Successful start-ups: From the first idea to your own AI start-up

Many students and young researchers have ideas that have the potential for a start-up - but don't know how to take the first step. The example of Crateflow shows how an initial idea can be turned into a successful company. The start-up was founded by graduates of what is now RPTU and combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial courage.

"We help companies achieve reliable supply chains," says founder Markus Heidt, summing up the business model of his start-up Crateflow. Together with co-founder Daniel Antonatus, he has launched an AI-supported platform for inventory optimization and supply chain planning. The idea behind it sounds simple, but it is very effective: a warehouse should have exactly as much material as is actually needed - no more, but also no less.

Crateflow's AI platform evaluates historical sales data, customer behavior and external influencing factors, forecasts demand across the entire supply chain and detects anomalies such as sudden fluctuations in demand at an early stage. The effect is measurable: "Around 30 percent of stock levels can be saved in this way, while at the same time companies increase their turnover by around 20 percent," says Markus Heidt.

"Around 30 percent of stock levels can be saved in this way, while companies increase their turnover by around 20 percent," says Markus Heidt about the benefits of Crateflow's AI platform.

The offer is particularly attractive for medium-sized manufacturing companies - such as automotive suppliers or plastics producers. "These manufacturing SMEs support the large companies and therefore the industry as a whole," emphasizes Markus Heidt, knowing full well that Crateflow is therefore striking at the heart of the German economy.

From internal problem to own business idea

The founding idea was not born in the lecture hall, but in practice. After studying computer science at what is now RPTU, Markus Heidt initially went into the private sector and worked as a data scientist for a large German supermarket chain. There he dealt with the very questions that now form the core of Crateflow: Which and how many products should be available in the warehouse and when?

He recognized enormous potential for optimization - and the opportunity to develop his own company from this. He brought a friend from university on board for the start-up: Daniel Antonatus, a graduate in business administration. Together they decided to apply for an EXIST start-up grant in order to financially secure the early phase of their self-employment.

Starting up with professional support

They needed a mentor for the application - and knocked on the door of Dennis Steininger, Professor of Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship at RPTU, in 2024. "It's appreciated if it's a mentor with a specialist background," Steininger reports from his experience. The idea of the AI start-up was an ideal thematic fit with his research fields of entrepreneurship and digital innovation.

Daniel Antonatus already knew Steininger from his studies - particularly from courses that prepare students for start-ups in the digital environment. "I want to motivate students to first try out founding a company in a protected environment," says Steininger, explaining the intention of these courses. Dennis Steininger is also one of two start-up ambassadors for Business Studies and Economics at RPTU. This means that he ensures that the topic of "start-ups" is visible to students and staff in the department.

Team success factor: heterogeneous, motivated, complementary

What does it take to found a company successfully? For Dennis Steininger, the answer is clear: "Enthusiasm for what you do - and a small, diverse team." Two to three people with different skills are ideal. Crateflow is a good example of this: While Markus Heidt is responsible for product, sales and strategy as CEO, Daniel Antonatus takes care of finances and business management as COO.

The founders received additional support from the start-up office at RPTU and Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences. They also submitted their application for the EXIST start-up grant via the start-up office - with success. Crateflow was funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics for one year. "Thanks to the excellent work of the start-up office with Katharina Neitzel at RPTU, the success rate for the approval of EXIST start-up grants is around 90 percent," emphasizes Steininger - nationwide it is only 50 to 60 percent.

"The success rate for the approval of EXIST start-up grants at RPTU is around 90 percent. Nationwide, the figure is only 50 to 60 percent."

The actual work began with the funding: developing prototypes, understanding customer needs, building networks. "I went from being an employee to an employer," says Heidt, describing his change of perspective at the time. During this time, the founders were linked to Dennis Steininger's chair, used the infrastructure and received support from his team with organizational and administrative issues. "We tried to be a good sparring partner," says Steininger.

The first customers were acquired via trade fairs. The approach was always the same: first listen, understand the customer's environment and needs - and then present a tailor-made solution. "Crateflow doesn't sell advice, but software that automatically optimizes customers' inventory planning on a daily basis - with measurable results: less capital in the warehouse, more delivery capability," emphasizes Markus Heidt.

They started out with companies from the region and now maintain contacts with customers and investors from as far away as the USA. After the EXIST funding came to an end, Crateflow was able to attract five investors - including the Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz (ISB). The development speaks for itself: the company is now based in Worms as Crateflow GmbH, currently employs ten people - and has yet to lose a customer.

Tips for start-ups

What tips do the founders pass on? Markus Heidt says: "You have to have the courage to jump in at the deep end." However, early networking and the conscious choice of co-founders are also important. Daniel Antonatus sums up the latter as follows: "You make your bed, you lie in it - after all, you spend a lot of time together."

Dennis Steininger also encourages people to give entrepreneurship a try. Starting up means tackling things and thinking in a versatile way: "You're a decathlete." Studies also show that founders are particularly satisfied with their work - mainly because of the high level of self-determination and personal responsibility. These are all advantages that Daniel Antonatus and Markus Heidt knew how to make the most of: thanks to a good idea and their entrepreneurial courage, they can look forward to a promising future.