The founder competition Energy Startup Bavaria took place for the fifth time. As part of the event, startups working on innovative concepts in the energy sector receive recognition. Under this year’s motto “Creative and innovative for Bavaria,” three startups emerged from 66 applications. The Munich companies Tozero and Qkera placed second and third. At the top of the podium was Cellcircle from Randersacker in Lower Franconia.
Tozero recovers critical materials from battery waste and reintegrates them into the battery supply chain. Its proprietary hydrometallurgical process avoids the use of strong acids, eliminates waste streams, and reduces CO2 emissions. The startup offers high-quality recovery of lithium and graphite, providing a sustainable solution for the battery industry. For its second place, Tozero secured 5,000 euros in prize money.
Qkera develops solid-state electrolytes for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. This enables the startup to bring safer and more powerful batteries with higher energy density to the mass market at affordable prices. The technology is an innovative and scalable approach to synthesizing ceramic oxide solid-state electrolytes that can be integrated into existing battery production processes. As third place, Qkera received 3,000 euros in prize money.
The Energy Startup Bavaria competition is a joint initiative of the Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Bayern Innovativ, Baystartup, Bayernwerk, the Association of Bavarian Energy and Water Management (VBEW), and the Austrian Verbund AG.
Rainer Seßner, managing director of Bayern Innovativ, emphasized:
“With the competition ‘Energy Startup Bavaria 2024,’ we are sending a strong signal about how important courage and an innovative spirit are for groundbreaking developments. The awarded startups impressively demonstrate how creative ideas and pioneering spirit contribute to actively shaping the energy transition. Bayern Innovativ sees itself as a platform and catalyst that supports these visions and accompanies them on their path to market maturity.”
