Our start-ups

Numerous innovative start-ups are emerging at the German Sport University Cologne from the ideas of students, researchers, staff and alumni. Through their start-up projects, they are developing innovative solutions in the fields of sport, exercise and health, and successfully putting sports science findings into practice.

On this page, we showcase start-ups and start-up teams that are supported by – or have previously been supported by – the Gateway Start-up Service at the German Sport University Cologne. The projects featured are at various stages of their start-up journey – from the initial idea through the further development of the business model right through to a successful market launch.

Athlete Capital

The start-up supports professional athletes as they enter the world of start-up investment and, in turn, gives young companies better access to this new group of business angels.

Founders: Tim Zwiener & Mattis Hecht

wellplayd

Software for responsible club management and integrity in sport.

Founder: Janina Jaspers

Sizeless

Adjustable-size shoes for children

Founders: Alexander Schemel, Leander Peters & Louis Smith

W1NNAS

Performance Pouches for professional athletes. Pouches are small pouches designed to be placed in the mouth. W1NNAS Pouches contain no nicotine or tobacco; instead, they have been developed by sports medicine specialists to provide a quick and long-lasting energy boost.

Founders: Ben Decker and Pablo Klüppelberg

OnBeat

Our first training app, ‘BeatLoop’, is already available on the App Store and Google Play, and supports dance lessons in every conceivable dance style. Our app is a particularly valuable tool when it comes to choreography.

Founders: Dr Ashwin Phatak, Yago Caudet Roca Garcia and Justus Schlenger

SwimPal

An app that offers parents a structured, scientifically sound and playful method for teaching their children to swim themselves, step by step and in a straightforward way.

Founders: Julian Schäfer & Marvin Schneiders

Assistant coach

Less admin. More football.

A management platform for football clubs.

Founder: Claudius Ludwig

Wakeboard Campus

Step-by-step guidance and a supportive community to help you develop both in and out of the water.

Founder: Nico von Lerchenfeld

Digi-EP

Digi-EP is a software programme for digitally-supported experiential education, which is used in face-to-face workshops in combination with traditional methods.

Founder: Jonas Grünewald

Testprep

TestPrep is the first data-driven preparation programme for the aptitude test at sports universities. Once you’ve passed the test, TestPrep supports you as you start your degree, helping you settle into your new city and your studies, and making new contacts and friends.

Founders: Paul Banerjee, Lars Weber and Tim Frericks

Portrait des Gründers Siavash Gheshlaghi

MyProEye

MyProEye helps you improve your mobility. Your movements are recorded using your mobile phone’s camera and then analysed using sports science software.

Founder: Siavash Gheshlaghi

Balltastic

Balltastic is a unique ball skills school for children aged two and over. Our programme is based on the latest findings in sports science and combines targeted development of motor skills, coordination and cognitive abilities with lots of fun.

Founder: Lukas Sepp

Naturzeit-Club

We are creating a platform that makes it easier for people to access urban nature experiences and nature-based childcare services, and brings them together as a community.

Founder: Alexander Root

Fortitude HRV

Heart rate variability workshops, training sessions and online courses based on a new measurement method.

Founders: Leon Hunder, Marko Jackovic