Innovative ideas for a more sustainable future took center stage yesterday at the grand finale of the Goethe SDG Contest 2026 at Goethe University Frankfurt. Six finalist teams pitched their concepts to an audience of around 100 guests from academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem after emerging from an intensive bootcamp involving 12 selected projects. Organized by Goethe Unibator in partnership with Santander Germany, the competition supports entrepreneurial approaches that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s finalists once again reflected the breadth of innovation in the field, spanning sustainable materials, digital technologies, and health-related solutions. The six finalist teams were Algrid, ALL LCA, CeraSleeve® GmbH, Diamics, LifeXLab, and Waterprint.
In a series of concise pitch presentations, the teams presented their business models to a jury comprising Prof. Dr. Michael Huth, Judith Pfeifer, and Felipe Macias. Prize money of €5,000, €3,000, and €2,000 was awarded to the top three teams:
1. Place: Algrid – The team develops offshore collection systems for harmful Sargassum algae and converts the biomass into valuable raw materials for the pharmaceutical, energy, and construction sectors.
2. Place: Diamics – With its “diaLab” platform, Diamics enables rapid, decentralized STI diagnostics in less than 30 minutes – even in areas without laboratory infrastructure.
3. Place: CeraSleeve® GmbH – The startup is developing a sustainable paper additive that allows water-resistant paper products to remain recyclable, offering an alternative to fossil-based coatings.
The remaining finalists also drew attention for their innovative approaches: ALL LCA provides software for automated sustainability and life-cycle assessments in industry; LifeXLab focuses on mental resilience and positive psychology through its streaming platform; and Waterprint develops PCR-based solutions for wastewater monitoring. “The quality and diversity of this year’s submissions highlight the tremendous innovative potential of sustainable entrepreneurship,” said Goethe University Vice President Prof. Dr. Michael Huth. “The teams not only presented strong technological concepts but also demonstrated clear pathways toward real-world impact.”
Alongside the pitch competition, the event also offered opportunities for networking and discussion. A panel discussion titled “Challenges & Opportunities for Impact Startups” brought together Marcello Eiermann, Martin Raditsch, and Wojtek Konieczny for a conversation moderated by Dr. Kirstin Schilling on current developments, obstacles, and opportunities in impact-driven entrepreneurship.
The Goethe SDG Contest forms part of Goethe University’s broader sustainability and entrepreneurship activities, connecting students, researchers, and industry partners to develop solutions to pressing societal challenges. The 2026 finale once again underscored the university’s role as a hub for sustainable innovation and responsible entrepreneurship.
Further Information: www.goetheunibator.de
