Colipi, a company founded at the Technical University of Hamburg, was awarded the renowned Future Hamburg Award last week. Colipi’s Climate Oil, a sustainable alternative to palm oil, could make an important contribution to climate protection. The start-up was significantly supported in its business development by the Startup Port or Startup Port @TUHH.
With a revolutionary process for producing a palm oil alternative that is not only environmentally friendly but also actively binds CO2, the startup Colipi last week convinced the jury of the Future Hamburg Award, which was presented for the third time. The award is aimed at start-ups that develop innovative and sustainable solutions in the areas of mobility, logistics and green tech. This year, young companies from 28 countries applied for the Future Hamburg Award. Second and third place went to Make My Day from Israel and AraBat from Italy. The award ceremony took place during the EXPLORE 2024 event organised by Plug and Play.
Colipis Climate Oil, a sustainable alternative to palm oil produced by bacterial gas fermentation from carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen, could make an important contribution to climate protection. The process is still at an early stage of development, but has enormous potential if successfully scaled up. Many see it that way, above all the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), which is supporting the founders with an increase in EXIST research transfer funding of 2.9 million euros to a total of 4.1 million euros – the highest individual funding from the Federal Government’s EXIST programme to date.
The Startup Port or Startup Port @TUHH played a central role in the development of the company: with its focus on promoting start-ups from academia, the network not only provided financial resources, but also made a significant contribution to the development of Colipi through mentoring, advice and access to a broad industry network.
“I am particularly pleased with Colipi’s award because it underlines how science can contribute to solving societal challenges. The team has truly earned the award,” says Dr. Christian Salzmann, Executive Director of the Startup Port @TUHH.
The three winning startups of the Future Hamburg Award will be invited to a programme of the Startup Unit of Hamburg Invest and will also receive support in building an industry network and in establishing investment contacts. As the first-placed startup, Colipi also receives the opportunity to participate in a four-week international accelerator programme run by Plug and Play in Silicon Valley.
Colipi’s victory in the Future Hamburg Award 2023 shows once again how important the contribution of start-up support structures, as embodied by the Startup Port, is for the development of sustainable and innovative solutions.
Further links:
Colipi: 4.1 million euros for a sustainable palm oil alternative
For more information on COLIPI’s founding story, see our Startup Story.
