Munich Startup: What does Judes do? What problem do you solve?
Nele Schellschmidt: Judes are washable diapers for modern, urban parents that are easy to use and look stylish at the same time. After the birth of our son in 2020, we were shocked to discover how much waste is generated simply by changing diapers with disposable diapers – an average of one ton of residual waste is generated per child during the diaper changing period. Diapers are made of composite materials and are therefore not recyclable. When disposed of, the diapers are incinerated, which always leaves residues that are sent to final repositories as hazardous waste. We want to change that – our diapers are washable, and only the poo paper ends up in the trash.
Munich Startup: But that has been around for a long time!
Leon von Klitzing: The cloth diaper options available on the market didn't convince us: They were either complicated to handle, didn't keep out the water, or weren't particularly aesthetically pleasing. However, we weren't willing to accept that and finally came up with the idea of developing our own cloth diaper that met our criteria. Our Diaper system are finely coordinated and work just like disposable diapers, without any wrinkles or buttons. Judes consist of a waterproof cover, a soft inner diaper made of organic cotton, and a poo paper. Add to that stylish, changeable designs and a high level of convenience – this is how we want to take cloth diapers out of the niche.
Judes wants to offer the world's simplest cloth diaper
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Nele Schellschmidt: I come from the fashion industry, and Leon was already an entrepreneur. Because other cloth diapers didn't convince us, after the birth of our son, we set ourselves the goal of developing the world's simplest cloth diaper ourselves. To achieve this, we looked at almost every available product, drew inspiration from the best features, and ultimately founded Judes Family. Parallel to the development, we launched a campaign where parents could pre-order Judes at a fixed price, thus helping us with financing.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Leon von Klitzing: Our inner diaper is made of a fabric specially developed for us that is thin, particularly soft, and yet highly absorbent. The first attempt cost a mid-five-figure sum. Unfortunately, during processing, it became apparent that our then-manufacturer couldn't produce the diapers to our quality standards. They demanded too much to buy them out—so we ultimately couldn't use the fabric at all. That was a shock for us as a young family. StartupWe therefore had to start looking again and finally found a new manufacturer who could implement our vision of Judes Family with the highest quality. In the end, everything worked out well, and we were able to learn a great deal from the situation – including the importance of professional structures.
Out of the niche
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Nele Schellschmidt: We want to successfully position cloth diapers as an attractive and everyday option for young families in the mainstream of society. To achieve this, we are continuously working to raise awareness of the benefits of cloth diapers: They are kinder to the skin, more environmentally friendly, and more cost-effective in the long run. We are also building a community where parents can learn and exchange ideas, and where Judes are a natural choice for modern parents. Our goal is for cloth diapers to be as recognized and established in five years as period underwear is today. Then we want to look back and be the pioneers who, with Judes, not only brought a product to market but led a movement.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Leon von Klitzing: The location has both advantages and disadvantages for us: Through networks like the Entrepreneurs' Organization, we've met many other entrepreneurs in Munich, with whom we regularly exchange ideas and learn a lot from. Furthermore, as founders and parents, we greatly appreciate Munich's mix of city and nature. On the other hand, (flexible) childcare is a major bottleneck for us here – as parents, our working hours are very limited, and we, like many other parents, haven't found any childcare through conventional means. The shortage of childcare places is clearly noticeable for all parents.
Munich Startup: Public transport or bicycle?
Nele Schellschmidt: Bicycle! We love cycling through the English Garden and to the Isar River, or to our workspace in our neighborhood.
