These are the winners of the start-up competition of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

21 start-ups received prize money of more than 300,000 euros in the start-up competition.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection has awarded prizes to 21 start-ups in its start-up competition for digital innovations. A special prize for "Digital Sustainability" went to Treesense. The spin-off from the Technical University of Munich has developed a sensor that can analyze the water balance of trees. The data obtained then serves as the basis for a tool that irrigation teams can use to plan their workdays more efficiently.

Five other start-ups received the Gründungspreis+, which is endowed with 32,000 euros each. Among the winners is the spin-off from the Technical University of Braunschweig Aeon Robotics with its Droid robot system. The robotic hand can learn grasping movements from humans and imitate them with the help of artificial intelligence. CobotHub won the Gründungspreis+ for its online platform for open-source-based artificial intelligence. With its help, robots can autonomously take on tasks. With their award-winning startup Hoscom, Robin Renschler and Magnus Liedtke want to make everyday work easier for hotel employees and enable better internal communication. To this end, the Munich-based company has developed a cloud-based information and communication platform that also links existing systems. Pellta received the Gründerpreis+ for its tap-proof storage box for smartphones. The phones placed inside remain connected to the mobile network. As a result, users can continue to make phone calls with them. Wesort.AI from Würzburg was honored for its AI-based waste analysis and sorting machine.

Fifteen other start-ups received the start-up award and 7,000 euros in prize money. Among them is fashion start-up Brajuu, which offers digital bra advice. Also winning were Vestigas, Applimeda, Novaheal, Korallenwächter, LoveLane, Zentur.io, Valupa, Inbuild, Evocal, Invest2Change, Layover Solutions, TelemetryDeck, InCirT and Mivao.

"Young digital companies are crucial for the development and success of Germany as a technology location. With the start-up competition, we support start-ups with more than 300,000 euros in seed capital and provide them with start-up knowledge and networking opportunities," says the Start-up Officer of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection Anna Christmann. All participating start-ups also receive an assessment of their start-up idea.