Original Source: eu-startups.com
The preselection jury of the Future Hamburg Award has now selected the ten most promising startups from among 113 applicants. The ten finalists are from several European countries, with digital business models from the areas of logistics, mobility, and tourism. All those who have made it to the final round may have the opportunity to take part in a tailored support programme in Hamburg as one of three winning teams.
The finalists of the Future Hamburg Award 2019 have been selected. Hamburg’s new startup award will provide three winning companies with easy access to one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in Europe. The ten companies that have reached the finals stand out for their technological innovations, a unique business model, as well as excellent prospects for success. Coming from Norway, Portugal, Spain, the UK and Germany, all of the finalists have convinced the jury with their groundbreaking products, in the fields of logistics, mobility, and tourism. Thus, leading up to the final decision, the field of competitors is characterised by great diversity. A preliminary jury with experts from e.g. Airbus BizLab, Cisco System Inc., Hanse Ventures and Next Media Accelerator chose the remaining ten candidates from a total of 113 submissions. Comprising eleven members, the main jury, which includes representatives of the Otto Group Digital Solutions, Online Marketing Rockstars (OMR) and smaato, will subsequently decide on the three winning teams, who will be awarded at the OMR Festival in Hamburg on May 8 2019.
“In this first round of the Future Hamburg Awards, the overwhelming support from Hamburg’s startup ecosystem in particular has strengthened our belief that we have one of the best business networks in Europe,” said Dr. Rolf Strittmatter, managing director of Hamburg Marketing GmbH. “Thanks to an incredible team effort by all the stakeholders involved we have received more than 100 submissions. This alone exceeds all our expectations, seeing that the support programme is completely new. We are now very excited about the jury’s decision-making process and look forward to awarding the three strongest entrepreneurial teams at the forthcoming OMR Festival.”
Three of the ten finalists will be able to boost their business over a period of several months in Hamburg, with a tailored coaching and support programme. These are the ten finalists:
Shortlist Future Hamburg Award 2019
- BYHOURS TRAVEL (Barcelona, Spain) is introducing the first pay-per-use system for the hotel sector, allowing customers to choose their check-in and check-out time at a hotel themselves and pay only for the hours they need.
- Heptasense (Lisbon, Portugal) provides a software for surveillance cameras that is capable of detecting suspicious and criminal behaviour and alerting the relevant security teams.
- Humanising Autonomy (London, UK) aims to improve the safety and efficiency of autonomous vehicles by understanding and predicting human behaviour in urban areas.
- LignoPure by Technical University Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany). Lignin is a natural, biodegradable alternative to oil-based industrial products such as plastic microbeads. Lignopure thus increases the sustainablility of consumer goods while retaining functionality.
- Localyze (Hamburg, Germany) supports international staff during the entire relocation process with a comprehensive software solution that covers anything from visa requirements to social integration.
- LoudSteps by Boni (Berlin, Germany) is a mobile navigation application for people with visual impairments. The app helps users to conceptualise their environment and orient themselves accordingly.
- NautilusLog (Hamburg, Germany) provides a digital logbook for the shipping industry. The app collects data on board a ship, creating a simple and secure platform for information exchange and collaboration.
- ShareHouse (Berlin, Germany) enables logistics professionals to make unused storage space available at short notice via a digital platform to avoid empty areas.
- Teston (Oslo, Norway) makes user testing easy, fast and cost-efficient. The platform helps companies understand how their customers experience a product or service.
- YOU MAWO (Konstanz, Germany) is the world’s first eyewear label to offer customised eyewear frames in addition to their ready-to-wear collection of 3D-printed glasses. Frames are designed with the help of a dedicated 3D head scanner.
Future Hamburg Award – the tailored support programme for startups from around the globe
Offering immediate market access to Hamburg, one of Europe’s most dynamic and strongest startup ecosystems, the Future Hamburg Award is directed at pioneering founders from all over the world. As part of the programme, innovative startup businesses are linked up with established companies and receive systematic support in advancing their existing business model. The tailored support programme “Start me up in Hamburg” will be customised in collaboration with each of the winning teams and will be adapted to their specific needs. In addition, the winners will receive high-end business coaching, professional pitch training and, during their stay in Hamburg, up to six months of free coworking space as well as access to exclusive networking events.
One of the highlights will be the award ceremony at the OMR Festival in Hamburg in May 2019, with more than 40,000 marketing and technology experts attending the event. At the OMR, the winning teams will be able to present their company to an expert audience. Key players such as Google, Facebook and Twitter have chosen Hamburg as the location for their corporate headquarters, and Hamburg is also home to one of the youngest German unicorns – AboutYou. A major trading hub in Northern Europe and a leading innovation location in key technologies of the future, Hamburg is the perfect location for tapping new markets with groundbreaking ideas. The Future Hamburg Award was initiated by Hamburg Marketing GmbH and Hamburg Invest.
To learn more about the Future Hamburg Award and the finalists, and to view the full list of expert jury members, please visit their website.