The Hamburg Innovation Summit (HHIS) is back! On 12 September 2024, Hamburg’s innovation event opened its doors again after a one-year break. Founders, investors and politicians enjoyed a packed programme with networking, workshops and the Hamburg Innovation Awards (HHIA). The best ideas and companies in the region were honoured here. Our Startup Area was particularly popular and attracted a lot of visitors.
One highlight of the summit was the new location in the Oberhafenquartier, which provided generous space for an expanded programme. At the same time, the event continued to focus on its proven concept: the exchange between business, science and politics took centre stage in order to promote the innovative strength of the Hanseatic city.
High-ranking political presence
The political significance of the event was reflected in the presence of numerous political representatives. Science Senator Katharina Fegebank opened the summit and later presented the prestigious Hamburg Innovation Awards. Hamburg’s First Mayor Dr Peter Tschentscher took the opportunity for a press tour, during which he also visited our MachBar in the Startup Area for a chat and to find out more about the association and its work from Startup Port Manager Christine Tiedemann.
The Hamburg Innovation Awards 2024: Who won?
Now to the centrepiece of the Summit: the Hamburg Innovation Awards. Four categories, four winners – and plenty of innovative spirit. All start-ups will be supported in their business development by Startup Port.
HHIA Audience Award: casuu.care convinced the crowd
The audience award was decided by live voting after the pitches in the Startup Area. Anyone could take part and vote for their favourite. Senator for Economic Affairs Dr Melanie Leonhard finally presented the audience award to casuu.care, a successful startup that develops customised virtual training programmes for non-native-speaking nursing staff. The aim is to ensure that all nursing colleagues can act confidently, safely and as an active part of the team. Regardless of whether they speak German as their mother tongue or as a second language. This convinced those present.
Co-founder Dr Rüdiger Schmitz accepted the award and was delighted: ‘We are delighted with the attention. We are currently still looking for contacts in the Hamburg care scene so that we can continue to promote the programmes we have developed. For example, we have just been able to help a Ukrainian refugee. As a father, I can say that I am delighted that this baby is now learning to walk.’ The founders are supported in their business development by Startup-Port founding consultant Imme Godthardt, who praised them highly: ‘The collaboration with casuu.care is very pleasant and fun: they take feedback in an absolutely constructive way and implement it quickly. And above all, they have a business idea that absolutely meets current needs. I wish them every success, that their product will be used in the relevant institutions and thus help many people.’
HHIA award ceremony for the IDEA, START and GROWTH category
The three other prizes were decided in advance by a jury of experts and presented by Science Senator Katharina Fegebank at the closing event. In her speech, she emphasised the importance of start-ups and innovations for the city. She emphasised that Hamburg should be a place where ideas can be realised and that the city is already better at networking science, business and society: ‘We are putting Hamburg on the map,’ she emphasised. Fegebank emphasised that the city is creating political framework conditions to support founders and encouraged them to provide feedback in order to further strengthen Hamburg as a start-up location. The Senator also emphasised the importance of bold ideas and not being afraid of failure: she explained that everyone has had crazy or absurd ideas at some point, but the decisive step is to pursue them. Germany still lacks a ‘no fear to fail’ mentality, which she has shaped through her personal travels. Her message: people should be encouraged to realise their ideas without fear of failure, regardless of age, origin or gender.
Honoured in the IDEA category: HIVESOUND – When bees meet AI
HIVESOUND took first place in the IDEA category. The start-up is developing a platform for beekeepers that uses AI to manage bee colonies more efficiently. This includes weather forecasts and sensors that monitor the beehives. Goal: less winter mortality, more honey. They received 5,000 euros and a well-stocked start-up kit. A smart step for bee protection – and for the future of beekeeping.
Honoured in the START category: vilisto – Smart thermostats for less CO2
The Hamburg-based climate protection company vilisto scored points in the START category. Their solution? Digital heat management for non-residential buildings that uses smart thermostats and self-learning algorithms to save energy and CO2. vilisto already has more than 300 customers and is continuing to grow. Here too: 5,000 euros in prize money plus non-cash prizes that are not just symbolic at first glance.
Honoured in the GROWTH category: Fristam – 100 years and still innovating
The GROWTH category went to Fristam, a pump manufacturer with a long tradition. Fristam has been on the market for over 100 years and is still a leader in the industry, supplying stainless steel pumps for the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The company focuses on innovation and growth while remaining internationally relevant. Here, too, the team received 5,000 euros and plenty of props.
Conclusion: Hamburg focusses on innovation
The HHIS 2024 has delivered: More than just a stage for prizes, but a real hub for the exchange of ideas, contacts and perspectives. The Hamburg Innovation Awards made the region’s best ideas visible – and showed the new stars in the start-up sky where to go.
HHIA organiser Nils Neumann from Hamburg Innovation and Startup Port was very satisfied with how the awards and the associated Startup Area went: ‘The Startup Area and the pitches were very well attended and the people who were here all looked like they had taken something away with them or at least had fun. I am very grateful to my colleagues who went to great lengths to implement everything accordingly. In the end, we were very satisfied!’
Hamburg undoubtedly remains a hotspot for innovative start-ups and pioneering technologies. As Startup Port, we want to continue to make our decisive contribution to this in the coming years and are excited about what lies ahead!
