Clever Sole - innovative university idea and the path of a start-up
Universities can be centres of innovative progress and develop regional appeal if the conditions for success are right, explains Pamela Schück from the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM). She and her team at the THM's Transfer Department in Giessen have been coaching students for eight years in developing an idea into a business.
One of the successful projects is the start-up “Clever Sole” with a really “clever” insole that contains GPS and fall sensors and - linked to a localisation system - reports the location in the event of danger. “Clever Sole” helps dementia patients to become more independent and relieves the burden on carers.
Orthopaedic insoles with integrated GPS & fall sensors. Specialised for people with dementia - for more safety and autonomy / Product image ©FEEL Productions GmbH i.G.
Here we outline one of many research projects, success stories and future products that can be discovered in the Future Pavilion at REHAB Karlsruhe.
Future pavilion at REHAB Karlsruhe
Photo: Messe Karlsruhe
Students develop a product idea that is immediately convincing
“Clever Sole” was created as part of the Master's programme in Industrial Engineering and Management at THM: students were asked to develop and present a start-up idea from the product to the concept to marketing.
The idea for developing this product came from the mother of Emily Schmidt, co-founder of “Clever Sole”. She told us about dementia patients with great restlessness and the urge to move and how much effort the balancing act between necessary safety and restriction of freedom costs the care staff and takes away the residents' quality of life. With “Clever Sole”, a product has been developed that meets the needs and habits of dementia patients. Even if the jacket is often forgotten, the shoe is the most reliable item of clothing worn.
“Clever Sole” eliminates the hassle of having to put on chains and laces, and the shoes are simply placed on a mat to recharge without the need for a cable - a familiar action.
“Sometimes it's the little things that lead to the acceptance of a product and convince people of its benefits,” says Emily. The nursing home provided the students with the necessary input: from describing the problem, feedback on product development to storytelling and describing the unique selling point.
The idea of “Clever Sole” struck a chord, the team was invited to the university's own ideas competition and won first place. A Hessen Ideas Scholarship then provided financial support. The presentation at the Giessen start-up fair, first prize at the StartupWeekend Mittelhessen and - most recently - the winning title of the Hessian Founder Award in the category ‘Start-up from the university’ confirm the founding team of Emily Schmidt, Vincent Dern and Schlemun Danho as a successful start-up.
Founder of Clever Sole: Schlemun Danho, Vincent Dern und Emily Schmidt.
Team-Picture ©Panousi Fotografie
Clever coaching of students leads to success
Pamela Schück explains THM's funding principle: “The students themselves provide the ideas, which is often part of their academic performance. In the Transfer Department, we support and advise them with business coaching and develop further steps towards business together. We provide financial support to kick-start the business idea, we arrange for students to take part in ideas competitions and contests, bring them together with other (professional) players at trade fairs, introduce them to investors and jointly consider which other programmes would be useful. As an administrative unit, we also take care of patent analyses to secure and develop the ideas.”
THM cooperates with Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and the University of Marburg on talent development. “As a central location in Central Hesse, we can help shape the future together and complement each other with different specialisms in the fields of medicine, natural sciences and engineering, among others.”