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Katrin Bergener

IT Business Idea Competition ERCIS Launch Pad 2016

Münster as center for Startups

On 7th December 2016, the 9th ERCIS Launch Pad, the annual IT business ideas competition of the European Research Center for Information Systems, concluded with its finale. Continuing the line of last year’s record-breaking number of submissions, the finale filled the halls of Leo 18 with founders and audience beyond its capacities.

André Henning, coach of the hockey team of Rot-Weiß Köln, welcomed the guests with a keynote, detailing his experiences with the Olympic Games in Rio, his work with young players and drew parallels between managing a company and a sports team. Before the coffee break, Markus Sudhoff of “tapdo”, winner of previous year’s Innovation Prize, presented the progress of their smart touch-based wristband, which will be available on the market in 2017.

After a short coffee- and networking break, the six finalist teams got their chance to pitch their ideas and to convince the 15 members of the jury. The top-class jury consisted of entrepreneurs, academics, and investors, many of them long-term members like Titus Dittmann. They were accompanied by new additions such as Thomas Malessa from the newly founded DigitalHub Münsterland.

InnoMMT started the first pitch session. The startup from Düsseldorf aims to reconstruct the blood picture through a non-invasive breath-tester. InnoMMT was rewarded with the ERCIS research price for the most-convincing scientific foundation. Following them, Justin Bous and Marco Verhoeven from catch talents presented their take on improving the application process in firms. Before the lunch break, Jennifer Schäfer from DailyDress lightened the mood and convinced both audience and jury of their new app (DailyDress). It helps women to easily extend their wardrobe by offering new combinations of new and old clothes, depending on weather and occasion. DailyDress was awarded two prizes: Both the PayPal startup support prize and the prize for the best commercial potential, sponsored by NRW.Bank, were gained by the young startup.