€500,000 for Hohenheim Startup   [30.10.19]

Picture: Stefan Escher/WIWIN

The WIWIN AWARD is the highest endowed prize for sustainable start-ups in Germany. Solutions for environmental problems and climate protection are rewarded with investments of € 500,000 (1st prize) or € 200,000 (2nd prize).

This year the three Hohenheim Master's students Julia Piechotta, Amelie Vermeer, Anja Wildermuth and their startup Spoontainable can look forward to the award.

"We are still speechless that we were chosen in such strong competition," says Amelie Vermeer happily. A total of 160 startups from all over Germany had applied.

Spoontainable

The "Spoonie" developed by Spoontainable is a sustainable alternative to the conventional ice cream spoon. With this product made from organic raw materials, the three Hohenheim founders not only created the first edible ice cream spoon. The spoon is even vegan and gluten-free thanks to the upcycling of dietary fibers rich in fiber. This provides a counterpoint to the increasing use of plastics.

The Online Courier presented the three founders in the summer of 2018 in the "Hohenheim Startups" series:

A lot has happened in the meantime. Since its market launch in April, the company has sold one million spoonies. Throughout Europe there are already 80 regular customers for the edible ice cream spoon. Further products are to be added in January: In addition to the spoon made from the shell of cocoa beans, a light oat spoon, and a larger spoon for gastronomy are planned. The start-up now even employs its first trainee from Hohenheim.

With the money from the WIWIN Award, the Hohenheim founders now want to continue to take off.

"We will now use the 500,000 euros to build up our sales even more strategically. The next steps will then be the internationalization of our business model and the focus on further products such as cups and plates," stated Julia Piechotta.

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