In cooperation with the City of Ludwigshafen, the IHK Pfalz and the R(h)eine Gründungssache initiative, the HWG LU start-up office, headed by Prof. Dr. Christina Stadler, organized a three-day hackathon for students of all disciplines on the topic of "Innovative business models for the digital future" from 7 to 9 November 2025. With professional support and digital tools, teams of students developed their innovative business model based on real challenges in a very practical way, which they pitched to an expert jury at the Degree. The two best business models were awarded €500 for first place and €300 for second place, donated by the IHK Pfalz.
First prize went to the project "The Brunch Club". The inter-university winning team - consisting of Rafaela Korth (HWG LU), Naly Shiwan (TH Mannheim) and Niklas Kirschall (TH Mannheim) - impressed the jury with its app, which aims to combat social isolation. The innovative application is aimed at people who are new to a city or feel lonely and offers an uncomplicated way to make friends. By filtering according to interests, users can find suitable brunch partners and brunch locations in their area and make appointments. The jury particularly praised the social benefits and easy accessibility of the platform.
"The inspiration came from my own experience when I first moved to Ludwigshafen," says Rafaela Korth from HWG LU. "The hackathon enriched me enormously - both professionally and personally - and will help me a lot with my own start-up project."
Second prize went to the "KI-KMU" team with Vincent Hohaus, Nico Karle, Daniel Dück and Karsten Schmitt. Their concept is aimed at the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The use of artificial intelligence and open data as well as personal IT services on site are intended to support companies from the region.
University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller presented the awards for the best business models together with Dr. Tibor Müller from the Palatinate Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Daniel Meyer from the City of Ludwigshafen.
However, the award ceremony and final evaluation of the event were preceded by busy days - both for the participating students and the accompanying experts from business, city administration and academia: in addition to keynote speeches on the topics of innovation, digital business models and open data by, among others by Prof. Dr. Oliver Hummel from the TH Mannheim, Sven Korhummel from cyperfection GmbH and Daniel Meyer, Chief Digital Officer of the City of Ludwigshafen, the agenda included an introduction to the Business Model Canvas by Prof. Dr. Michael Graef and the art of pitching by Dr. Tibor Müller from the IHK Pfalz. The student teams, supported by their coaches, then went on to develop their business models and finally to their final presentation.
At the Degree, the jury - Regina Keßler, Managing Director of Genie Enterprise Deutschland GmbH, the Managing Director of W.E.G. - WirtschaftsEntwicklungsGesellschaft Ludwigshafen am Rhein mbH, Klaus Dillinger, and Prof. Martin Selchert from HWG LU - evaluated the presented proposals according to criteria such as degree of innovation, feasibility and market potential.
"The aim of the hackathon was to develop practical solutions over the course of three intensive days in collaboration with experts from business, the city and academia and to present them to an expert jury. By working on real data and challenges, the students were able to gain valuable practical experience and apply what they had learned directly," said organizer Prof. Dr. Christina Stadler from the university's start-up office.
Specialist contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
Start-up Office
Prof. Dr. Christina Stadler / Chrisa Papadopoulou
Tel. 0621/5203-278 or -342
Email: christina.stadler@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de / gruendung@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de
