28.10.2024

Inspiring with experiments

TU start-up develops teaching materials for STEM subjects

Old and boring teaching materials no longer appeal to today's students. Especially in STEM subjects, it is a challenge to arouse and promote enthusiasm among learners. Tom Rothe and Tobias Brentrup, the founders of the startup VisualMINT, want to change this and use modern teaching materials to promote understanding and support individual learning paths. The start-up sees itself as a link between digital and analog learning. With an intelligent learning platform and augmented reality, the start-up wants to take experimentation at school to a new level: By combining digital visualizations and an experimental kit, physical phenomena are illustrated and made more tangible.

Met at the TU Hamburg and docked at Startup Port

Tobias and Tom met at the TU Hamburg at the mechanical engineering student council's freshman barbecue, completed their bachelor's degrees together and undertook many extracurricular activities together. Tobias switched to industrial engineering after his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and Tom went to RWTH Aachen University for his master's degree in mechanical engineering. Since February 2023, they have been supported with their business idea at the start-up center Startup Port @TUHH: As alumni of the TU Hamburg, this was the first point of contact for them. “Our start-up advisor is always on hand with help and advice - whether it's about the strategic approach or feedback on financial plans or project applications. The start-up center is also the perfect place to go if you get stuck or have to make simple decisions such as: Where is the best place to order my own VisualMINT sweaters now?” reports Tom Rothe. Their start-up advisor also recommended the InnoFounder funding program and supported them through the successful application process.

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Photo: Claudia Höhne