17th IDEE Award: Pioneering innovations

Hamburg, November 14, 2025 - From revolutionary diagnostic procedures and climate-neutral process heat to
sustainable packaging solutions - this year's IDEE Award impressively demonstrates the innovative power of
female founders in Germany. With creativity, assertiveness and technological knowledge, they are driving
progress in their industries and offering solutions to social challenges. The
winners of the 17th IDEE Award have now been announced:

• First place, and therefore 50,000 euros, goes to: Dr.-Ing. Wei Wu from Heatrix GmbH
• In second place with 10,000 euros: Prof. Dr. Angela Moreira Borralho Relógio from TimeTeller GmbH
• Third place with 5,000 euros was awarded to Sogol Kordi from myProtectify gUG
• The final round was also reached by: Sarah Neumann and Alexandra Plewnia from Texterial GmbH and Annekathrin Grüneberg from mujō

As the only national prize for business start-ups by women, the J.J. Darboven IDEE Award has had a clear mission since 1997: it not only makes innovative business ideas visible, but also specifically strengthens the position of female founders in the German economy. With its long tradition, the prize supports entrepreneurial pioneering spirit and contributes to recognizing the innovative strength of women at a national level. "In times of great transformation, we need diverse perspectives and courageous visions," emphasizes Albert Darboven, initiator and founder of the award. "This year's award winners impress not only with their technical expertise, but also with their ability to combine technological progress with social benefit." The name of the award reflects the history of innovation at IDEE KAFFEE - a success story that began over a
century ago with a pioneering refinement process and still stands for the courage to break new ground today.

The patron of the award is Senator Dr. Melanie Leonhard, President of the Ministry of Economics, Labour and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

The finalists were selected by a jury of experts chaired by Prof. Dr. Rolf Eggert, who chose four promising concepts from 218 applications for the final round. A fifth participant was chosen by a public vote. In addition to the chairman, the jury consisted of Dr. Bernd C. Janssen, Norbert Leopoldseder, Wilfried Peters, Dr. Anita Plantikow, Manuela Rasthofer and the winner of the IDEE Sponsorship Award 2023 Nina Heine from Shit2Power.

The award ceremony took place on November 14, 2025 at the International Maritime Museum in Hamburg.

The five final ideas at a glance

Dr.-Ing. Wei Wu from Heatrix GmbH uses hot air for climate protection. With a modular, electric air heater - figuratively speaking a "super-hot hair dryer" - the company supplies CO2-neutral process heat for energy-intensive industries such as the steel, cement and chemical sectors. The patented system uses green electricity to continuously generate hot air up to 1,500°C and is cheaper than fossil fuels. A groundbreaking innovation for sectors that are currently responsible for over 12 percent of global CO2 emissions.

Prof. Dr. Angela Moreira Borralho Relógio from TimeTeller GmbH has developed a revolutionary concept that takes the internal clock into account in the treatment of diseases. The company uses saliva samples to create a profile of the biological clock in order to optimally personalize the intake of medication for cancer patients, for example. This innovative combination of diagnostics and therapy planning increases the effectiveness of medication, reduces side effects and improves quality of life - a pioneering approach for the precision medicine of the future.

Sogol Kordi from myProtectify gUG has developed a comprehensive solution for victims of domestic violence. At its heart is the free AI help chat Maya as a barrier-free first point of contact that offers anonymous, multilingual and round-the-clock help - without leaving any digital traces that could be discovered by perpetrators. This technology overcomes the hurdles of conventional counseling services and creates a safe digital shelter for those affected, which includes more than 265,000 people every year in Germany alone.

The founding team Sarah Neumann and Alexandra Plewnia from Texterial GmbH are revolutionizing the world of functional textiles with their innovation. Their patented yarn, inspired by nature, not only makes textiles water-repellent and breathable, but also "unwettable" - they remain completely dry even under water. Unlike conventional products, the technology completely dispenses with environmentally harmful fluorine compounds and complex blended materials. The recyclable textiles offer a sustainable alternative for a wide range of applications and strengthen the European textile industry.

Annekathrin Grüneberg 's idea for mujō arose from the realization that short-lived products made of durable plastic represent a fundamental design flaw. To close the gap between EU requirements and marketable solutions, mujō develops innovative, compostable packaging films made from brown algae - a regenerative resource that binds CO2 up to 20 times faster than trees, cleans the oceans and requires neither arable land nor fresh water. This material innovation combines functionality, recyclability and attractive design to create a new generation of sustainable packaging.

J.J. Darboven was founded on March 21, 1866 by Johann Joachim Darboven in Hamburg. The successful Hanseatic family business is now managed by Albert Darboven in the fourth generation. With a comprehensive product range of coffee (e.g. J.J. Darboven Classics, Alfredo), tea(EILLES TEE) and cocoa(COCAYA), the company is the market leader in the out-of-home sector and a convincing supplier of coffee to the food retail trade (e.g. IDEE KAFFEE, EILLES KAFFEE, Café Intención, and Mövenpick). J.J. Darboven stands for quality, tradition and innovation. The group is currently active in nine European countries.

The traditional brand from J.J. Darboven has always stood for good ideas. This is due to the then pioneering steam refinement process from which IDEE KAFFEE was created over 100 years ago. The 500 g filter coffees are available as classic roasts in stimulatingly aromatic and elegantly decaffeinated ground and whole bean varieties. Since November 2022, IDEE KAFFEE, the award's namesake, has been putting the spotlight on sustainable start-ups with impressive ideas - visible on every pack of coffee. The IDEE Award has been presented in Germany since 1997 and in Poland since 2006.