A permanent fixture on the international AM calendar, Formnext has been providing the perfect platform for businesses to present themselves to customers, partners, and potential investors for 8 years. Winning the Formnext Start-up Challenge has given an important boost to the market entry of a number of internationally successful companies, including 3Yourmind, Dyemansion, Kumovis, Sinterit, Spectroplast, Trinckle 3D, Xioneer, and many more.
Co-founder of Kumovis, Dr. Miriam Haerst, concurs: “The visibility is extremely helpful. You also get direct feedback from the market, which may not always be comfortable. Ultimately, though, it gives you an opportunity to keep developing and perfecting your product.”
The foundation for sustainable growth and further development
“The experience of the past years has clearly shown how important it is for young and innovative companies to present their business ideas and developments to an international audience of industry professionals. A dedicated event such as Formnext provides the perfect environment in which to establish and maintain business relationships with customers and partners, as well as explore potential investments,” says Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at exhibition organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “Winning the Start-up Challenge gives 5 entrepreneurs the opportunity to appear at Formnext. It always gives me great pleasure to help contribute to the laying of these foundations for sustainable company growth,” adds Wenzler.
In addition to the 3D-printed award, the five winners will each receive an impressive Formnext exhibition and marketing package, which includes, among other things, a fully equipped exhibition booth in the Formnext 2022 Start-up Area and inclusion in all relevant and worldwide Formnext marketing and communication activities. In addition, the winners can participate in a pitch event as part of Formnext, receive an individual company profile from a media sponsor as well as corporate coaching from a member of the judging panel.
The international panel of high-profile representatives from all corners of the industry comprises Dr. Kristian Arntz (CEO, Fraunhofer Center for Networked Adaptive Production ICNAP), Stefanie Brickwede (Project Manager, 3d Printing@DB and Managing Director, Mobility goes Additive network), Arno Held (Managing Partner, AM Ventures), Alexander Oster (Director of Additive Manufacturing, Autodesk), Michael Petch (Editor in Chief, 3Dprintingindustry.com), and Peter Mayr (Professor of Additive Manufacturing Materials Technology, Technical University of Munich).
AM Ventures Impact Award 2022
For the third time, a company with a particularly sustainable approach will receive the AM Ventures Impact Award as part of the Start-up Challenge. "With this award, we want to give the topic of sustainability the attention it deserves as part of the Start-up Challenge," explains Arno Held, Managing Partner at AM Ventures. "We encourage all entrepreneurs to present us their approaches for a sustainable world." In its evaluation, AM Ventures is guided by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All participants of the Formnext Start-up Challenge are automatically entered into the competition. The winner will receive prize money of €5,000 and the opportunity to present themselves to the Formnext audience in a pitch.
Any up-and-coming company with a product or service that is market-ready in terms of customers, product status, and revenue can take part in the Formnext Start-up Challenge, provided the start-up is not majority-owned by an established company and was founded after 1 January 2017.
For more information, visit www.formnext.de/startup.
