Successful completion of business plan seminar: students develop innovative start-up concepts

A convincing business plan is the key for start-ups to realize their vision and attract investors. For this reason, the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at TU Dresden and the TUD|excite Start-up Team bring together business students and start-ups from the dresden|exists network every year at the Business Plan Seminar.

An enrichment for both sides: The students have the chance to create professional business plans for real start-up ideas. They gain insights into the world of start-ups, can apply what they have learned in practice and gain valuable experience. At the same time, the start-ups benefit from fresh impetus and new perspectives for their projects.

In the last week of June, 22 students in 5 teams presented the results of a semester of intensive work. They presented their business plans to a professional jury in the SLUB's Open Science Lab. In addition to the actual grade that the Master's and diploma students receive, they also had to prove themselves in a real start-up pitch.

The start-up ideas

The business ideas came from start-up teams or spin-offs from TU Dresden and other institutions from the dresden|exists network. Once again this year, the topics were diverse and highly innovative:

• The BiogenicMatter team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems is pursuing a technology in which CO2 can be permanently stored in a mineral material with the help of bacteria.
• The team behind GrainCycle wants to give spent grains - a nutrient-rich waste product from beer brewing - a new perspective in the food sector and thus reduce food waste.
• kerAMisch, a founding team from the Chair of Machine Tools Development and Adaptive Controls at TU Dresden, has developed a high-performance ceramic mixer for industrial use. Unlike existing systems, sensors and heating and cooling channels enable precise temperature control, making critical processes safer.
• Kraft-Copilot is a project of the Center for Open Digital Innovation and Participation (CODIP) TU Dresden that focuses on young caring adults. It offers a digital learning and networking platform to strengthen self-care, provide individualized support and create a community for exchange.
• Soron Systems, a founding team of the Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks and the launchhub42 network, is developing software that enables drone swarms to be created so that cooperative navigation is possible in environments without GPS.

The jury's TOP teams

Even though only three teams were able to stand on the podium in the end, all teams delivered their pitch very professionally. The jury gave the students valuable feedback on their business plans and presentations.

The TOP presentations this year were delivered by the student teams behind:

1st place: Soron Systems GmbH
2nd place: kerAMisch
3rd place: BiogenicMatter

Congratulations!

© dresden|exists, S. Löbelt-Friedrich

We would also like to thank the jury members for their valuable feedback and their time: Markus Michalow (Bürgerschaftsbank Sachsen & Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen), Claudia Pohlandt (PIZ - Patentinformationszentrum Dresden, TUD|excite), Ute Zesewitz (IHK Dresden), Sebastian Baumgart (Innovations- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft der Ostsächsischen Sparkasse Dresden), Anke Hartmann and Hagen Stendal (Commerzbank).

Once again this year, it was an inspiring conclusion that impressively demonstrated how theory and practice go hand in hand. The result is a valuable transfer of knowledge and experience that enriches both the students and the start-ups and drives innovative ideas forward. In addition, one or two start-ups have already found a potential co-founder or their first employees here.

The business plan seminar takes place annually in the summer semester. More information

More information on the services offered by TUD|excite as part of dresden|exists