Startup news for a better world week 24

Marktkost offers a healthy lunch at the workplace in Leipzig. BurdaPrincipal Investments publishes ESG report. New cooperation between doctorderma and SWAN Beauty. Proxima Fusion, Gauss Fusion and Focused Energy with research cooperation.

The MARKTKOST platform, which offers a healthy lunch at the workplace, expands its business area to the Leipzig region. A good 20 companies have the opportunity to benefit from attractive opening conditions for the flexible lunch service for small and medium-sized companies. MARKTKOST's sustainable concept includes seasonal food, short delivery routes, high-quality ingredients, little salt and sugar and reusable packaging. The company allows employees to choose from a weekly changing selection of six dishes or let the algorithm decide based on their taste preferences. Orders are placed weekly and the food is portioned into reusable jars as required. The aim of MARKTKOST is to offer healthy food at every workplace. By subsidizing lunch, companies can retain their employees. MARKTKOST enables companies to subsidize the meals tax-free. The subsidy amounts to an average of five euros per meal, which means that employees pay less than four euros. MARKTKOST was founded in 2019 by Laura-Maria Horn and offers innovative solutions for companies without their own canteen.

BurdaPrincipal Investments publishes ESG report and draws positive conclusions

Environmental protection, social aspects and sustainable corporate governance, also known as ESG ("Environmental, Social and Governance"), are becoming increasingly important in the venture capital and start-up sector. Despite the challenges in 2022, BurdaPrincipal Investments (BPI), the investor of Hubert Burda Media, draws a positive balance in its current ESG report. The companies in the portfolio are continuously improving compared to previous years. BPI is publishing its ESG report for the third time in a row and was one of the first VC funds to address the topic in detail. In a survey of portfolio companies, BPI covered the current status in eight ESG dimensions, with particularly positive developments in the areas of team and work environment, data privacy and security, supply chains, legal and regulatory aspects, and diversity and inclusion. For each category, the report contains insights into best practice examples among the startups. In addition to the current status, the goals for 2023 were also queried, with a focus on improving carbon footprint measurement.

New cooperation: doctorderma and SWAN Beauty

Hamburg, 12.06.2023 - The Hamburg-based companies doctorderma and SWAN Beauty have launched a new collaboration. The free app and SWAN's innovative Smart Mirror enable users to access the online dermatologist's services directly. The SWAN Mirror is a mirror with an integrated beauty light, camera and full HD touch display that allows users to carry out their beauty routine without the need for additional devices. The app provides access to videos on skincare, health and make-up as well as tips from industry experts. The SWAN community already has over 25,000 members. At doctorderma, patients can receive a dermatological diagnosis online by uploading three pictures of an affected skin area and filling out a questionnaire. The diagnosis is made within 24 hours, but usually after just four hours. Thanks to the cooperation, members of the SWAN community can now carry out the digital skin analysis directly via the doctorderma profile. SWAN's beauty mirror can be pre-ordered for 499 euros and will be delivered at the end of July 2023. doctorderma's diagnosis costs 25 euros, which is reimbursed by private health insurance companies. Negotiations with statutory health insurance companies are ongoing.

Proxima Fusion, Gauss Fusion and Focused Energy surprise with cooperation

The German fusion start-ups Proxima Fusion, Gauss Fusion and Focused Energy have decided to pool their research and development activities in order to accelerate progress in fusion energy. This strategic cooperation creates new opportunities to work together on pioneering technologies and bring them to market faster. The partners have different approaches, but working together will enable greater progress towards the commercialization of fusion energy. They are not only aiming for purely technical cooperation, but also want to jointly develop a legal framework and promote public acceptance of fusion energy. Investors can expect long-term success, while politicians demonstrate their commitment to climate protection and companies create growth potential through innovative solutions.