The iHack RLP is a competition in which teams develop ideas for business models within 2.5 days. Students can test themselves as entrepreneurs. Mainzer Netze GmbH (100% subsidiary of Mainzer Stadtwerke AG), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the Fraunhofer Institute IESE (Institute for Experimental Software Engineering) selected the topic area with a focus on future potential.
On Friday morning, the event kicked off live from the Gutenberg Digital Hub in Mainz with opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Marcus Sidki, Professor of Economics and Statistics and Presidential Representative for Research and Transfer at Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, and Horst Meierhofer, Managing Director of the Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate State Association for Energy and Water Management (LDEW). The subsequent presentations by the participating institutions were followed by more than fifty active participants via live stream.
In the afternoon, patron and Minister of Economic Affairs Daniela Schmitt welcomed all participants live from the venue and introduced Start.in.RLP - the Rhineland-Palatinate start-up grant.
Over the course of the weekend, eight teams came together to develop ideas. They received support and guidance, particularly on the topic of the business model canvas. David Zakoth, a doctoral student from Mainz University of Applied Sciences, explained the model in a livestream presentation. Information and additional video conferences were communicated throughout the weekend in a specially set up workspace. Participants also had the opportunity to work on site in the Gutenberg Digital Hub and exchange ideas with their team.
Mainzer Netze GmbH challenged with the topic: "M-Tankstelle" - What does it look like? And what makes it unique? Turn the Mainz public utility company into a gas station attendant!
The winner was the Di'Mobilis team, consisting of Fabian Kämmerer, Lea Kunz and Raghul Babu. The business model was awarded 1st prize and won over the judges with its concept featuring the versatile functions of the future filling station and the regional connection to the city of Mainz. 2nd place went to the Skyliner team with Maryam Arabshabi, Sina Esfahani, Veronika Ianutan and Magarita Kuksa. They developed an innovative approach to multi-mobility in connection with new types of parking garages.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation called on them to "Design the climate-friendly city!" within a newly emerging urban district. The 1st prize was awarded to the particularly successful model of a networked app for buildings and people from Team Naturistic with team members Caroline Pereira, Ketlin Jennifer Phillips, Priyanka Tandon and Juan Umana. Team Looter, consisting of Janosch Ott, Marco Kiesewalter and Johannes Thelen, took 2nd prize for their smart cistern approach with the connected neighborhood concept.
The Fraunhofer Institute IESE focused on the rural region with the topic "Mobility in rural areas - what's possible?" The evaluation of the solution submitted by the NahNetz team, which included very good approaches to implementation, a successful presentation and a system architecture approach for the integration of artificial intelligence, led to the special "Product Branding" award. The team members are Alexander Berner, Anna Mavromanoli, Christopher Roos, Daria Chykova and Konstantin Heep.
The jury was impressed by the quality of the submissions under such time pressure. All teams received feedback from the jury on Wednesday, 13.10.2021. It is particularly important to emphasize that the award-winning teams will also receive support from the participating organizations over the weekend. As the organizer, the University of Business and Society is very satisfied with the event and would like to thank all cooperation partners for the very successful cooperation, which leads to the promotion of the start-up culture in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The iHack RLP - University Start-up Hackathon on Infrastructure is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture (MWVLW). The event is under the patronage of Daniela Schmitt, Minister of Economic Affairs.
More information at www.ihack-rlp.de
Specialist contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
Prof. Dr. Marcus Sidki
Research Center for Public and Nonprofit Enterprises
Ernst-Boehe-Straße 4 (Visitors: Ernst-Boehe-Straße 15)
67059 Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Tel: 0621 5203 - 558
Email: marcus.sidki@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de
