On July 3, 2024, the second round of the Unicorn Pitch Series took place at the office of our supporting member and event sponsor HEUKING. This event had around 60 participants and no chair was left empty.
Unicorn Pitch in the Female Founder Version at HEUKING
The evening began with brief greetings from Hanns Tappen and Dr. Patrick Müller, who also highlighted the upcoming HEUKING Venture Night on September 12, 2024. Hanns Tappen introduced StartupDorf’s activities and explained the pitch competition process, emphasizing the uniqueness of the “Female Founder Version.” He highlighted the importance of visibility for female tech startup founders and addressed the venture capital funding gap for female-led ventures, referencing a BCG study that underscores the efficiency and potential of female founders in terms of capital utilization and revenue generation.
The pitches, each limited to 5 minutes followed by intense Q&A sessions, showcased remarkable diversity and quality. Each founder impressed with her unique pitch style. Hanns Tappen summarized the pitches to prepare the audience for voting. Guests used a voting app to cast their votes.
Clear Winner in the Voting
Voting Results: At the Unicorn Pitch in the Female Founder Version on July 3, Christine Curtius of VoltVogel won 1st place and the Unicorn Trophy. The decision was clear: 50% of the votes went to VoltVogel, followed by Comdaily with 24.07%, The Multiverse AI with 14.81%, and SmartSylvan with 11.11%.
Voices of the Evening:
Christine Curtius, CEO of VoltVogel, and winner of the 2nd Unicorn Pitch of the Series 2024, said: “We are thrilled with the win – it shows us that not only comfortable but also sustainable solutions matter to everyone.”
Dr. Patrick Müller, Partner at HEUKING, stated: “It was a great pleasure to host StartupDorf at our Düsseldorf HEUKING location for the Unicorn Pitch in the Female Founder Version! The pitches were excellent in front of a great audience! Events like these continually show us why it’s good and right to support the activities of StartupDorf e.V. as a sponsoring member! We look forward to many more joint events and initiatives in the local startup ecosystem at the Rhine and Ruhr.”
Hanns Tappen, founding chairman of StartupDorf e.V. and owner of betawerke, emphasized: “The grassroots work, the opportunities provided by our supporting members and sponsors, and our intention to highlight the startup scene at the Rhine and Ruhr, particularly the founders at our home base in Düsseldorf, bring about successful formats like the Unicorn Pitch. Our thanks go to everyone who supports us in this endeavor.”
Reflections and Future Prospects
Outlook and Reflection: Reflecting on the pitches, the following statements can be derived:
- The Multiverse AI shows signs of a beginning product-market fit with steadily increasing revenues in recent weeks and months.
- Comdaily is still in the early stages, but the large founding team and appropriate outreach will convert today’s test customers into paying clients based on the received feedback.
- SmartSylvan inspires with its innovative idea, already sending interesting signals for urban and spatial planners and could launch an exciting PoC phase with the right city partner.
- VoltVogel has a strong tech (hardware, software) foundation, developed a prototype, and signed initial contracts with major clients. A solution for a growing market that already offers cost-saving potentials in specific B2B areas.
Details on the Startups and Founders:
SmartSylvan
Tags: #CleanTech #GreenTech #Autonomous #Robotics
Self-moving (autonomous) trees that track sunlight to cool and enhance multifunctional public spaces where traditional planting isn’t feasible.
Dr. Parisa Kloss, Co-Founder, is an urban designer and planner with over 18 years of international experience, specializing in urban climate change planning, urban heat island effect, sustainable development, and nature-based solutions.
VoltVogel
Tags: #Cleantech #Robotics #Autonomous #EV-Charging
VoltVogel revolutionizes EV charging with an autonomous fast-charging service that is 100% comfortable and sustainable.
Christine Curtius is the CEO of VoltVogel, leveraging her strong background in finance and strategy to help fleet operators and parking managers meet the variable market demands with a tailored, flexible offering.
Comdaily
Tags: #AI #MarTech #BrandManagement #SocialMediaManagement
Comdaily combines real-time brand communication analysis, social media management, and text generation in one tool.
Ellen Martin, Co-Founder of Comdaily, has years of experience in the agency and communications industry.
The Multiverse AI
Tags: #AI #AIphotography #BrandIdentity
The Multiverse AI enables individuals and teams to create professional headshots at a fraction of the cost.
Anika Lakdawala, Co-Founder, is a user experience designer turned entrepreneur, passionate about creating great and accessible products that bring value and joy to users.
We sincerely thank all participants, especially our event sponsors HEUKING and betawerke, without whose support this event would not have been possible. A big thank you also to all attendees and viewers who made this evening unforgettable.
Organizer and Sponsors: StartupDorf organization team on site, with Hanns Tappen, Dominik Klepek, Jessica Ojelabi, Florian Baum. HEUKING with Dr. Patrick Müller and Team.
Next StartupDorf Event: For those who can't wait, the next StartupDorf event will take place on August 7th. This time, it will be a classic Gründerstammtisch at TechhubK67. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
