User Group: Start-up

  • Expanding the AI Frontier: DxOmics and pi_optimal join the Start-up Network

    Expanding the AI Frontier: DxOmics and pi_optimal join the Start-up Network

     

    DxOmics

    DxOmics is revolutionizing genetic diagnostics and research with AI-driven software that decodes complex genomic data. Their solutions support everything from cancer detection to rare disease diagnosis, all while enabling personalized treatment strategies. With cloud-based bioinformatics, smart clinical reporting, and AI classifiers at their core, DxOmics helps researchers, clinicians, and biotech pioneers unlock the future of precision medicine.

    pi_optimal

    With pi_optimal, reinforcement learning (RL) becomes refreshingly simple and accessible. Their open-source platform reduces the complexity of implementing RL to just a few lines of code – no deep ML expertise required. Built for developers, scientists, and visionary businesses, pi_optimal is democratizing cutting-edge AI and empowering users to solve complex optimization problems and build smarter systems, faster.

    By joining the Cyber Valley Start-up Network, DxOmics and pi_optimal help strengthen the Community with their innovative approaches to applied AI – from decoding the human genome to scaling intelligent decision-making across industries.  

    Welcome to the Community!

  • Demo Day of the AI Incubator and Summer Meet-up

    Demo Day of the AI Incubator and Summer Meet-up

    Over the past six weeks, the Batch #6 teams of the AI Incubator have been working intensively to bring their AI-driven ideas to life, with expert mentorship and support from members of the Cyber Valley Community. Now they will present their final start-up ideas to a jury and an esteemed audience of investors, researchers, corporate leaders, and other entrepreneurs.

    The top teams will be recognized by the jury and have the opportunity to win attractive prizes. This special edition of the event combines the final presentations with a vibrant Summer Meet-up—featuring networking, drinks, finger food, and an energetic atmosphere to celebrate innovation and community.

    When?

    Thursday, July 10, 2025, 16:00–19:45

    Where?

    Amazon Research & Development Center

    Friedrich-Miescher-Straße 4, 72076 Tübingen

    Schedule

    16:00–16:15: Welcome & Drinks

    16:15–16:25: Introduction to Batch #6 of the AI Incubator

    16:25–16:30: Welcome speech by Carl Zeiss Stiftung

    16:30–17:00: Pitches from the AI Incubator Teams

    17:00–17:20: Coffee break

    17:20–17:55: Pitches from the AI Incubator Teams

    17:55–19:00: Keynote & Award ceremony

    19:00: Networking with drinks & fingerfood

    Registration

    Please register via Eventbrite in advance as the number of participants is limited.

    The AI Incubator

    The AI Incubator is a six-week program for AI talents with brilliant ideas. The program encourages scientists, technologists, and business talent to found their own companies, fostering the next generation of AI start-ups. The AI Incubator equips participants with the right knowledge, tools, and skills to transfer their cutting-edge AI and robotics research into products and applications.

    It covers topics such as, AI prototyping, product-market fit, business strategy, and funding. The program also provides participants with access to a network of experts, mentors, founders, and investors who offer guidance and inspiration on their journey into the AI business world.

    The Cyber Valley AI Incubator is organized by the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, and funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.

  • Cyber Valley at TECH by Handelsblatt

    Cyber Valley at TECH by Handelsblatt

     

    The panel "From Lab to Market: How Research is Driving Innovation" explores how cutting-edge scientific research becomes commercially viable. Through the firsthand experiences of researchers, academic entrepreneurs, and spin-offs from the Cyber Valley ecosystem, the panel considers the challenges and opportunities of turning deep-tech innovations into market-ready products. The goal is to provide valuable insights into research commercialization, foster dialogue between academia and industry, and showcase concrete success stories of science-based entrepreneurship. 

     

    What

    Panel discussion followed by interactive Q&A with the audience. 

    Topics include:

    • Challenges in transferring research to the market
    • Critical success factors
    • Funding and collaboration models  

     

    Speakers

    • Wieland Brendel: University of Tübingen / ELLIS Institute / Tübingen AI Center / MPI-IS 
    • Alexander Brem: University of Stuttgart, Chair of Entrepreneurship in Technology and Digitalization 
    • Yunus Bulut: KIT; Co-founder of KIT Spin-off ValidAItor 
    • Milad Geravand: Deep Care CEO (Fraunhofer IPA Spin-off)   
    • Rebecca C. Reisch: Cyber Valley (Moderator)

     

    When

    May 26, 2025. 15:00–15:45 (CEST)

     

    Where

    House of Learning, Lab III (Silent Stage)
    Theresienwiese, 74072 Heilbronn

  • Cyber Valley Welcomes Two New Start-ups: SKAI and Tensor AI Solutions

    Cyber Valley Welcomes Two New Start-ups: SKAI and Tensor AI Solutions

    SKAI

    SKAI is on a mission to revolutionize dermatology with the use of AI. Their smart beauty assistant uses brain-inspired AI to provide hyper-personalized, science-backed skincare recommendations for both, consumers and dermatologists. By combining intuitive design with advanced AI, SKAI creates user experiences that are both quick, intelligent, and empathetic – making expert-level skincare acessible for everyone. 

