Zeppelin University
Friedrichshafen (ots)
Harvest workers who do long and arduous work are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Without harvest workers there are neither strawberries nor tomatoes. But maybe there will soon no longer be a need for harvest workers, because a start-up from Constance, Organifarms, has developed a robot that can harvest strawberries automatically. His name is “Berry”. But for “Berry” to come onto the market, the start-up still needs money: around 1.5 million euros.
Therefore, the young entrepreneurs at the first Investor Summit Bodensee at the Zeppelin University (ZU) in Friedrichshafen. Of the 22 start-ups that applied, seven survived the preliminary round and were thus given the opportunity to present their business model to the financially strong six-person jury on Monday, April 17th. Just like Hannah Brown and Dominik Feiden from Organifarms, who are now looking forward to the jury’s comments after a highly professional pitch.
“Your project can be interesting,” says Günter Hagspiel Guntha Investment & Advisory from Schwarzach in the core investors’ commentary after the pitch and asks to be able to learn more about Organifarms’ business plan later. “You’ll definitely get that financed,” evaluates Alois Flatz Flatz & Partners from Vaduz and adds that he might finance it himself. And also Sven Schulz from the Schulz Group from Ravensburg immediately expressed interest: “I too would be happy if we talked to each other later.” Werner Deuring from the Deuring Group from Bregenz also confirms that the topic of harvest workers is a big one for him, “but now we’ll wait and see who will talk to you.” If nothing comes of it, they should contact him again.
This shows that there is a great desire to invest in the Lake Constance region. Obviously there is more capital here than ideas. That was also the reason why the six core investors of ZU gave the impetus to organize the Investor Summit Bodensee. Capital and business ideas should find each other. In addition to the six core investors who, as a jury, comment on the pitches of the seven participating start-ups, around thirty others came to find out about investment opportunities.
Next to Organifarms The following start-ups from Constance are pitching their ideas: Optocycle from Tübingen develops an analysis system for building rubble; Eversion Tech from Constance manufactures soles with sensors for physiotherapeutic prevention; Gymo from Feldkirch wants to launch a complete software solution for fitness studios; FritziFrisch wants to revolutionize the distribution of groceries via the Internet; MyFeld.ch can help match food production to demand more effectively; and the Climate factory aims to sensitize the workforce of companies to corporate climate protection through training courses.
So the field of start-ups is broad, so there should be something interesting for every investor. That’s exactly the challenge at the end of the day: finding the right business idea for your own portfolio – in an industry you know well. All business ideas presented at the Investor Summit Bodensee have potential and are worth financing. Otherwise they would not have survived the preliminary round.
But just as the lid has to fit the pot, the start-up also has to fit the investor. The amount of the financial requirement, whether it is a six-, seven- or even eight-digit amount, plays a lesser role in whether an investment is made or not. The perfect cut plays a bigger role. Because in addition to financing, the investors also help with advice and networks.
And so the investors honestly reflect back to the young entrepreneurs when a business idea doesn’t really fit their field of business. What’s more, if a start-up isn’t quite convincing, they give fair and constructive feedback in the comments section: “That would be a good topic, but I have the feeling that the sensor technology is still too early stage,” says Alois Flatz after the pitch from Optocycle. “In 20 years it will certainly be standard,” says Werner Deuring, “but not yet. That’s why I would like to bring you together with one of my experts so that he can advise you on the development.” And an investor from the back rows of the audience asks to speak, asks a technical question and announces that he wants to discuss the development process further at a later date.
“We are very happy that we organized the Investor Summit Bodensee,” says project manager Dr. Lennart Brand, ZU Director of Enterprise & Advancement, “and based on the good feedback from investors, we will not only have organized it this one time”.
Press contact:
Michael Scheyer
Head of Communication | Zeppelin Universität
Am Seemooser Horn 20
88045 Friedrichshafen | Bodensee
Tel: +49 7541 6009-1119
E-Mail: [email protected]
Home: www.zu.de
Original content from: Zeppelin University, transmitted by news aktuell
