The 3 core problems: 1. Climate change leads to unpredictable rainfall and prolonged droughts, especially in subtropical and tropical regions. 2. As a result, farmers rely on diesel engines, which are expensive, environmentally damaging, and require high maintenance. 3. Additionally, there is a significant problem of plastic pollution in Kenya. The vision/solution: The vision: We enable small-scale farmers in Kenya to have easy access to irrigate their fields with river water. This ensures their livelihoods during times of drought and climate change and contributes to overall food security in Kenya. The idea: A mobile water wheel that drives a simple pump to extract river water into an irrigation system or a water tank.

Core problem: Complexity and barriers when applying for social benefits: Citizens have difficulties filling out complex forms, encounter language barriers and bureaucratic hurdles, which leads to the non-utilisation of legitimate benefits. Inefficiency and high workload in public authorities: Administrative processes around application support and citizen counselling are time-consuming, expensive and lead to a significant burden on public institutions struggling with a shortage of skilled workers and increasing demands. Lack of digital and user-friendly administrative services: Despite the clear need and legal requirements for digitalisation (e.g. Online Access Act), existing digital services are often underused and unattractive for citizens as they are neither intuitive nor barrier-free Solution: AI-supported application assistant for social benefits OpenAdvo offers an AI-supported application assistant that effectively guides citizens through the application process for social benefits. The digital assistant works as a dialogue-oriented chatbot and offers the following advantages Step-by-step guidance: Users are guided through complex forms in an understandable and multilingual manner, thereby breaking down barriers. Reduction of standard enquiries: The assistant automatically answers common questions and helps to avoid typical errors in applications, which significantly reduces the burden of counselling at public authorities. Low-threshold access: Thanks to digital availability around the clock, applications can be submitted more easily regardless of language or bureaucratic knowledge. Overall, OpenAdvo creates a user-friendly interface that improves access to social benefits while increasing the efficiency of public administration. Achievements: Completion of the Gateway Incubator 2025 NRW start-up grant Tübingen Techfellowship

The 3 Core Problems: Indirect Harvest Losses: Inefficient farming methods prevent the full potential of the harvest from being realized, leading to indirect losses of around 30%. Direct Post-Harvest Losses: Over 20% of the harvest is lost due to a lack of or inefficient drying and storage methods, forcing farmers to sell their produce immediately. This results in market oversupply and price drops. Dependence on Middlemen: Many farmers lack direct market access and are dependent on middlemen who buy their produce at low prices, further worsening their economic situation. Solution: Save The Grain adopts a holistic approach by utilizing innovative solar dryers to make food drying and storage more efficient and environmentally friendly. This reduces food losses in Sub-Saharan Africa and improves the storability of harvests. Additionally, we collaborate with women's cooperatives to market Senegalese products under the "FemmePact" brand, creating new income opportunities for women.

The problem: companies advertise sustainability - and nobody knows what they mean. ‘Climate neutral’, “ocean plastic” and hundreds of other terms confuse consumers. That's why often inadvertently buy products that are actually harmful to the environment. The solution: stricter laws. They will soon define who is allowed to advertise with which environmental claim. Our idea: The GreenwashingChecker is an AI tool that uncovers misleading claims. It helps companies to comply with the law and thus ensures that greenwashing disappears from advertising. disappears from advertising. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

akoot is a nonprofit platform based in Cologne (currently in the process of becoming a gGmbH) that combines the sense of community fostered by genuine volunteer work with the flexibility of a modern app. We make it easy for people to volunteer for local nonprofit organizations on the spot and without a long-term commitment—for example, at the Cologne Food Bank, a Rhine cleanup, or a clothing drive. In doing so, we bridge the gap between traditional volunteer organizations (high commitment, strong community) and algorithmic platforms (low commitment, impersonal). akoot is free for volunteers and NPOs. Contact: wladimir.nikhamkin@koeln.enactus.team

Every semester, we conduct our idea phase. There, you can develop ideas for sustainable and social startups and exchange ideas with other motivated students. Every field of study is welcome, and you'll receive important skills from us! In the innovation phase, you can develop on a personal level and promote your creative and entrepreneurial thinking. Get a first glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship!

While electric toothbrushes are the most effective for oral hygiene, they also have the greatest negative impact on the environment. Currently, the components in toothbrushes are permanently built in, even though many parts—such as rechargeable batteries—usually last only a few years. Users have no way to replace these components, which is not only costly but also generates a lot of waste that is difficult to recycle and harmful electronic waste. Our toothbrush is designed to offer a durable alternative with a repairable and modular design. In the process, users are introduced to the repair of small electronic devices in an accessible way, allowing them to develop the necessary skills. The battery, motor, and wear parts such as rubber seals can be replaced by simply unscrewing the toothbrush. The toothbrush’s housing is made from recycled aluminum, which not only makes the product visually appealing but also contributes to its durability. The high-performance battery, made from recycled e-bike batteries, only needs to be charged four times a year, giving the toothbrush functional advantages over conventional models.

With Verimoo, we’ve developed an AI-powered all-in-one assistant that democratizes the rental market and puts the power back in the hands of apartment seekers. Our platform combines three core features to make the entire process safe and simple: - AI-powered scam protection: Users simply paste the link to a rental listing (e.g., from Immoscout or classified ads). Our AI analyzes the listing in a matter of seconds for suspicious patterns, fake wording, and signs of fraud. - Legally compliant rent index check: Verimoo compares the requested rent with the local rent index, so users can immediately see whether an offer is fair or unlawfully inflated. - Professional application portfolio & coach: The platform bundles all relevant documents into a digital portfolio and, with a single click, creates a perfect, verified PDF portfolio that will convince landlords. An integrated “Move-In Coach” also reminds users of deadlines and guides them step-by-step through the process until the keys are handed over.

Our association work is organised by the Executive Board and is divided into four departments: Marketing: Organise our public appearance and manage our Instagram and LinkedIn account. Events: Help with the preparation of our events (e.g. team events, pitch events or workshops). Relations: Manage contact with our cooperation partners and keep an eye out for new partners. Innovation: Advise on the development of our projects and help organise our innovation phase (see above).