There are many impressive success stories to tell in the world of B2B start-ups from Baden-Württemberg, but in this article we want to focus on the female founders in particular.
With the support of our LinkedIncommunity, a new ecosystem map has been created that provides an overview of B2B start-ups founded by women in Baden-Württemberg. Above all, however, this map is also a tool to showcase the diversity and strength of female entrepreneurs.
In this article, we not only take a look at the map, but also introduce you to the inspiring solutions of the individual companies.
Let's dive in together and explore the world of female founded B2B startups in Baden-Württemberg!
MedTech & BioTech
myScribe is an innovative start-up founded by software architect Lars Stoll and doctor Ira Stoll. The company has developed fully automated, AI-supported software that supports doctors in the creation of doctor's letters. This technology enables doctors to save several hours of work every day, resulting in improved patient care. The application automatically generates ward round lists and doctor's letters in inpatient hospital operations.
Cytolytics from Tübingen offers an advanced software platform for automated cell analyses based on machine learning. Their solution enables reliable data evaluation, automatic identification of cell populations, dimensionality reduction and batch effect correction. Users receive personal support for efficient and reproducible analyses in medical diagnostics and drug development.
The living brain GmbH was founded in 2019 by Barbara Stegmann (CEO) and Julian Specht (CSO) and is an innovative start-up that uses modern technologies to help people with neurological challenges. They are developing software for personalised neurorehabilitation that helps people return to everyday life after a brain disease. By combining psychology, gamification and virtual reality (VR), the company aims to improve the quality of life of those affected.
Hellstern Medical GmbH is an innovative start-up company based in Wannweil. The company was founded in 2019 by Sabrina Hellstern, Harald Rager and Alexander Strobel and develops and sells medical technology products. Their first product, a body support system for surgeons, is called NOAC (Not Only a Chair).
Ethitek supports care facilities in integrating technology such as robotics and sensor technology into everyday care in order to promote ethical care. Its services include consulting, process optimisation and change management for the sustainable integration of technical support in day-to-day care.
Paicon is a Heidelberg-based start-up founded by Manasi Aichmüller-Ratnaparkhe and Christian Aichmüller that specialises in digital healthcare solutions, particularly in the areas of cloud and analytics solutions. The company offers services such as storing, sharing, calculating and analysing medical data in a secure environment and transforms research results into certified medical products and applications. With its cloud, Paicon makes it easier for medical professionals to develop medical products, share knowledge and manage medical data.
HealthMe is a digital nutrition navigator app that is customised to the user. It offers simple, convenient and highly efficient nutrition management for people with special needs such as diabetes, allergies or athletes. Founder and CEO Victoria Noack is supported by co-founders Christian Riesenberger (CPO) and Cornelia Buchta-Noack (CMO). The app enables self-anamnesis, takes eating habits into account and offers a recipe database as well as a personal shopping assistant.
Alithea Bio is a company that specialises in precision immunotherapy by combining leading methods of immunopeptidomics, mass spectrometry and machine learning. Its central product is a web-based HLA peptide database with over 4100 high-quality samples that facilitates the discovery of new HLA peptide targets. Founders Fanny Giannou and Tim Fugmann founded the company to develop innovative solutions for the treatment of diseases, particularly in the field of neoantigen discovery. Their goal is to advance the future of immunotherapy and improve treatment options for patients.
Idana offers an innovative software solution for digital patient recording and anamnesis, specially developed for medical practices. Important aspects include the option for patients to fill out digital questionnaires on their devices in advance, secure data transfer to the practice software, a helpful overview for doctors and time savings of around 8 minutes per appointment. The founders of Idana AG are Jerome Meinke, Dr Lilian Rettegi and Dr Lucas Spohn, who combine medical and technical expertise to improve everyday practice life. Idana already has over 2 million users and is valued by doctors for its intuitive operation and time savings.
Nanoshape focuses on the development of antibacterial surface technologies for implants in the fields of dentistry, fracture care and orthopaedics, with the aim of reducing bacterial infections and complications. And thus contributes to improving the health and safety of patients.
