The startup VisualMINT wants to take school experiments in the STEM field to a new level with an intelligent learning platform and augmented reality. Founders Tom Rothe and Tobias Brentrup recently received InnoFounder funding for this.
Old and boring teaching materials no longer appeal to today’s pupils. Especially in the STEM field (STEM stands for mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology), it is a challenge to develop and promote enthusiasm among pupils. The founders Tom Rothe and Tobias Brentrup of VisualMINT want to change this and use modern teaching materials to promote understanding and support individual learning paths. VisualMINT sees itself as a link between digital and analog learning. With an intelligent learning platform and augmented reality, the start-up wants to take school experimentation in the STEM field to a new level: By combining digital visualizations and an experimental kit, physical phenomena are illustrated and made more tangible.
Met at the TU Hamburg and docked at the Startup Port
Tobias and Tom met as students at the TU Hamburg at the first-year barbecue of the mechanical engineering student council, completed their bachelor’s degrees together and undertook many extracurricular activities. Tobias switched to industrial engineering after his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and Tom went to RWTH Aachen University for his master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Since February 2023, they have been docked with their business idea at the Startup Port or Startup Support @TUHH: As the two studied at the TU Hamburg, this was the logical first port of call for them. “Our start-up advisor Konstantin Kollar was always on hand with help and advice. Regardless of whether it was about the strategic approach or feedback on financial plans or project applications. The Startup Port is also the perfect place to go if you’re stuck or need to make simple decisions like: Where is the best place to order my own VisualMINT sweaters?”, report the entrepreneurs. Their start-up consultant also recommended InnoFounder to them and accompanied them through the successful application process.
MVP and further financing required
The founders are using the 18-month term of InnoFounder to develop a minimum viable product (literally a “minimally useful or viable product” – MVP for short), acquire customers and take care of follow-up financing: “We are planning financing as a mixture of equity and debt capital. In concrete terms, this means that as a socially relevant start-up, we are still hoping for some public funding and are also looking for business angels and VCs,” concludes Tom.
