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Nearly 70 applications, ten finalist teams, and over 120 guests at a sold-out event: On September 2, 2026, HTW Berlin, in partnership with Berliner Sparkasse, brought innovative startup ideas to the Spree River in Berlin. At the HTW Startup Challenge 2026, selected teams competed in the GreenTech and Impact Entrepreneurship categories. A total of 10,000 euros in prize money was awarded.
Aboard a solar-powered boat, the ten finalist teams presented their business ideas to a jury of business and academic experts, as well as guests from the university and Berlin’s startup ecosystem. This year’s focus was on innovative business models and technologies that address environmental or social challenges through entrepreneurship.
Interest was high: Nearly 70 teams had applied for the HTW Startup Challenge 2026. Ten of them were selected for the finals. They presented their ideas in short elevator pitches. Afterward, the jury and guests had the opportunity to get to know the teams better during a startup rally.
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A total of 10,000 euros in prize money was awarded: 4,000 euros each for the GreenTech Award and the Impact Entrepreneurship Award, and 2,000 euros for the Future Visionary Award. While a jury decided the first two prizes, the Future Visionary Award was presented as the audience choice award.
The Winners of the HTW Startup Challenge 2026
RE:VOLTAGE won the GreenTech Award, which comes with a prize of 4,000 euros. The team impressed the judges with its approach to repurposing still-functional battery cells from end-of-life electric vehicles for new applications. Instead of sending valuable cells directly to recycling, the plan is to assemble them into standardized battery packs for micromobility applications, thereby keeping them in circulation for as long as possible.
The Impact Entrepreneurship Award, also worth 4,000 euros, went to CometHire. The recruiting software combines AI-powered candidate selection with a consistent focus on fairness and transparency. Anonymized, criteria-based evaluation is designed to reduce unconscious biases, while the final decision remains deliberately in human hands.
For the Future Visionary Award, the guests on board made the decision. The audience award, worth 2,000 euros, also went to the CometHire team, which impressed during the pitch and in discussions.
“Nearly 70 applications show just how much entrepreneurial spirit and innovative drive there is in our community. I’m particularly pleased by the wide range of ideas: the teams combine technological innovation with a commitment to solving concrete environmental and social challenges. It is precisely this transfer of knowledge into practice that we at HTW Berlin aim to promote,” says Prof. Dr. Molthagen-Schnöring, Vice President for Research, Transfer, and Science Communication.
“Berlin needs a vibrant and steadily growing startup scene. Its innovations drive the future of our city, create new jobs, and are good for our economy. Together with HTW Berlin, we want to further advance entrepreneurship in our city—this year with a special focus on solutions that create environmental and social value,” says Jasmin Weber of Berliner Sparkasse.
Five teams in the GreenTech sector
Quantum Charging is developing rechargeable AA and AAA batteries that do not contain lithium and are designed to last up to 20 years. Thanks to patented wireless charging technology, they can be charged directly inside the device they’re used in. With this, the team aims to reduce electronic waste and dependence on critical raw materials.
MONOGARMENTS aims to make sustainable textile production accessible to smaller fashion brands as well. The concept combines 100 percent cotton garments with water-based pigment printing and flexible production in small batches.
RE:VOLTAGE gives battery cells that are still functional—sourced from end-of-life electric vehicles—a second life. Suitable cells will be assembled into standardized 36-volt battery packs for micromobility applications, while only cells that are no longer usable will be recycled.
Solsonic combines solar energy, sound, and playful learning. With the “Solsonic Bugs,” the team is developing modular, solar-powered sound synthesizers designed to give children a creative and hands-on introduction to renewable energy.
StallH₂ is developing a compact, container-based system designed to convert manure directly on farms into hydrogen through biological fermentation. The process also produces electricity, heat, and biofertilizer. The modular system is aimed specifically at small and medium-sized farms.
Five teams in the field of Impact Entrepreneurship
CLUUE – Process Knowledge Intelligence is developing a platform to combat the loss of experiential knowledge in companies. Knowledge-critical processes and tacit knowledge—such as decision-making logic and workarounds—are systematically recorded and made available within their respective work contexts.
Resonance Spaces is developing an AI-powered training environment for difficult conversations. Through adaptive role-playing exercises, users can practice handling conflict and feedback situations and receive feedback on their communication behavior.
laia.finance aims to make private retirement planning simpler and more accessible—with a special focus on women. An app determines each user’s individual retirement gap and uses this information to develop a clear, personalized retirement plan.
RENATRIX develops standardized, tissue-specific biomaterials for 3D cell cultures, organoids, and bioprinting. The materials are designed to more reproducibly mimic natural cell environments while reducing resource consumption, costs, and experimental waste.
CometHire develops recruiting software for fairer and more efficient application processes. Personal characteristics can be hidden during the initial evaluation, while AI highlights relevant skills based on defined criteria. The final decision remains with a human.
Highlighting and Connecting Startup Ideas
With the HTW Startup Challenge, HTW Berlin and Berliner Sparkasse are creating a platform for innovative startup ideas in their early stages. In addition to the competition, the focus is on networking: female founders meet representatives from business and academia as well as key players in Berlin’s startup ecosystem. This year’s focus on GreenTech and Impact Entrepreneurship also addresses key topics for the future.
The Startup & Innovation Center at HTW Berlin supports aspiring entrepreneurs and teams from the initial idea through the development and validation of business models all the way to funding programs and market entry.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/1189759/re-voltage-and-comethire-win-the-htw-startup-challenge-2026-in-berlin.html
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