     

    Tensor AI Solutions 

    Tensor AI Solutions provides customers with transparent and reliable AI software to automate their processes in an efficient and controllable way. From data assessment to prototyping and deployment, the start-up delivers tailor-made solutions for sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and finance — turning raw data into real-world impact.

    By joining the Cyber Valley Start-up Network, SKAI and Tensor AI Solutions bring new dimensions of innovation — from AI in beauty to enterprise transformation — strengthening the Community's mission to lead the charge in applied AI research and entrepreneurship. 

    Welcome aboard, SKAI and Tensor AI solutions.

  • Mira Vision accelerates innovation at VENTURE SPRIN-D

    Mira Vision accelerates innovation at VENTURE SPRIN-D

    At VENTURE SPRIN-D 2025, over 50 teams presented their innovative ideas to more than 250 international investors. The event featured live pitches, a networking exhibition area, and opportunities to make valuable connections. Alongside other members of the Cyber Valley Community, Cyber Valley Start-up MIRA Vision seized this opportunity to show how they are revolutionizing the health industry.

    We interviewed MIRA Vision founders, Lukas Mürdter and Leonid Mill, to gain insights into VENTURE SPRIN-D and what their start-up is all about. 

    Cyber Valley: How has attending this event impacted Mira Vision? What were your key takeaways? 
     
    Leonid Mill, MIRA Vision CTO & Founder, explains, “Attending the VENTURE SPRIN-D event was an outstanding experience for us. VENTURE SPRIN-D showcased the incredible innovation power of all the SPRIN-D portfolio start-ups, and it was truly inspiring to be part of such a dynamic environment. We deeply appreciated the opportunity to be part of this ecosystem and to participate and pitch on stage during the Superconnector session — it was a fantastic moment for us.” 

    “The event provided an excellent platform to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors. We had the pleasure of engaging in valuable conversations, receiving insightful feedback from investors, and exchanging ideas with other forward-thinking innovators.” 

    “Overall, it was an exceptional opportunity that has positively impacted our journey, and we are grateful to have been part of it. Shoutout to SPRIN-D for this amazing event, creating such an inspiring platform that brings together so many bright minds and visionary thinkers – it’s initiatives like this that truly accelerate innovation,” Mill concludes.  

    Cyber Valley: What is MIRA Vision? How is it already revolutionizing the health industry? 

    CEO & Founder, Lukas Mürdter, explains: “MIRA Vision is a pioneering company in medical diagnostics. We use synthetic intelligence to analyze pathological images faster, more accurately, and at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional methods. By relying on fully parametric synthetic training data – not real patient data and without using generative models – we’re solving three of the biggest issues in medical AI: bias, privacy, and data scarcity.”  

    Mürdter further clarifies, “Right now, we’re already outperforming state-of-the-art models in key areas with just a fraction of the resources that are normally needed to train such systems. This means not only better diagnostics but also global accessibility – even in regions with limited infrastructure.” 

    Cyber Valley: Where do you see MIRA Vision being used in the future?  

    Lukas emphasizes, “Our vision goes beyond pathology. We see MIRA Vision as the backbone of diagnostics across all image-based disciplines – radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, even surgery. Wherever an image can be taken, MIRA will analyze it. Ultimately, we want to give every doctor on this planet an AI-powered assistant that helps detect diseases early, accurately, and affordably – no matter where they are.” 

    Cyber Valley: What are your plans to make a positive impact on the world? 

    Lukas responds enthusiastically, “By being radically different – and radically better. Instead of building another AI that requires millions of patient records and insane GPU farms, we’ve designed a lightweight, scalable system built on expert-guided synthetic data. Our platform works out of the box, is regulation-friendly, and can be used for free in non-commercial settings.” 

    “We’re opening the platform to the global pathology community, offering unmatched accuracy, no data privacy concerns, and unbeatable economics. Once they start using it – they won’t want to stop. That’s how we scale. And yes – we’re just getting started,” Mürdter concludes.

  • Women of Tech Conference 2025

    Women of Tech Conference 2025

    Das Programm bietet eine Vielzahl an Vernetzungsmöglichkeiten, Keynotes und Podiumsdiskussionen, unter anderem zum Thema Künstliche Intelligenz.

    Wann?

    1. und 15. Mai, 2025. 9:00 – 17:30

    Wo?

