Two Trier students win AI idea at the startup camp!

Two Trier students win AI idea at the startup camp!

Trier, Deutschland - On May 15, 2025, the winners of this year's startup camp at the University of Trier were announced. Marvin Lange, computer science student, and Maik Franke, student of economics, convinced the jury with her “Hologat” project. Your goal is to simplify the EU approval of vehicles and components using artificial intelligence (AI). At the event, which took place on the premises of the Sparkasse Trier on May 8 and 9, the two Bachelor students were able to win one of three prizes, each endowed with 1,500 euros. Uni Trier reports that the jury selected 18 teams that included a total of 40 participants.

A total of 18 innovative business ideas were presented as part of the event. The projects ranged from advisory services to sustainable fashion labels to digital platforms and other AI applications. A special highlight was the school team "Blooming Wishes", which presented a creative and sustainable gift card made of hand -made paper with flower seeds. This shows how diverse the approaches in the start -up environment are.

prices and recognition

The award prices for the three most convincing concepts, which, in addition to "Hologat", also included the "Woundanalyzer" projects from Koslowski, Bechmann and Maier as well as "Emmé-The Label", an inclusive modest fashion label. The event was supported by the Sparkasse Trier, Volksbank Trier-Eifel eG and the Stadtwerke Trier, who donated the prize money. The jury paid tribute to the high quality of the pitches and the remarkable further development of the individual business models.

Another part of the event were practice -oriented workshops for the implementation of entrepreneurial projects that were aimed at different origins. Participants were students, employees and professional experiences and had to present at least one specific business idea. Registration was already possible from April 1, 2025, and due to the high demand, the number of participants was limited.

challenges in the startup sector

The startup sector in Germany, however, also faces major challenges. According to the German Startup Monitor (DSM) 2024, many startups are faced with economic uncertainty, which are due to interest turns, high energy costs and a tense venture capital market. Nevertheless, the optimism remains high. 79.8 % of the startups expect an improvement in your business until the end of 2025. ecovis emphasizes that there is in particular a growing interest in sustainable business models.

The distance from the industry regarding the opportunities for cooperation with established companies is also viewed critically; Only 37.5 % of the startups rate them as good. Despite the existing uncertainties, the focus on profitability and the Green Economy remains strong, and almost 48.1 % of the startups identify as part of this movement.

Overall, the Startup Camp Trier 2025 shows that there is a living start-up scene in the region that despite external challenges. Charging of networks for founders who continue to exist after the event is actively supported by the organizers, the founding office of the University of Trier and the Trier University of Applied Sciences.