From Idea to Stage: StartUp School at RWU
From September 6 to 11, the StartUp School was held for the first time at RWU. Thirty-three students from RWU, Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, the University of Konstanz, and Albstadt-Sigmaringen University participated in the program to learn how to develop their startup ideas and then present them as polished pitches. The StartUp School has been organized for the past six years by the Kilometer 1 university association, which supports students in bringing their startup ideas to life.
Throughout the week, various workshops were offered to teach participants the fundamentals essential for starting their own businesses; students were able to practice improvisation and creativity, brainstorm ideas in teams, and gain initial experience collecting user data and identifying potential target audiences. A particular highlight was the visit to the “dgtal lab” in Ravensburg. Here, participants had the opportunity to present their startup concepts as pitches on a large screen in a professional setting and receive immediate visual feedback through video recordings of their presentations. This gave each team additional time to refine their presentation for the pitch finale.
The final round was judged by a panel consisting of Jürgen Kuhn from the Lake Constance-Upper Swabia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK), Jan Halpape from Bechtle, and Sybille Koch and Lisa Keutler from Kilometer1. From the digitization of soccer training data to a sustainable shipping envelope, the teams showcased the results of their days-long work. However, the top prize went to the team of Niklas Maier, Yasar Heidt, and Jan Trautmann, who won over the jury with their idea for a safe-home-trip app. “Everyone had really exciting ideas that were also pitched very well,” says Jan Trautmann about the success. “So, of course, we’re delighted that the jury chose us.” After participating in the StartUp School, students can receive further advice and support from Kilometer1 upon request—with the goal of turning their ideas into reality using the knowledge they’ve gained.
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