{"id":33750,"date":"2025-05-05T11:01:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T11:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kit-gruenderschmiede.de\/?post_type=case-study&p=33750"},"modified":"2025-05-05T11:01:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T11:01:17","slug":"restube-gmbh","status":"publish","type":"case-study","link":"https:\/\/kit-gruenderschmiede.de\/en\/case-study\/restube-gmbh\/","title":{"rendered":"RESTUBE GmbH"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The product: Small, lightweight, lifesaving<\/p>\n \n

More freedom and safety in and around water for everyone!<\/h2>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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Restube is an innovative safety product for anyone who spends time in the water. The inflatable buoy is carried in a compact bag on a belt or on swimwear. In an emergency\u2014whether due to exhaustion, cramps, or a sudden fall into the water\u2014a pull on the trigger is enough to inflate a buoy that you can hold on to. Developed for swimmers, surfers, sailors, and rescue workers, Restube has proven countless times that it can save lives. The system offers maximum freedom of movement without compromising safety, especially for water sports enthusiasts. There are different versions optimized for different applications, from recreational users to professional rescue workers.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Facts<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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01<\/span> International distribution: Over 500,000 people in more than 25 countries use Restube products for greater safety in the water.<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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02<\/span> Life-saving successes: More than 60 documented cases show that Restube has saved people in critical situations.<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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03<\/span> Focus on sustainability: Restube products are durable, reusable, and made from environmentally friendly materials.<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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USP<\/p>\n \n

What makes Restube unique?<\/h2>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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Compared to traditional life jackets, Restube is lightweight, discreet, and versatile. While a life jacket is often bulky and restricts movement, Restube offers a compact alternative that is only inflated in an emergency. The system is also reusable, as it can be easily refitted with a new CO\u2082 cartridge. This flexibility has contributed to Restube being used not only by water sports enthusiasts, but also by rescue services and police forces worldwide.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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The founding story<\/p>\n \n

Born from personal experience<\/h2>\n \n

The idea for Restube<\/a> arose from a critical personal experience. Founder Christopher Fuhrhop, an avid kitesurfer, found himself in a dangerous situation in the water. This experience gave him the idea of developing a lightweight and easy-to-use rescue system. Supported by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), he began developing the first prototypes, which eventually led to market readiness. In 2012, they founded Restube GmbH. Today, Restube is a globally recognized brand for water safety and has established itself in many areas.<\/p>\n

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The biggest challenges in the start-up process<\/h3>\n

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When you launch a genuine innovation, there is no \u201creal\u201d data about the market. You simply don’t know whether there are actually buyers for the price. You have no experience of how the product will behave with users or how they will use it exactly. And you have no experience of whether the processes you have put in place to handle day-to-day business will even begin to work. But all these challenges and variables make the whole thing all the more exciting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Cooperations<\/p>\n

How Restube ensures safety worldwide<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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Use by emergency services and authorities<\/h3>\n

Restube has now established itself as a reliable rescue device for organizations such as the German Federal Police, ADAC Luftrettung, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD):\r\n\r\nOn the one hand, the German Federal Police and ADAC Luftrettung use Restube automatic, a version that inflates automatically upon contact with water. This enables emergency services to help people in distress quickly and safely.\r\n\r\nThe NYPD uses Restube drones for water rescue operations. The drones drop the buoy in emergency situations so that people in the water receive immediate assistance. This technology is used specifically for coastal areas and inaccessible bodies of water.<\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n<\/a>\n <\/div>\n

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Partnerships with athletes and events<\/h3>\n

Restube is used by numerous athletes from various disciplines, including Olympic champions, world champions, and extreme athletes who rely on the technology for their safety in the water. One of these athletes is extreme athlete and world record holder Jonas Deichmann, who used the Restube Swim Buoy for additional safety in open water during his \u201c120 Times Challenge Roth\u201d \u2013 a series of 120 consecutive long-distance triathlons.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Restube is mandatory safety equipment at over 70 water sports events, including surfing, triathlon, and open water swimming competitions.<\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n<\/a>\n <\/div>\n

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Collaboration with companies and initiatives<\/h3>\n

Together with Beuchat, a renowned manufacturer of underwater equipment, Restube has developed a special line for freedivers and spearfishers. \r\n\r\nIn collaboration with the Bj\u00f6rn Steiger Foundation, emergency call boxes equipped with Restube automatic have been installed at swimming lakes.\r\n\r\nThe Water Experience Academy is an educational initiative by Restube that teaches children and young people safety and water skills.\r\n\r\nRestube is also working with SafeTrx to develop a connected sports safety watch that offers real-time tracking and emergency functions for water sports enthusiasts.\r\n\r\nIn cooperation with CleanHub, Restube is actively committed to environmental protection and supports the collection of plastic waste in coastal regions to keep oceans and waterways clean.\r\n\r\nWith Schwerelosigkite, a brand for sustainable fashion made from recycled kites, Restube has developed a limited edition that combines functionality with environmentally conscious design.<\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Investments, financing, and growth<\/h2>\n \n

To scale up the company, Restube raised \u20ac600,000 from 640 investors in 2016 via the crowd investing platform Seedmatch. The funds were used to further develop the products and expand internationally. In 2021, the company recorded sales of over \u20ac2 million \u2013 its most successful year to date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Advice for founders by Christopher Fuhrhop<\/p>\n \n

\u201cPersonally, I think it’s important to trust people and talk openly about your challenges. Even with people from different backgrounds. Because most of the time, someone else has already solved or experienced something similar to what you’re going through right now.\u201d<\/h2>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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The faces of Restube<\/h2>\n

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Restube was founded by Christopher Fuhrhop and Marius Kunkis. The company is currently managed by Christopher Fuhrhop (founder & CEO) and Lothar Keppler (CEO).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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