Thanks to the scholarship, Deandra Anderson, Markella Samartzidou and Philipp Neveling can go full steam ahead with their business idea. The EXIST Start-up Scholarship from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is the most important funding instrument for start-up teams from universities. For one year, it provides funds to cover living expenses for up to three founding members and covers material costs of up to 30,000 euros. “We are very pleased that the cultivation of a start-up culture at Hochschule Geisenheim University is beginning to bear fruit and that the scholarship gives young start-up entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their business idea to market maturity,” emphasizes Prof. Annette Reineke, Vice-President of Research at Hochschule Geisenheim University.

The ebb&flow team is developing a sustainable beverage culture around the theme of wine. But what does that mean? The concept involves a circular economy that is limited exclusively to regional, organic wines from small and medium-sized wineries in Germany. The most important aspect is the minimal waste concept. The basis is the keg – a multi-use stainless steel barrel (20 liters) that can be used as a wine and beverage container for up to 30 years. One keg can save 27 glass bottles (plus corks, capsules, labels and over 2.5 m² of cardboard packaging). Ebb&flow wants to ensure that the wine’s quality does not suffer when it is served in a keg. To that end, the team is also scientifically investigating the quality of this serving method in cooperation with Hochschule Geisenheim University. “We firmly believe that we can also bring about a paradigm shift in the wine industry with regard to wine packaging. Thanks to our expertise earned during our studies at Hochschule Geisenheim University and with the support of the Department of Food Safety and the Department of Enology we want to prove that a sustainable circular economy for wine does not come at the expense of quality. True to our motto: tap into the future!”, explains Philipp Neveling, founding member of ebb&flow.

Since March 2020, Hochschule Geisenheim University has been operating a joint start-up center with the EBS University of Business and Law – the Gründungsfabrik Rheingau. The project is funded by the BMWi and aims to promote start-ups from university members. “Gründungsfabrik Rheingau actively supported us during the application process until the idea met the necessary requirements to be submitted to the funding authority,” says Deandra Anderson, founding member of ebb&flow, praising the joint initiative. Both universities have already received further applications from start-ups and are delighted about this great initial success.

For more information about ebb&flow please click here.

For more information about the EXIST Start-up Scholarship, please click here.