Startupnews of the week - week 41

COCOLI promotes environmental awareness in the furniture industry. INTEGRA Biosciences supports DNTOX. X2.0 launches fourth open call for €1.5 million. aidhere joins Sidekick Health. anny introduces new app.

anny introduces new app: Resource booking made easy

Cologne-based tech startup anny has launched its new native app that allows users to easily book resources such as rooms, workstations, parking spaces and equipment. The app responds to the increasing demands of hybrid and flexible work environments and offers an intuitive weekly planner as well as a map view of the office to easily find resources and locate colleagues. In the future, anny also plans a public marketplace for external offers. The app will serve as a one-stop shop for bookable resources and provide a platform for providers to make their services available to a wider audience. The app is available now in popular app stores.

INTEGRA Biosciences supports DNTOX

INTEGRA Biosciences has supported the Düsseldorf-based company DNTOX as part of its "INTEGRA supports startups" competition. DNTOX, specializing in neurotoxicity testing, received 31 EVOLVE manual pipettes, $1000 worth of GRIPTIPS pipette tips, and lab supplies. This equipment will facilitate the evaluation of neurotoxicological hazards and increase the company's testing capacity. DNTOX offers low-cost, non-animal neurotoxicity testing in 5 to 6 weeks and plans to expand its laboratory and hire new staff to deepen its research and increase testing capacity. The company aims to protect the developing brain from neurotoxic damage and reduce animal testing in this field

X2.0 launches fourth open call for €1.5 million

X2.0 has launched its fourth open call inviting innovative startups in the field of smart cities and sustainability to apply for its 5-month growth program. Selected startups will receive €30,000 in innovation vouchers, mentoring and scaling services from over 200 impact builders. With a total of €1.5 million in funding, X2.0 aims to respond to the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and public services as projected by the United Nations, with the goal of improving quality of life while promoting sustainability. The program focuses on various subtopics such as urban mobility, energy efficiency, waste management and climate change mitigation. The application deadline is December 11, 2023 at 17:00 CET. In addition, X2.0 hosts webinars for startups and impact builders interested in smart cities and sustainability projects.

aidhere joins Sidekick Health

It has been announced that Hamburg-based aidhere will be part of Sidekick Health, a global provider of digital therapeutics based in Reykjavik, Iceland. Through this acquisition, Sidekick expands its product portfolio and enters the prescription therapeutics market. The existing digital health application (DiGA) zanadio will continue to be available by prescription and will be usable without restrictions. Sidekick intends to invest in the digital health application space and plans to create a new prescription therapeutics business unit led by Henrik Emmert, founder and CEO of aidhere. This strategic acquisition will also support the creation of new jobs in various areas, and all aidhere employees will be retained by Sidekick. Sidekick Health provides various app-based health solutions and works with pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies. The collaboration between aidhere and Sidekick Health aims to advance the digitalization of healthcare in Germany and strengthen the offering for patients and service providers.

OCOLI for more environmental awareness and circular economy in the furniture industry

Berlin-based interior startup COCOLI is committed to environmental protection and the promotion of a circular economy in the furniture industry. According to the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), over 10 million tons of furniture are thrown away in the EU every year, while a similar amount is produced. COCOLI offers an online marketplace for high-quality vintage furniture, secondhand designs and discarded collections to extend the life of furniture and reduce environmental impact. Greta Schindler, co-founder and CMO of COCOLI, emphasizes the importance of sustainability when buying furniture and calls for more transparency in the production and transportation chain. COCOLI also promotes the reuse of packaging materials and plans to launch a workshop to repair returns. With a growing interest in secondhand and used furniture in the market, COCOLI shows how circular economy measures can positively impact the furniture industry.

AlgorithmWatch receives the Brandenburg Freedom Award

AlgorithmWatch received the Brandenburg Freedom Award 2023 at a ceremony in Brandenburg Cathedral. The organization was founded in Berlin in 2017 and is dedicated to analyzing processes of algorithmic decision-making with social relevance. Its focus is on investigating the risks and impacts of automated decision-making systems with the aim of making society more just, democratic, inclusive and sustainable. The deputy prime minister of Brandenburg, Ursula Nonnemacher, praised AlgorithmWatch for its work in drawing attention to threats to digital freedom. The laudatory speech emphasized the importance of their work for the observance of common good-oriented rules in the digital space. Cathedral Bishop Dr. Christian Stäblein, the jury chairman, emphasized the need for responsible use of algorithms. Matthias Spielkamp, managing director of AlgorithmWatch, expressed his delight at the award and its potential contribution to drawing attention to their work.