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 of the flexible lunch service for small and medium-sized companies. MARKTKOST's sustainable concept includes seasonal foods, 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 needed. MARKTKOST's goal is to provide healthy food at every workplace. By subsidizing the lunch program, companies can retain their employees. MARKTKOST allows companies to subsidize the meals tax-free. The subsidy averages five euros per meal, which means 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.

In the venture capital and startup sector, environmental protection, social aspects and sustainable corporate governance, also known as ESG ("Environmental, Social and Governance"), are becoming increasingly important. Despite the challenges in 2022, BurdaPrincipal Investments (BPI), the capital provider 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. This is the third time in a row that BPI has published its ESG report, and it was one of the first VC funds to address the issue 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 chain, legal and regulatory, and diversity and inclusion. The report includes insights on best practices among startups for each category. In addition to the current status, the report also queried goals for 2023, with a focus on improving carbon footprint measurement.

New cooperation: doctorderma and SWAN Beauty

Hamburg, June 12, 2023 - Hamburg-based companies doctorderma and SWAN Beauty have launched a new cooperation. The free app and the innovative Smart Mirror from SWAN allow users to directly access the offers of the online dermatologist. The SWAN Mirror is a mirror with integrated beauty light, camera and full HD touch display that allows users to perform their beauty routine without the need for additional devices. The app provides access to skincare, health and makeup videos, as well as tips from industry experts. The SWAN community already includes more than 25,000 members. At doctorderma, patients can get 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 within four hours. Through the cooperation, members of the SWAN community can now perform the digital skin analysis directly through doctorderma's profile. The beauty mirror from SWAN can be pre-ordered at a price of 499 euros, with delivery at the end of July 2023. The doctorderma diagnosis costs 25 euros, which is reimbursed by private health insurers. Negotiations with statutory health insurers are ongoing.

Proxima Fusion, Gauss Fusion and Focused Energy surprise with cooperation.

German fusion start-ups Proxima Fusion, Gauss Fusion and Focused Energy have decided to combine their research and development activities 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 are taking different approaches, but working together will enable greater progress toward commercializing fusion energy. They are not seeking purely technical cooperation, but also to jointly develop regulatory frameworks and promote public acceptance of fusion energy. Investors can expect long-term success, while policymakers demonstrate their commitment to climate protection and companies create growth potential through innovative solutions.