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Wageningen startup Hippotainer wins Audience Award of the Dutch 4TU. Impact Challenge

Published on
November 11, 2024

Delft, 7 November 2024 – The sixth edition of the 4TU. Impact Challenge brought together innovative startups and inspiring ideas from the four Dutch technical universities. In a competitive final at TU Delft, seven promising startups competed for the prestigious awards. After impressive pitches and an exciting voting round, the winners were announced: J58 won the Jury Award, while Hippotainer was crowned with the Audience Award.

The Jury Award winner, J58 from Twente, develops advanced wheelchairs aimed at enhancing accessibility and independence for users. With their innovative technology and focus on user experience, J58 stood out for its potential to create a lasting impact in the healthcare sector and the daily lives of those requiring wheelchair support. The jury praised J58 for the practical applicability and strong impact potential of their design.

The Audience Award went to Hippotainer, a Wageningen startup producing fresh food in mobile containers. Through their unique container solutions, Hippotainer provides fresh vegetables to local communities, including in Ukraine, where food access is often limited. The audience chose Hippotainer for its combination of technology and social impact.

Impact Challenge of the Four Technical Universities

The Dutch 4TU Impact Challenge represents an emerging generation of professionals and changemakers. Each technical university sends a delegation of two teams showcasing innovative technologies that address a range of societal challenges.

This year, TU Delft was represented by 4cues.ai, focusing on AI-driven communication tools to enhance social interaction for people with cognitive challenges. Wageningen University & Research was represented by Hippotainer and PermaVoltaics. Hippotainer, the Audience Award winner, supplies communities with fresh vegetables through mobile container gardens. PermaVoltaics develops innovative, integrated solar panels that generate energy without additional land use, contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Eindhoven University was represented by ArtVista and TouchPulse. ArtVista converts visual data into actionable insights for sectors such as culture and media, while TouchPulse develops tactile technology for the visually impaired, enabling them to navigate more independently.

The University of Twente sent Tomorrow Energies and J58 to the finals. Tomorrow Energies focuses on sustainable energy solutions for urban areas, while J58, the Jury Award winner, develops advanced wheelchairs that promote user independence.

4TU. Impact Support Day

The 4TU. Impact Challenge was the celebratory conclusion of the 4TU. Impact Day. On this day, representatives from the four technical universities gather to exchange knowledge and ideas. The four technical universities in the Netherlands collaborate within the 4TU.Federation.