Ústí nad Labem, December 16, 2024 – The business incubator of the Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region annually gives its graduates from start-up companies the opportunity to present their projects in front of a professional jury and the public. The popular event, in which startups have only 5 minutes to present their projects, was held for the twelfth time. Its winner on Friday, December 13th was the IQstat project, a mobile application offering a solution for flexible electricity consumption, developed by two young enthusiasts of effective data solutions, Šimon Kala and Šimon Falta.
For start-up companies and people with a business idea, the Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK) has a comprehensive educational program, business incubator Startup Go! It helps companies launch and develop their businesses. The culmination of the autumn program was the final presentations of the program graduates before the jury and the public, called Startup Go Grill.
"Startups have 5 minutes to present, after which the jury grills them with questions. The goal is to practice and prepare companies for the so-called investor pitch, i.e. presentations to investors, which may occur if the project is successful on the market," explains the purpose of the event, Jan Wedlich, manager for corporate clients from ICUK.
Who took the prizes?
7 out of a total of 17 graduating projects from the business incubator currently participated in the competition presentations. The absolute winner of Startup Go Grill was IQstat project, a simple and affordable solution for flexibility in electricity consumption – a mobile application that controls appliances so that they consume electricity when it is cheaper. From the hands of juror Josef Beneš, CEO of Stavario, a graduate of the ICUK incubator and winner of 2019, the representatives of the winning project were pleased to receive a voucher worth CZK 25,000 for the development of their business.
"The IQstat project impressed us with its advanced stage of development and well-thought-out solution. It is clear that the team is ready to take the next step. We believe that this victory will open the door to investors and help get the application out of the "garage" to where it deserves to be - among the market leaders," added the jury member Josef Beneš, CEO of Stavario, to the application's victory.
The expert jury announced the project as the second best project Reframed, comprehensive software solution for designing photovoltaic systems on historic buildings, which will propose the optimal location of photovoltaics from photographs and create all the documents for project completion, subsidies and approval by the conservation officer, as well as connection to the distribution network.
"I appreciate the unique focus on monuments in a project offering photovoltaic system design. We were also impressed by the perfect visualization, cost efficiency, and room for further development," commented on the award by the judge Kvido Kozlovský, a representative of an angel investor from Newton University.
The third place prize went to the project of UJEP student Dan Makoli, A trainer in your pocketA diary that tracks fitness training and helps optimize sports performance through clear analysis, planning, and sharing of results within the fitness community.
The audience also had the opportunity to express their support by voting on site via a QR code. This time the audience award was won by the project First Medical Service, which teaches people not to be afraid to provide first aid. Through practical courses and modern procedures, the project helps overcome fears and prepares the public on how to respond effectively in crisis situations.
"In three months, the ideas have become very strong projects. The quality of the presentations, the preparedness and professionalism of the participants have once again convinced me of the meaning of this program. I believe that we are launching them on the market sufficiently prepared, ripe for investment," The director of the Innovation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region, Martin Mata, is acting as the organizer.
The next incubator run begins already in spring
One run of the Startup Go business incubator has ended with final presentations, but the work with graduates does not end there, ICUK will continue to stay in touch with them, will help them in their further development and move them towards other opportunities, programs or investors. At the same time, new business ideas are currently being recruited for the spring run of the Startup Go program. The Startup Go! business incubator, including the final public presentations, was supported by the Transformation Center of the Ústí nad Labem Region project, registration number CZ.10.02.01/00/22_002/0000053.
In the photos:
- place: IQstat, Šimon Kala and Šimon Falta
- place: Reframed, Michal Polic
- 1st place: Pocket Coach, Dan Makoli
audience award: First Medical Service, Jakub Futera