    Tag 1:  ARENA 2036, Pfaffenwaldring, 70569 Stuttgart (Parkmöglichkeiten vor Ort)

    Tag 2: Bosch Supply Chain Campus, Bregenzer Str. 26A, 70469 Stuttgart (Anreise mit der Bahn wird empfohlen, da die Parkmöglichkeiten vor Ort sehr begrenzt sind)

    Interesse?

    Weitere Informationen und Tickets für diese Verstaltung finden Sie auf der WOT 2025 Website.

  • Biocompile and Ubitium strengthen the growing Start-up Network

    Biocompile and Ubitium strengthen the growing Start-up Network

     

    Biocompile

    Biocompile is a TechBio company offering an AI-as-a-Service platform tailored for microbial strain engineers in biomanufacturing. By merging automated research with AI-optimized gene sequences, Biocompile delivers precise gene modification recommendations, accelerating strain engineering and supporting the transition to a bio-based economy.

    Ubitium

    Ubitium is developing a universal RISC-V microprocessor, which aims to replace conventional processors by enabling the execution of diverse code, algorithms, and applications with maximum efficiency. This technology reduces computational complexity and costs while optimizing performance for robotics and heterogeneous computing workloads.

    These start-ups are leveraging AI to drive innovation, expand technological possibilities, and are both a great contribution to Cyber Valley's thriving Start-up Network. Welcome to the Community!

  • Navigating Investment Landscapes with SPRIND

    Navigating Investment Landscapes with SPRIND

    Leading the charge: Mirko Holzer 

    At the forefront of this initiative is Mirko Holzer, Deputy Director AI &Robotics  at SPRIND. With deep expertise in innovation management, Holzer ensures that promising start-ups and researchers get the resources they need to bring their groundbreaking ideas to life.  

    Holzer explains: “The partnership with Cyber Valley combines the best of both worlds: promising start-ups from first-class AI research meet the bold, unconventional funding culture of SPRIND. Together, we create an environment in which visionary ideas are not only conceived but also implemented. We look forward to supporting the next generation of AI pioneers and taking innovation in Germany to the next level!” 

    How to secure funding with SPRIND 

    SPRIND offers flexible financing models to help start-ups transform research into real-world applications. If traditional venture capital isn’t enough, SPRIND can step in with direct investments. 

    The step-by-step guide to getting funded 

    1. Research and eligibility: Ensure your AI venture aligns with SPRIND’s mission of breakthrough innovation. They look for high-impact, high-risk ideas with real-world applications. 

    2. Connecting with SPRIND: Early engagement with Mirko Holzer and his team is encouraged, as they can provide insights into the best funding options. 

    3. Preparing a proposal: SPRIND seeks strong teams, groundbreaking ideas, and a clear path to impact. Highlighting how innovation stands out is important. 

    4. Funding models and terms: SPRIND offers grants for research and development, equity investments, convertible loans, and co-investments with private investors, covering up to 70% of a financing round. 

    5. Validation phase: Selected teams can enter a validation phase, receiving expert coaching while participating in SPRIND’s network.  

    6. Showcase at VENTURE SPRIND: Top teams can present their ideas at SPRIND’s flagship event, where top investors and industry leaders gather to discover groundbreaking innovations.   

    “Research and development are incredibly expensive, and we can cover a large part of the development costs. The rest is covered by private investment,” explains Holzer. “Our financing is usually in the single-digit million range but can be higher if we see the potential and the need for it.” 

     

    Success Story: Polybot’s Journey 

    Polybot – one of the latest Cyber Valley projects supported by SPRIND – is a next-generation agricultural robot. SPRIND has provided Polybot with a seven-month validation contract starting in February 2025, giving them financial support, coaching, and access to a powerful innovation network. This partnership will turn Polybot’s cutting-edge research into real-world applications, strengthening Baden-Württemberg as an innovation hub. 

    Polybot’s team will: 

    • Join SPRIND’s expert-led programs 

    • Work closely with innovation managers 

    • Gain access to valuable investor networks 

    • Showcase their technology at VENTURE SPRIND 

    “SPRIND not only provides financial support but is also very active in the entire innovation landscape. This starts with the improvement of IP regulations and spin-off conditions through high-level workshops on VC funding and team building and extends to the organization of international venture events. These programs are just as valuable to us as the financial support,” says Wieland Brendel, Polybot project leader. 

    The collaboration between Cyber Valley and SPRIND demonstrates the potential of artificial intelligence research when applied to solving real-world problems, encouraging bold thinking and exploring uncharted territories in the field. 

    About SPRIND     

    SPRIND is Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, dedicated to funding transformative ventures that tackle the world’s toughest challenges, with a strong focus on AI. Their mission is to identify radical thinkers, invest in high-risk ideas, and connect teams with powerful networks across industry, academia, and government. SPRIND's comprehensive support includes financing, team building, and connecting innovators with key networks, ensuring that transformative progress aligns with fundamental humanistic values.