“Formnext Start-up Challenge” recognizes creative, innovative, and sustainable AM business ideas

Now in its seventh year, the Formnext Start-up Challenge recognizes young and innovative companies from the world of additive manufacturing. In addition to new, creative, and viable business ideas, the subject of sustainability also plays an important role. A young company will therefore also be selected from the applicants to receive the AM Impact Ventures Award. Applications are now being invited from companies that are no more than five years old. The deadline for applications is 2 July 2021; winners will be announced in September 2021.

Since its inception, the Formnext Start-up Challenge has offered additive manufacturing start-ups one of the most attractive platforms for showcasing their companies to the AM world and attracting the attention of customers, partners, and potential investors. Winning the Formnext Start-up Challenge has given an important boost to the market entry of a number of internationally successful companies, including 3Yourmind, Dyemansion, Kumovis, Sinterit, Trinckle 3D, Xioneer, and many more.

Helping start-ups make their mark in the world of additive manufacturing
“After many months of extremely limited contact opportunities due to the pandemic, it is all the more important for young innovative companies and start-ups to present themselves and connect with customers or partners,” explains Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at event organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “We want to support this over the long term with the Formnext Start-up Challenge and offer the winners a highly attractive package that allows them to make their mark in the international world of additive manufacturing.”

In addition to the 3D-printed award, the five winners will each receive an impressive Formnext exhibition and marketing package, which includes, among other things, a fully equipped exhibition booth in the Formnext 2021 Start-up Area and inclusion in all relevant and worldwide Formnext marketing and communication activities. In addition, the winners can participate in a pitch event as part of Formnext, receive an individual company profile from a media sponsor as well as corporate coaching from a member of the judging panel.

The international panel of high-profile representatives from all corners of the industry comprises Dr. Kristian Arntz (CEO Fraunhofer Center for Networked Adaptive Production ICNAP), Stefanie Brickwede (project manager at 3d Printing@DB and Managing Director of the Mobility goes Additive network), Arno Held (AM Ventures Managing Partner), Alexander Oster (Director of Additive Manufacturing at Autodesk), and Michael Petch (Editor in Chief at 3Dprintingindustry.com). Also bringing his expertise to the Start-up Challenge is new panel member, Peter Mayr, Professor of Materials Engineering of Additive Manufacturing at the Technical University of Munich.

AM Ventures Impact Award 2021
Following its debut last year, the AM Ventures Impact Award will be presented to selected applicants of the Formnext Start-up Challenge for the second time, in recognition of approaches to sustainability. Environmental considerations (such as green energy and resource conservation) and social aspects (for example, education and equality) play an important role in this. According to Arno Held, Managing Partner at AM Ventures; “Additive manufacturing offers great potential to address key global economic and environmental challenges.”

Any up-and-coming company with a product or service that is market-ready in terms of customers, product status, and revenue can take part in the Formnext Start-up Challenge, provided the start-up is not majority-owned by an established company and was founded after 1 January 2016.

For more information, visit www.formnext.com/startup

Event dates of Formnext:
Formnext: 16 – 19 November 2021, Frankfurt, Germany
Formnext Digital Days: 30 November – 1 December 2021, Online

Related global events on innovative industrial manufacturing:
Rosmould: 15 – 17 June 2021, Moscow, Russia
Formnext + PM South China: 9 – 11 September 2021, Shenzhen, China
Formnext Forum Tokyo: 28 – 29 September 2021, Tokyo, Japan
Asiamold: 3 – 5 March 2022, Guangzhou, China

Background information on Formnext
Formnext is the leading trade fair for Additive Manufacturing and the next generation of intelligent manufacturing solutions. It focuses on the efficient realization of parts and products, from their design to serial production. Formnext shows the future of innovative manufacturing. Formnext is organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. (formnext.com)

About Mesago Messe Frankfurt
Mesago, founded in 1982 and located in Stuttgart, specializes in exhibitions and conferences on various topics of technology. The company belongs to the Messe Frankfurt Group. Mesago operates internationally and is not tied to a specific venue. With 160 members of staff Mesago organizes events for the benefit of more than 3,300 exhibitors and over 110,000 trade visitors, conference delegates and speakers from all over the world. Numerous trade associations, publishing houses, scientific institutes and universities work with Mesago closely as advisers, co-organizers and partners. (mesago.com)

Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. The Messe Frankfurt Group employs around 2,500* people in a total of 30 subsidiaries. The company generated annual sales of approximately €250* million in 2020 after having recorded sales of €738 million the previous year. Even in difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are globally networked with our industry sectors. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are expanding our digital expertise with new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com * preliminary figures 2020

Background information on TCT (Content Partner)
Established in 1992, TCT Group’s mission is to accelerate design-to-manufacturing innovation. Through global trade shows, conferences, magazines, websites and digital products TCT delivers business-critical insights on the technologies that help manufacturers make better products, more quickly and cost-effectively. Through the TCT Awards TCT celebrates the most innovative products and applications across the design-to-manufacturing process chain. The TCT Group is owned by Rapid News Publications Ltd, part of Rapid News Group. (thetctgroup.com) 

Background information on the Working Group Additive Manufacturing (Honorary Sponsor)
Within the Working Group Additive Manufacturing, about 150 companies and research institutes collaborate under the direction of the German industry federation VDMA. Here, plant engineers; component and material suppliers; industrial companies that work with metals and plastics; service providers in software, manufacturing, and processing; and numerous researchers all work toward the same goal: the industrialization of additive manufacturing techniques. (am.vdma.org)

Source: Mesago