These startups are in the final of STARTERiN Hamburg 2025
On 3 December, the final round of the STARTERiN Hamburg 2025 competition for female entrepreneurs will take place at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce as part of the Connect & Learn conference. The candidates were selected through public voting, and the final decision will be made by a jury of experts. Biohugs, MyQMa Solutions, myProtectify, waymaker stories, Prazzle, and Voicestories are competing for the title in three categories.
Tech category: Biohugs and MyQMa Solutions
Biohugs uses artificial intelligence to make life easier for neurodivergent people. With the help of wearables such as smartwatches, physiological signals are recorded in real time and translated into audiovisual training units that promote cognitive and emotional regulation. The aim is to increase concentration and well-being. Co-founder and CEO Parnian Fazel will be pitching at STARTERiN. Alice Schedlbauer from MyQMa Solutions offers a digital onboarding platform for quality management. The solution seamlessly integrates new and existing employees into processes and creates transparency about tasks, responsibilities, and expectations. With the help of artificial intelligence, content is personalised, kept up to date, and made accessible.
Impact category: myProtectify and waymaker stories
myProtectify is already an award winner, receiving the IDEA-Förderpreis from the Hamburg Senate in November 2024. The startup, founded by Sogol Kordi, was honoured for its digital support service for victims of domestic violence. An anonymous, free chat service supported by AI offers round-the-clock support with emotional guidance, recommendations for action, and referrals to appropriate counselling centres. waymaker stories and its founder Keziah-Naomi Tsagli have also proven themselves worthy of awards; at the final pitch of the Next.Generation incubator, the startup won the audience vote for its books, which present Black people as role models and figures of identification for children, thus filling a gap in the market.
Commerce category: Prazzle and Voicestories
Prazzle is a global platform that brings together art, the creative industries, and technology. On the website, you can find out about current trends and exhibitions and purchase works of art. The company is headquartered in Delaware (USA) and is managed by Ann Austin in Hamburg. Voicestories, founded by Yvonne Ramat, makes memories audible with audio stickers. They connect photo albums, postcards, or gifts with personal listening experiences that can be accessed via a QR code on a cell phone.
