In a room buzzing with hopes and ambition, none were buoyed more than Matias Mäenpää’s when his startup Videobot was named the winner of the 17th Creative Young Entrepreneur Luxembourg (Cyel) competition, beating 32 other entries.
“It’s incredible!” exclaimed the CEO and founder afterwards.
Just 14 months after its creation, the Finnish/Luxembourgish company has made a name for itself with its concept of video-based websites. In other words, rather than static web pages, it offers a dynamic and interactive experience with videos. Like many of his ilk, Mäenpää's ambition is to transform his industry: “We want to become the Coca-Cola of videobots.” The €4,000 prize is a springboard for the company, which plans to further expand its international influence.
The company already has an international footprint, serving nearly 200 customers in more than 15 countries. “We aspire to be leaders in our field and to constantly innovate,” said the young entrepreneur.
The Cyel selection criteria cover five areas: economic viability, innovation, social impact, ability to overcome obstacles and long-term vision. A jury of 14 members evaluated the entrants.
Second and third place
Fabstwines won €2,000 for second place. Created just eight months ago, the platform aims to connect winemakers and wine-drinkers via artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Founder Fabienne Stanitz shared her vision: “We are challenging the industry and looking to make life easier for customers and employees.” The platform plans to expand its capabilities by integrating blockchain technology for a personalised and educational experience.
Fabienne Stanitz aims to change the wine industry with Fabstwines. Photo: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne
Emma, which took third place and a prize of €1,000, has been in business for almost six years and is present on four continents. Founder Dmitry Panenkov describes the company as a solution to simplify cloud management, making the service more understandable and accessible for businesses. “Our goal is to become a standard in the cloud,” he commented.
Good-naturedly, the young entrepreneur added: “This is my third attempt here, so I guess I’ll have to come back in the next few years to take first place!”
Dmitry Panenkov’s Emma took home third place. Photo: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne
Finally, LuxProvide awarded a Coup de Coeur prize to Spacetime by , recognising the entrepreneur’s expertise in analysing environments using robotics and data engineering. Spacetime will benefit from networking and business development opportunities offered by LuxProvide.
This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.