VirtuallyThere is a company that specialises in virtual reality (VR) in psychotherapy. With VirtuallyThere, founder Carola Epple offers an extensive media library with over 450 VR videos that have been specially developed for use in psychotherapy. These videos enable therapists to use realistic scenarios to help patients cope with anxiety, compulsions, addictions, trauma and adjustment disorders. The platform also offers mindfulness exercises and helps in the treatment of depression. Therapists can install the VirtuallyThere app on common VR goggles or purchase pre-installed goggles from the company to use the VR videos during sessions with their patients.
Solios Diagnostics develops intelligent diagnostic devices and offers a compact, fully integrated disposable device for lateral flow-based diagnostics called RapidoDX. This universal pen system can be modularly assembled according to sample type and other diagnostic requirements. The founder, Tina Hassberg, MD, an experienced physician, founded the company with the aim of optimising healthcare processes and offering user-friendly solutions. Solios Diagnostics is also committed to sustainability by using fewer materials and using bio-based plastics as an option.
EVERSION Technologies was founded by Julia Zimmermann, Timon Sutter and Maximilian Starkmann and offers a long-term gait analysis for home use. Sensor soles are worn in everyday life to collect data about the gait and shoes. This data is transferred to a 3D model to identify pain in the musculoskeletal system. The aim is to help people with gait and pain problems by focussing on shoe misalignments.
Dermagnostix specialises in molecular diagnostic tests in dermatology to improve the treatment of skin diseases and enhance patients' quality of life. Its product PsorX, the first molecular test for the differential diagnosis of psoriasis and eczema, delivers rapid results in just 45-120 minutes. Dermagnostix aims to enable accurate diagnoses and support treatment decisions for dermatologists.
Circular Economy
CYCLIZE is a pioneer in the circular carbon economy, using its innovative plasma technology to convert plastic waste into new chemical intermediates. Their goal is to reduce CO2 emissions and combat plastic waste pollution. The process can even be carbon-negative by utilising existing carbon dioxide as a feedstock source.
Resourcly is a platform founded in 2023 by Helena Most and Ian Draxten that addresses changes in the international trade of natural resources and analyses their sustainability impact. It enables manufacturers to improve their return on working capital by using product information and AI to strategically share, reuse and prevent unused stock. The platform aims to improve efficiency and sustainability in the supply chain and maximise the value of resources.
VCG.AI is a platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to develop circular economy solutions and utilise industrial waste. Its Value Chain Generator® (VCG) helps companies transform organic by-products and waste into profitable assets with a positive climate impact. The platform contributes to the circular economy and supports companies in achieving their waste reduction targets. With their solution, the founders, Jon Goriup and Mateja Dermastia, want to promote sustainable economic development and transform the industry towards sustainable models.
WoodenValley is a non-profit, responsibly owned company that is committed to research and education in the fields of the circular economy and sustainable construction. The company was founded in 2021 by Kamila Pasko, Robert Böker and Christian Ritz in Stuttgart and pursues the vision of jointly and consistently designing living spaces in a climate-positive way. Its focus is on the implementation of circular processes in the construction industry as well as research and education on the cradle-to-cradle principle. WoodenValley offers special services and educational programmes to enable builders to make a contribution to climate positivity and support sustainable construction projects.
The founders, Katrin, Fides, Gibran and Moritz, began their work in November 2020 as part of a programme at the University of Stuttgart with the idea of developing digital water meters. This is how Hydrop Systems: a company that specialises in saving water. Their product, the "hydrop meter", enables building owners to monitor their water consumption and detect anomalies that could indicate leaks.
The CU reusable system is an innovative returnable food deposit system that reduces single-use waste and promotes sustainable packaging solutions. It is based on its successful use in the beverage industry and enables customers to buy food in reusable containers. These are returned for a deposit, cleaned and refilled. The system offers low costs for manufacturers, reliable cleaning partners and customisable container labels. It is a sustainable solution based on lightweight plastic and digital tracking.
Anna Zießow, Christian Knobloch and Vivian Loftin offer with their company Recyda a packaging sustainability management software that enables companies to analyse the recyclability of their packaging portfolio. The platform enables the centralised management of packaging information and helps with the calculation of EPR fees and plastic taxes.
