For more than ten years, the Hamburg Founders’ Award has been one of the most important events that brings together ambitious start-ups with established business leaders. Initiated by the Hamburger Sparkasse and the Hamburger Abendblatt, the awards in the start-up, up-and-coming and lifetime achievement categories were presented at a gala in the Fischauktionshalle. This year, the Hamburg Founders’ Prize in the start-up category went to the bioeconomy start-up traceless materials, which was developed by the founders Dr Anne Lamp and Johanna Baar. The initiators could take this excellent example of female entrepreneurship as an opportunity to think more inclusively when naming the event and the award category in future. The evening’s laudators were Hamburg’s first mayor Peter Tschentscher, the editor-in-chief of the Hamburger Abendblatt Lars Haider and Chamber of Commerce President Norbert Aust. In his welcoming speech, Haspa Board Spokesman Dr Harald Vogelsang underlined the central role of entrepreneurial initiative: “These success stories give us hope that we have something to counter the challenges ahead – from Covid to the Ukraine war to the climate crisis. And hopefully they inspire many to follow suit.” beyourpilot is proud to be part of a city initiative by the Department of Business and Innovation that promotes precisely this kind of entrepreneurship.
Versatile support for the female founders
The award-winning startup is based at the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH) and is supported by beyourpilot as well as Startup Dock: “I was unsure at the beginning and didn’t know my options regarding a startup. Startup Dock advised me and gave me tips. Sebastian Bartosch was my main contact person, but Konstantin Kollar and Dr. Andrea Otto also advised me regarding the start-up. To this day, they are my sparring partners when it comes to my pitch deck. For example, we also talk about our strategy, how we can realise things. These are all business components that you think less about as a researcher,” Anne reported as part of our start-up story.
The business idea: a dimensionally stable material made from agricultural industry residues
The technology developed by Dr Anne Lamp makes it possible to produce a new material from residual materials from the agricultural industry, from which a film, a dimensionally stable material and coatings can be obtained. “Our innovative, patent-pending technology makes it possible for the first time to use agricultural industry by-products to produce materials that can be composted at home,” she explains. These are 100 per cent bio-based, do not compete with food production, do not require plasticisers or other additives that are harmful to the environment or health, and are compostable at home. The new material has mechanical, barrier and storage-stability properties comparable to those of conventional plastic films and rigid plastics. Moreover, it does not fall under the EU Plastics Directive, is already competitive in terms of quality – and will even be able to compete with conventional plastics in terms of price on an industrial production scale.
Award also at the German Founders’ Prize?
Finally, the question arises: will the founders be able to repeat this success at the national Founders’ Prize next week? They are among the finalists there and are given a good chance. The German Founders’ Prize is the most important award for successful founders and outstanding entrepreneurs in Germany. It is awarded annually for exemplary achievements in the development of innovative and viable business ideas and the establishment of new companies in the categories of student, start-up, up-and-comer and lifetime achievement.
More information about the founding story via Startup Stories by beyourpilot
