene is defying the crisis with forward-looking business models. VIVID presents three of them.
Start-ups, like the entire economy, are affected by the Covid pandemic. But founders usually also see an opportunity in a crisis and are used to reacting quickly to new situations. Therefore, they are more optimistic about the future than the German economy as a whole,” commented Franziska Teubert, Managing Director of the Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V. at the presentation of the results of the 8th German Startup Monitor on 29 September 2020. The underlying survey of almost 2,000 German startups proves, among other things: Over 90 percent are planning new hires during this period. The average number of employees at the startups surveyed has even increased: from 13.3 in 2019 to 14.3 in 2020. The topics of innovation and sustainability are also very important to them: almost half use artificial intelligence in their business model and/or classify their offerings as part of the Green Economy. Just like the three exciting start-ups from Düsseldorf that VIVID is profiling in this issue. With their fresh ideas, they enrich the business world in very different ways.
Getbaff brings images to life
“I'm baffled!” - that was a typical reaction of test persons to what Hendrik Gottschalk and his team presented to them in spring 2018: the beta version of an app that converts an image into a video - and thus leads to augmented reality. Analogue surfaces such as business cards, flyers or even packaging can thereby be brought to life. “You don't need a code, the image is the code,” explains Hendrik Gottschalk. The former primary school teacher developed the product continuously together with programmer Jan Owiesniak and two video experts. They presented getbaff at international trade fairs, were accepted into the start-up programme “Vodafone Uplift„ and were able to win Ariel and Sea-Shepherd as customers. When projects with Edeka and Unitymedia were successfully implemented, the first investors came knocking. On 11.11.2019, getbaff GmbH was born. “Our technology can also be integrated into companies' existing apps,” says Hendrik Gottschalk. If required, getbaff also offers its customers full service: from video production and photo shoots to accompanying social media marketing. This is also appreciated by some local players - the Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf, for example. Look-ing to the future, Hendrik says: “One goal is to also get more involved in learning and education, so that people can also get added value from augmented reality here.” •
getbaff GmbH
Rathausufer 23
40213 Düsseldorf
www.getbaff.de
Jan Owiesniak (CTO) and Hendrik Gottschalk (CEO) of Getbaff turn pictures into an experience.
DABBEL makes buildings more sustainable with AI
More than 75 percent of European buildings are inefficient in terms of energy consumption. At the same time, the building sector accounts for 40 percent of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the EU. How can artificial intelligence help to improve this situation? Since spring 2018, the answer has been provided by DABBEL – an AI-based building manager. “The inefficiency arises because the previous building management system follows static rules. Heating, ventilation and cooling have to be adjusted manually in case of deviations from the desired state. DABBEL, on the other hand, can be installed on the existing building management system and controls the energy systems on the basis of model-predictive control - and learns at the same time,” explains Nico Hahn, Head of Business Development. This approach can save up to 40 percent energy and CO2 emissions. The DABBEL team has already received several awards for its projects, most recently the NRW 2020 Energy Innovation Award. The AI software is already in use in commercial buildings worldwide. Previous customers include the energy supplier Gelsenwasser, the real estate specialist VINCI Facilities Solutions and the Stiftung Gesundheitsförderung Bad Zurzach + Baden, a rehabilitation clinic in Switzerland. “Our mission is to develop the most scalable, cost-effective and sustainable building automation technologies to reduce CO2 emissions in buildings worldwide,” says Nico Hahn.•DABBEL – Automation Intelligence GmbH
Fürstenwall 228
40215 Düsseldorf
www.dabbel.eu
The Dabbel management from left to right: Javier Ferre (Co-Founder & CTO), Pablo Stahl (Co-Founder & CDO) and Abel Samaniego (Founder & CEO).
Krauts 'n' Sprouts develops sustainable bio-fertiliser
Conventional synthetic fertiliser is produced under quite energy-intensive and climate-damaging conditions. Moreover, its use can be a reason for increased nitrate levels in groundwater and harm soil fertility in the long term. How can this be done better? The three microbiologists Maximilian Dietsch, Lutz Berwanger, Dr Nicolas Schmelling and the economic chemist Lara Wedershoven from Heinrich Heine University have found a solution. They are cultivating natural microorganisms, special cyanobacteria, with very advantageous properties: among other things, these can fix not only CO2 but also nitrogen, an essential fertiliser component, directly from the air and use it for fertiliser production. In addition, nitrate leaching is reduced and soil fertility is increased - with a comparable fertiliser output. The concept is convincing: at the end of 2020, Krauts 'n' Sprouts received the Founder's Scholarship from the Society of Friends and Supporters of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf e.V. “Next, we are working on up-scaling production in a greenhouse in Düsseldorf-Hamm. In addition to the EXIST funding we have applied for, we are looking for a strategic partner interested in reducing its carbon footprint to enter the market,” explains Lutz Berwanger. In the future, the bio-fertiliser could be used everywhere where plants need to be nourished in a healthy and sustainable way: on the balcony, in the allotment garden or in the horticultural business. And of course, on agriculturally used fields – that would be the greatest contribution to climate protection. •
Lutz Claus Berwanger M.Sc.
Universitätsstr. 1
Building: 22.07_Floor/Room: 00.043
40225 Düsseldorf
www.krautsnsprouts.earth
Economic chemist Lara Wedershoven and the three microbiologists Dr Nicolas Schmelling, Lutz Berwanger and Maximilian Dietsch.
Words Tom Corrinth
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