As part of the ScaleTHENGlobal programme, a programme financed by the EIT Urban Mobility and led by CARNET, the 15 participating startups from this edition were invited to participate in the Ready2Scale II event, which was part of the ITS World Congress, taking place in Hamburg from 11 to 15 October. During this activity, organised by Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg, the startups pitched live in front of the audience and a jury of experts, who chose Auve Tech as the best pitch from the session.
After an introduction by Peter Vest, Business Creation Manager at EIT Urban Mobility, startups presented their business ideas and were afterwards faced by questions from the jury, who then performed the task of selecting three winners. The first place was awarded with an economic prize of 2,000€, second place received 1,000€, and the third best pitch was awarded 500€. The jury of experts was composed by:
- Doreen Brodersen, Director Business Unit New Business at FUNKE Logistik
- Ulrich Balke, Sales Direktor at KPMG Germany
- Christian Salzmann, Executive Director Startup Dock Hamburg
After all the startups had their chance to pitch their solutions, Auve Tech, represented by Paula Johanna Adamson (Chief Sales Officer at Auve Tech) was announced as the winning startup from the session, receiving a 2,000€ prize. They have developed an autonomous shuttle, providing a safe and sustainable solution for last-mile transportation.
Ottoban, represented by Marc Schindler (Managing Director at Ottobahn), received the silver medal and a prize of 1,000€ for their pitch of their emission-free and autonomous system for transportation of people and goods. Lastly, Elonroad, represented by Dan Zethreaus (Founder & Innovator at Elonroad) was awarded with 500€. They have designed a high-tech electric road system capable of auto-charging all types of electric vehicles when parked, as well as when driving.
In addition to the pitching session, some of the startups from the ScaleTHENGlobal Programme had their own booth at the ITS Future Area, reserved to these companies in order to facilitate networking opportunities at the congress, increasing their chance to meet potential investors during the event, which gathered key stakeholders from the urban mobility sector.
The ITS World Congress showcased the newest trends in smart mobility solutions and logistics alongside national and international partners during the week of 11–15 October 2021. When closing its doors on Friday, it hit a record of 13,000 guests and 400 exhibitors from all over the world. This confirms the huge interest towards creating a more efficient, comfortable and climate-friendlier urban mobility.
ScaleTHENGlobal is financed by EIT Urban Mobility and is a programme led by CARNET (initiative coordinated by CIT UPC), with the collaboration of PowerHub, Fraunhofer Society for the Advancement of Applied Research, UnternehmerTUM, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF), Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg and the City of Hamburg, with the support of Xpreneurs, UnternehmerTUM Digital Hub Mobility and SpinLab.
