Ventures Well Established

Venture Building – Start-ups

Identifying challenges – and providing innovative solutions! Start-ups in Jülich are driving innovation with real-world impact. We introduce three promising young companies.

June 2024

Precious Electrodes

The Challenge

Lithium-ion batteries are considered the energy storage solution of the future. However, there is still room for improvement in their performance. Batteries need to be enhanced so that, for example, electric cars can achieve greater ranges in the future.

Innovative Solution

Enter pre-lithiation: a process that refines battery electrodes. “We supply additional lithium, extending battery lifespan and boosting energy density,” explains Benedikt Konersmann, co-founder of PreLi GmbH. The name derives from the process developed at Forschungszentrum Jülich. “Our mission is to commercialize this technology and introduce it to companies across the battery value chain – from novel materials development to automotive manufacturing.”

PreLi GmbH

Dr. Benedikt Konersmann
Co-Founder

Sustainable Connections

The Challenge

Producing chiral diols, essential for catalysts in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, is costly, laborious, and environmentally taxing.

Innovative Solution

E-Tech PRO-Diols introduces enzymatic technology to streamline production. Aspiring co-founder Torsten Sehl highlights, "Our eco-friendly approach lowers costs and enhances purity." Sehl, a biochemist who previously worked at the Forschungszentrum Jülich, returned to establish this spin-off. With E-Tech PRO-Diols, Sehl and Dörte Rother aim to scale up production for industrial applications, promoting sustainable diol production.

E-Tech PRO-Diols

Dr. Torsten Sehl
Aspiring Founder

Smart Material Development

The Challenge

Developing new materials is a time-consuming process. Research divisions within institutes and companies face delays due to limited access to critical data. Kourosh Malek, founder of ViMi Labs, emphasizes, "Information storage varies widely, and there's insufficient exchange of insights."

Innovative Solution

ViMi Labs addresses this with AI-powered software that aggregates and analyzes publicly available research data. "Our platform recommends optimal material compositions, initially focusing on hydrogen-related applications.This approach promises faster and more cost-effective material development," says Kourosh Malek, who is involved in his third start-up venture with ViMi Labs.

www.vimilabs.com