Federal Ministry of Economics awards these five start-ups

Cyber security, AI-based analysis tools and a pair of glasses that can be used to control electric wheelchairs: These are the winners of the "Digital Start-up of the Year 2021" award.

The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection has awarded five founding teams with the "Digital Start-up of the Year 2021" prize. The award recognizes start-ups that have implemented digital business models quickly and successfully and that promise further growth.

Sosafe made it to first place. Founded in 2018 by Niklas Hellemann, Lukas Schaefer and Felix Schürholz, the start-up has developed a platform that trains company employees in IT security and data protection. SoSafe has now received 50,000 euros from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection for its win. Just recently, the Cologne-based company was able to raise $73 million from investors.

Munevo won the second prize of 30,000 euros. The start-up from Munich has developed smart glasses with which users can operate electric wheelchairs. It registers the wheelchair user's head movements and sends the signals to the control system. The company is a spin-off of the Technical University in Munich.

Third place is taken by two companies at once: Both Mediaire and Twaice receive 10,000 euros. The former want to automate the evaluation of radiological images with their product mdbrain. An AI evaluates the brain images and compares the image information with standard values. In this way, it wants to better detect Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The company has existed since 2018, founded by medical physicists Andreas Lemke and Jörg Döpfert. Twaice has been in the electrical industry since 2018, offering software to analyze the performance, safety and lifespan of electric batteries. Founders Stephan Rohr and Michael Baumann want to use it to accelerate the shift to green mobility and energy supply.

Credium received the audience award of 10,000 euros. 1,500 participants voted for the start-up from Augsburg at the online award ceremony. With the help of satellite photos and survey data, the start-up founded by Lars Wederhake, Timm Tränkler and Wolfgang Kratsch evaluates various real estate properties.

"With their successful business models, the award-winning start-ups are driving the digital transformation decisively. The innovations of the award-winning teams arm companies against cyber attacks, strengthen key technologies such as artificial intelligence in our healthcare system, quickly realize the transportation turnaround, and they make life easier for people with disabilities," says Parliamentary State Secretary Franziska Brantner.