ClimateTech
Water 3.0 is a company that specialises in the removal of microplastics and micropollutants from water to ensure healthy water resources. Using standardised analysis and removal technologies, they are committed to environmental protection and sustainability. The founders take a systemic approach that combines research, technology and education to raise awareness of microplastics and promote clean water.
SAX-Power is a company that develops innovative energy storage solutions, including the SAX home storage system for private households. The SAX battery is characterised by its cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate cells and an integrated inverter function. This technology offers maximum safety, high efficiency and an extended battery life.
PV2+ GmbH is a deep-tech spin-off project of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The founders, Dr Markus Glatthaar, Dr Katharina Franziska Braig, LL.M., and Dr Thibaud Hatt, have developed a patented solution to reduce the cost of highly efficient solar cells while improving their performance and sustainability. PV2+ is shaping the future of solar energy with its ground-breaking technology.
Preflet was founded by Francesca Rubbiani, Jorge Mendes, Mexson Fernandes and Shailendra Tomar. Their AI platform uses machine learning to analyse data such as energy consumption and climate data. The aim is to help building managers cut energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions.
Ionysis is a GreenTech start-up based in Freiburg, which was founded in 2021 by Dr Matthias Breitwieser, Dr Florian Lombeck and Lisa Langer. The company focuses on the development of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for fuel cells and electrolysers to enable emission-free and sustainable energy conversion. Ionysis strives to eliminate fossil fuels and bring innovative technologies from the lab to the market.
The Airyx GmbH, founded in 2017 as a spin-off from Heidelberg University, is a high-tech company based in Eppelheim/Heidelberg. It develops, produces and sells high-precision measuring devices for gases, in particular NOx, NO2, NO, HONO and SO2, worldwide. Its focus is on immission and emission measurements for industrial and scientific applications. Airyx is known for its advanced solutions for air quality monitoring, vehicle emissions, plume tracking and remote sensing, which are optimised for both stationary laboratory applications and mobile field measurements.
Goodbalancer is an online platform that specialises in comprehensive sustainability reporting and management for organisations working for the common good. The platform enables companies to document and improve their sustainability efforts by providing a holistic view of environmental, economic and social sustainability issues. Goodbalancer also helps companies fulfil ESG criteria and prepare for upcoming EU requirements by providing tools for sustainability advisors and supporting the creation of an externally audited common good balance sheet. The platform is based on the core concept of the Economy for the Common Good (ECG) and offers a self-explanatory, easily accessible structure as well as relevant indicators and assessment tools. Goodbalancer aims to remove barriers and make it easy to get started by allowing users to try it out free of charge during a 14-day trial period.
WEtell is a mobile communications provider that focuses on sustainable communication. Founded in 2020 in Freiburg, WEtell emphasises 100% climate protection, data protection, fairness and transparency. Their climate-neutral mobile tariffs use the reliable D-network and range from ultra-short to supersonic. With a focus on friendly customer service and transparency, WEtell proves that mobile telephony can also be environmentally friendly and fair.
PIONIX is a company that specialises in open source software for electromobility. With their main project EVerest, they offer a comprehensive solution for charging electric vehicles that supports all common industry standards. The founders, Dr Marco Möller, Johanna Claussen, Benjamin Mosler and Cornelius Claussen, have set themselves the goal of promoting the global spread of e-mobility and setting standards for a uniform EV charging system.
No Code
Laigo GmbH is an innovative AI company based in Friedrichshafen, Germany, founded in 2022. Laigo's founders have a vision to make AI more accessible and effective for businesses, and their platform focuses on privacy and security to increase the efficiency of organisations worldwide. With their no-code machine learning platform, software developers can create AI models without specialised knowledge. Laigo offers powerful AI features such as text recognition and document processing to add exceptional value to software, including full support for Cyrillic fonts. They enable independent software vendors to utilise AI to improve analysis and unlock new levels of efficiency and security
Cybersecurity
The Voleatech GmbH is a company that specialises in OT network security and protects critical infrastructures, industry and authorities from cyber threats with its VT AIR technology. Their VT AIR Next Gen Firewall provides visibility and security for organisations, especially in critical infrastructures. The VT AIR Advanced Industrial Router is a flexible solution for organisations that require reliable network connectivity.
