Brief description of the business idea:
We offer cafeterias and company restaurants a risk-free and uncomplicated increase in efficiency by automating the checkout process. The goal here is to optically detect the tablet during the checkout process and thus evaluate the customer’s meal choice with the help of machine learning algorithms. This can significantly reduce waiting times and costs at checkouts.

Short description about the team:
We, Felix and Julian, are both Machine Learning enthusiasts and industrial engineers interested in founding a company, shortly before graduating with a Master’s degree from KIT. By participating in upCAT, we would like to challenge our business idea, benefit from a network of experienced experts, and acquire best practices for a startup in workshops. We hope that this will help us to move our whole idea forward faster.

Brief description of the business idea:
We have developed a micro/nano printer that flexibly implements various processes for the generation of micro- and nanostructures with several different substances and makes them available to users in an automated and easy-to-use manner. Especially the processing of sensitive biological materials is possible here due to mild process parameters and opens up the generation of corresponding surface patterns to users with a biological and biomedical background without having to have special expertise in the printing technique itself. In addition, we offer kits with consumables and other services based around the printer that allow our customers to focus on their questions instead of generating the required structures.

Brief description about the team:
Dr. Bog is a co-inventor and principal developer of the microprinter platform. His background as an electrical engineer and his postdoctoral work in the field of device functionalization using scanning probe lithography methods give him the ideal experience to further develop the printer setup into an out-of-the-box product and to develop the planned additional printer modules.

Dr. Sekula-Neuner holds a doctorate in biology and has many years of experience with the application of technology in the life science field. She is responsible for the consumable kits and custom services in the product development department and is also an application specialist in marketing and sales in direct contact with biological research groups.

We would like to expand our knowledge on product commercialization, marketing strategies and business plans. In the end, we would like to get feedback on our business model to be better prepared for our product launch.