Clean Energy Technologies, Optysun and Geodesic.Life win
28 March 2024
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Congratulations to the winners of the first ever EIT Manufacturing start-up competition for Ukrainian companies, the BoostUp! Ukraine 2024! Clean Energy Technologies, Optysun and Geodesic.Life made it to the top of ten finalists that presented their solutions in the final on 28 March in Lviv, Ukraine.
Clean Energy Technolgies won the first prize. Sorbiforce by Clean Energy Technologies is committed to advancing the global shift towards renewable energy by innovating in the energy storage market with sustainable, metal-free batteries made from renewable raw materials. Their technology represents a pivotal advancement in electric energy storage and balancing, aiming to redefine industry standards and contribute significantly to environmental sustainability.
Optysun succeeded with the second prize. The OptySun Bottle is a UV sterilisation water bottle as a safe and eco-friendly solution for water consumption. It caters to eco-conscious and health-aware consumers by offering an innovative approach to everyday hydration and emergency preparedness. With a focus on clean water accessibility and environmental sustainability, OptySun is committed to enhancing public health and ecological practices.
Geodesic.Life came third. Geodesic.Life designs and builds sustainable, affordable geodesic dome homes using prefabricated CLT panels and natural hempcrete insulation. Their eco-friendly approach ensures quick construction within 3-4 months, regardless of weather conditions, without the need for heavy machinery. The prefabricated kits are designed to fit within a shipping container, highlighting their efficiency and innovation in sustainable housing.
Support from EIT Manufacturing
The award, which comes with prize money of €7,500, €5,000 and €2,500 to support the businesses, was handed over in an event that brought the Ukrainian manufacturing ecosystem together. Representatives from industry, funding and non-governmental agencies, associations and universities met to exchange, network and attend the pitches of the ten finalists.
The BoostUp! Ukraine 2024 gives start-ups the opportunity to internationalise their business and access a large European network. Already before the final, the EIT Manufacturing team worked together with the teams, training them for the pitches and supporting them with information about the jury’s criteria.
Benefitting from Pre-accelerator in Ukraine – powered by EIT Jumpstarter
The winning teams are no strangers to support from the EIT Community – all of them took part in the Pre-accelerator in Ukraine, and EIT Jumpstarter programme. OptySun and Geodesic.Life – then still called Geodesic – won the first and second prize and Clean Energy Technologies – then still called Sorbsys – also pitched in an online event in March 2023.
The other finalists
CheckEye is a cloud-based solution for early diagnosis of eye diseases, especially diabetic retinopathy, through machine learning and AI. By analysing fundus photographs, it enables early detection, which is crucial for preventing severe vision impairment. The service aims to make retinopathy screening widely accessible, benefiting patients, eye care professionals and public health systems. Photographs can be taken anywhere – from opticians to pharmacies – by non-medical staff and uploaded to the system for diagnosis.
ConcreteFlow specialises in construction 3D printing, creating serial wall blocks with a negative carbon footprint. Their achievements include selling 5 printers that have produced over 100,000 wall blocks, setting a record in concrete printing volumes. Their B2B clients use the equipment for various constructions like fences, houses, and retaining walls, highlighting their innovative approach in the construction industry.
MeGoElectric manufactures and sells platform-based low-speed electric trucks with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. They offer two models, “Currier” and “Liberty,” priced at €7,000 and €8,000 respectively, targeting both individual and corporate clients. Their innovation lies in a new platform design that ensures affordability, efficiency, and customization according to customer needs, aiming to contribute to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and sustainable transportation.
New Wiring Technologies specialises in automating the production processes of automotive cable products. They’ve recently completed a Minimum Viable Product for a sub-process in automotive wiring production, involving their own specialized equipment and software. Currently, they’re in discussions with major automotive wiring firms about using this prototype for industrial testing, with plans to produce an industrial sample.
TIKPACK produces and packages grains, cereals, flakes, pulses and oil-seeds. They offer services for food manufacturers, including private-label product development, and are transitioning towards more sustainable packaging solutions. With a commitment to quality and timely delivery, TIKPACK has established itself as a key player in the grain supply and packaging industry.
Ukrainian Laboratory Instruments develops chemical laboratory equipment, including their flagship product, TitroPal, a multifunctional, precise and user-friendly AI-assisted burette and titrator. They also offer services in hardware and firmware development, providing complete solutions from prototyping to market-ready products based on their own control boards.
Viva Victoria offers tanks, pumping equipment and automation solutions for the water supply and sewage sectors. In 2020, they launched an IoT project for greenhouse farm automation, winning an EBRD grant in December 2021. However, their operations were suspended in February 2022 due to military aggression. In 2022-2023, they introduced a robot deminer to aid the State Emergency Service and Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Watch the event recording!
Background: The BoostUp! Ukraine 2024 competition
The competition is for spin-offs, start-ups or scale-ups in the manufacturing sector from Ukraine who wish to internationalise and scale their businesses.