Planning
Goldn is an online platform that enables beauty brands, product developers and cosmetics suppliers to easily create cosmetic products and bring them to market faster. The platform simplifies the complex processes of product development in the cosmetics industry and provides a digital ecosystem that brings together different players in the value chain. The Goldn Product Builder is at the heart of the platform, helping brands to share ideas, plan the entire product development process and manage tasks through to launch. Goldn strives to drive innovation in chemistry and revolutionise the way products are developed and brought to market.
Enerlace is a company founded by Dr Andrew Clifton, Dr Ines Würth and Jonas Held that focuses on digitalisation in the renewable energy sector. Their goal is to optimise the planning and operation of wind farms by offering customised apps that enable reliable decisions and save time and resources. Their web app for automatic monitoring of wind lidar data helps to save up to one hour per measurement campaign every day. Their mission is to improve the wind energy industry through digitalisation and promote sustainable decision-making.
HRTech
Onuava is a fertility and family building partner that supports companies in accompanying their employees on the path to their dream child. The founders, Julia and Katharina, created Onuava to support couples in this emotional phase of life. The platform offers holistic solutions, comprehensive information, counselling and financial support. Through this support, Onuava improves the mental health of employees, promotes loyalty and commitment, increases productivity and signals a family-friendly corporate culture.
MamaJu is the largest network of professional, holistic sleep coaches for babies and toddlers in Germany. Founded by Julia Bessler, a certified sleep coach and mother of two, MamaJu offers individual coaching, baby sleep courses and employee benefits. MamaJu's approach is loving and needs-orientated, based on the child-centred concept. Julia Bessler founded MamaJu to support families with their sleep challenges and to find holistic solutions that work for parents, babies and the whole family.
The biparso GmbH supports companies in the introduction of agile working methods and new work philosophies through specially developed online systems and consulting services. Its main product, findSPOT, is a web application that acts as an experimentation space and digital marketplace. This platform makes it possible to map applications and skills and discover hidden talents by taking into account personal interests and character traits in addition to conventional job descriptions. The mission of founders Bigi Bender and Paul Mirsch is to establish a trusting, open and creative culture in companies in which all employees can contribute their strengths and skills.
ImproveMID is a company founded by Ina Haug, Marion Riedel and Diana Kovaleva that focuses on mental health in the workplace. They offer a data-based mental health risk assessment to identify mental stress in the workplace and help companies fulfil legal requirements.
1000 Satellites is a decentralised coworking company that offers flexible workspaces in the Rhine-Neckar, Munich and Hamburg metropolitan regions. The founders Caro, Markus and Gregory want to bring about a change in the world of work and strive to create productive working environments right on users' doorsteps.
Career hero is a platform that specialises in employee retention and recruitment. It offers services such as anonymous employee surveys to improve employee satisfaction, employer branding to differentiate itself from competitors and the placement of suitable applicants through PerfectMatch. The platform uses AI and short tests to help companies organise their HR processes efficiently.
The BOW | Best of Women GmbH offers training and mentoring for women in companies and private individuals to sharpen their personalities and build human capital. The founders Ellen Löber, Rebecca Schenk and Beatrix Aufmuth each bring over 20 years of professional experience in various fields such as financial planning, HR and marketing to support women on their journey and help them become the best ME.
rhome enables employees to work from anywhere by offering solutions to comply with regulations while providing flexibility. It helps companies manage the changes in the way they work, minimises compliance risks, provides tracking and reporting tools and an app for an optimal working experience.
The "New Care System" is a revolutionary approach that goes beyond reducing sickness rates and employee turnover. It aims to attract top talent and strengthen the employer image by leading organisations into a new era as a top employer. What makes the New Care System unique is its holistic approach and its focus on promoting employee vitality and wellbeing in the workplace. The founders, Anastasia Zeis and Katharina Busch, developed it as part of the New Work principle. The system emphasises the emotional attachment of employees to the company and shows them special appreciation. It includes measures such as prevention, health benefits and personalised support to promote the well-being of employees.
