With the Munich founder award, Stadtsparkasse München has been promoting the local startup climate since 1997. 39 companies have received the award to date, including well-known names like Flixbus or Happybrush. This year, Djoon and Air Up bring two more winners, as 2024 marked the first time awards were given in two categories. The winner in the “Rising Star” category was selected by an expert jury through a pitching competition. In the “Startup” category, customers were asked to vote online.
Stefan Hattenkofer, board member of Stadtsparkasse München, honored the winners:
“Djoon and Air Up exemplify the diversity and innovative power of Munich’s economy. Both companies impressively demonstrate how sustainability and entrepreneurial success can be linked. We are delighted to support these extraordinary founders on their continued journey.”
Djoon, winner in the “Startup” category, was founded in 2021 and specializes in healthy, plant-based food. In the online voting, the startup received the most votes.
Martin Grellner, co-founder and managing director of Djoon, summarizes:
“We succeeded – financed only from our own resources and without external investors – in building a strong brand and our own chocolate factory in Munich with a team of over 50 employees. Our mission remains to revolutionize the chocolate market through better and more sustainable sweets – handmade in Munich!”
In the “Rising Star” category, Air Up prevailed. With its drinking system that flavors water through scent molecules, the company has already gained international recognition. The expert jury of Stadtsparkasse München was also impressed.
Lena Jüngst, co-founder and managing director of Air Up, comments on their victory:
“As true Munich natives who have trusted Stadtsparkasse since our early years, we are particularly delighted about winning the founder award. This recognition is not only an acknowledgment for us, but also a sign of the strength and continuity of our partnership. To continue this relationship now as entrepreneurs means a great deal to us. We have learned how crucial trustworthy partnerships are – especially for startups that must thrive in good times and challenging times alike. That is why it is all the more wonderful to grow in our home city of Munich at the side of such a reliable and trustworthy institution while we shape the future together!”
Everyone who has won the Munich founder award can look forward to extensive support. In addition to the award ceremony, the winning startups receive additional attention through various channels of Stadtsparkasse München. These include, among other things, a TV segment on regional television and an episode of the SSKM founder award podcast. Furthermore, the winners can present themselves at Stadtsparkasse’s entrepreneur day in February 2025 and undergo a personality analysis of a manager according to the Profiling-Values procedure.
