With her idea Octogarn, Alexandra Plewnia advocates for a more sustainable textile world. Octorgarn is a modified, pollutant-free and more sustainable yarn that imitates properties of an aquatic plant. The product is unwettable, breathable and friction-reducing. In her pitch, the master's student at the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology presented diverse applications in many different industries.
She is now aiming to use the prize money to apply for a patent. Because that is expensive and costs up to 7000 euros. She would like to use the remaining money to initiate the next development steps. The 28-year-old was surprised by the victory. "I had hoped to land on a place with which I can at least finance the registration of my patent. I didn't expect to get the grand prize. This will get me to my goal much faster."
A total of 32 ideas had been submitted in advance, and six finalists were then allowed to present their pitches live in front of an audience in the boxing ring and face critical questions from the judges from business and the start-up scene. Second place went to e-commerce student Julia Janzen with "Stronger Together" (prize money 15,000 euros). The app is designed to connect young people with seniors to help them in their everyday lives - and is financially supported by sponsors to do so. The "Lani Panty" menstrual underwear by textile students Svetlana Akinsina and Anne Christine Koch with exchangeable inserts came in third (7,500 euros).
The HNX team, which organized the event at the Hochschule Niederrhein, explicitly supports students and employees on their way to their first own start-up. "We want to create a vibrant start-up culture at the university and encourage people to develop ideas into viable business models," explain Stefanie Kutsch and Stephanie Bienefeld from the HNX team. The fact that business start-ups are included in the curriculum is also an important building block, they say. The promotion funds, which were assigned with the first BATTLE OF IDEAS ''22, vary depending upon placement between 2500 and 20,000 euro and come from the promotion project lighthouse_NIEDERRHEIN.
Photo: The HNX Gründungsberatung of the Hochschule Niederrhein, jury members, the project management Leuchtturm_NIEDERRHEIN and the finalists of the BATTLE OF IDEAS ''22. First place went to Alexandra Plewnia (8th from right). Photo: Carlos Albuquerque.