Production
The GLAPE GmbH, founded by Dr. Najoua Bolkahrif and based in Freiburg, specialises in the commercialisation of laser-based glass bending technologies and the distribution of glass products.
Organifarms is a company that specialises in the development of harvesting robots for greenhouses. Their first product, BERRY, automates the harvesting, quality control and packaging of strawberries and enables year-round 24/7 operation. The founders, Dominik Feiden, Marian Bolz, Hannah Brown and Mario Schäfer, launched their mission in 2021 to make agriculture more sustainable.
The Q.BIG 3D GmbH is a company that specialises in the development of economical 3D printers for the production of large 3D printed components. With their QUEEN 1, they enable the printing of functional and large components. The company offers panelling solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors, tanks for various applications, fixture solutions for industry, prototypes for commercial vehicles and pipe elbows for hydropower plants. The founders, Katja and Dennis Herrmann, established the company in 2019 with the aim of making 3D printing economically viable and offering innovative solutions for the world of 3D printing.
Opto Biolabsa company based in Freiburg, Germany, specialises in the development of illumination devices for optogenetic research. Its products include intelligent LED instruments such as the optoWELL device, which can perform up to 96 parallel experiments simultaneously, and the pxONE illumination system, which facilitates the combination of flow cytometry with photoregulated cell samples. Dr Kathrin Brenker, co-founder and CEO of the company, was a former optogenetics scientist who was motivated to found Opto Biolabs due to a lack of suitable illumination tools.
SaffronMatters is an innovative start-up focussed on making agricultural processes more efficient, sustainable and economical with the help of innovative technology. The main goal is to automate the arduous process of saffron harvesting through precise and modular robotics. In the long term, the aim is to cultivate a large number of soil-based speciality crops using their robots. This would not only improve working conditions worldwide, but also enable the cultivation of the most expensive spice in Germany and Europe.
Replica is an innovative platform that specialises in the secure production of parts using 3D printing. Companies can produce parts on demand without having to operate their own production facilities by using the decentralised network of over 85 production partners worldwide. The platform offers various 3D printing technologies, including metals, polymers and ceramics. Customers benefit from advantages such as no minimum order quantities, data security through end-to-end encryption and quality assurance through patented systems.
MarTech & Sales
Aimino is a start-up specialising in sales automation and communication via digital channels. Their software solution enables personalised sales approaches and automated communication, allowing companies to reach customers more efficiently and increase lead conversion rates. The founders, Fibi and Tam, founded the company in March 2021 and bring machine learning to real-world products to simplify the flow of information on construction sites and reduce manual labour for site managers.
Penemue is an AI-based tool that protects media professionals and media houses from hate speech by recognising toxic content in real time. Founders Sara Boukal and Jonas Al-Nemri aim to protect people from digital violence online and create a safer online environment. Penemue can be used for social media channels as well as forums and communities and is characterised by its ability to differentiate offences, recognise emotions and identify implicit hate.
Lemontaps is an innovative digital business card for companies that focuses on sustainability and efficiency. It offers a modern alternative to traditional paper business cards by allowing companies to manage their contact details, links and documents efficiently and securely. The digital business card makes it possible to store all relevant information in one place and share it via NFC or QR code, reducing paper waste. For companies, Lemontaps offers solutions for teams of 5 users or more, with centralised management and integration of corporate design, GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification.
UpVisit is an innovative platform that helps companies to offer digital experiences on site, increase their visibility and boost their sales. Companies can use UpVisit to easily offer digital content such as audio guides, interactive images, indoor navigation, videos, virtual reality, gamification and augmented reality, which can be accessed via QR codes on visitors' smartphones. UpVisit offers a powerful app system with a user-friendly content management system and utilises AI technology to facilitate the creation of interactive content.
Quantum
HQS Quantum Simulations is a company specialising in the development of quantum algorithms that enable the prediction of molecular properties for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. HQS's software integrates seamlessly into existing workflows and facilitates the transition to quantum computing technology for customers. The founders are Dr Iris Schwenk, Dr Michael Marthaler, Dr Sebastian Zanker and Dr Jan Reiner and they are driving the quantum revolution with HQS.
FinTech
PACEUPinvest is a platform that specialises in simplifying debt management, savings, investments, retirement planning and estate planning. The platform utilises artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make complex financial concepts understandable and offers gamified approaches to promote financial literacy. Users receive smart guidance and customised investment strategies while getting support from financial experts for complex financial needs. The goal is to enable sustainable and intergenerational prosperity.
AI monitoring
apic.ai is a leading company in the field of automated monitoring of pollinators, especially bees and bumblebees. Their technology uses computer vision to quantify the behaviour of these pollinators and detect even minor effects of substances, agricultural practices and environmental factors on them. This enables their customers to design bee-friendly products, activities and habitats. The aim is to combat bee mortality and help beekeepers preserve their colonies by utilising technology.
FAIBRICS is a company that specialises in AI-supported quality control for textile seams. In the textile industry, there are challenges such as inefficient workflows and seams with defects due to various parameters during sewing. FAIBRICS relies on AI technology to detect seam defects in real time and provide digital seam quality data. Cutting edge technology is integrated into textile seams on both new and existing machines. The benefits of FAIBRICS include cost savings, increased efficiency, promoting sustainability and supporting new employees by reporting on work processes.
IUNA AI is a German company based in Heilbronn that specialises in AI-based industrial image processing. They offer various products and solutions, including the Auto Scanner for vehicle quality assurance, the AI Scanner for versatile visual inspection tasks and machine vision software that automates manual inspections in industrial manufacturing. Customers benefit from significant savings of up to 80% of their annual costs, improved end product quality through precise and consistent inspection results and the ability to detect process-related defects faster and optimise production processes.
Incontext.technologyfounded by Olga Mordvinova and Cyrille Waguet, specialises in smart monitoring to improve the efficiency and resilience of business processes. Their AI-supported solutions enable the early detection of incidents and failures in industrial plants, which increases production efficiency, reduces maintenance costs and improves the service life of machines.
Logistics
Loady is a platform that aims to optimise logistics in the industry and make the entire process from freight purchasing to transport more efficient. Key features include standardised loading requirements, the reduction of empty and extra kilometres, the provision of up-to-date information for better planning and the promotion of collaboration along the supply chain. The founders of Loady are Elzbieta Wiankowska, Stefanie Kraus and Dennis Jantos. The company started in November 2021 as part of BASF's Chemovator venture builder and has been operating as an independent company since October 2023.
avus Gastro GmbH is a company that offers innovative solutions for system catering, particularly in the area of self-checkout. Its main product, avus smart-cap, enables self-checkout without staff and integrates seamlessly into existing checkout systems. In addition to improving the payment process, avus Gastro also takes care of the quality of catering by using RFID solutions to connect crockery items.
PROSERVATION is a company that specialises in ecologically and economically sensible packaging solutions. Their mission is to develop sustainable and plastic-free padded packaging made from plant-based waste materials. They follow four principles: Utilisation of what already exists, bioeconomy, regionality and recyclability.
The NeoCargo AG is a LogTech company from Karlsruhe that was founded in December 2021. Its aim is to develop a networking platform for medium-sized companies in the transport and logistics industry. This platform enables freight forwarders, TMS providers and partner companies to network with each other via a digital interface and assign freight with just a few clicks. NeoCargo strives to digitalise the logistics industry and offer medium-sized freight forwarders easy access to the digital world.
SpaceTech
Yuri is a space biotechnology company that utilises microgravity to develop future cures and solutions. They offer fully automated micro-laboratories that enable researchers to conduct experiments in space. With over 2000 experiments on the ISS, they have already demonstrated the positive effects of microgravity on biological processes. Yuri's goal is to shape the future of biotechnology in space.
ATMOS Space Cargo is a space logistics company specialising in the return transport of cargo from space. They offer a scalable solution for the return transport of payloads specifically designed for life sciences. Their main product is the Phoenix return capsule, which is equipped with an inflatable atmospheric braking parachute to ensure a safe return to Earth