FRESH IDEAS FROM DÜSSELDORF
Startup Week Düsseldorf plays a key part in the growing startup ecosystem in Düsseldorf. A wonderful anniversary was celebrated from 8 to 12 September 2025: for the 10th time, visionary founders, innovative minds and up-and-coming companies came together to shape the future. The official highlight was the Future Tech Fest, Germany's leading B2B start-up trade fair and conference. More than 5,000 people – ranging from industry leaders to lesser-known figures in the startup scene – gathered to share knowledge and conduct business. Among them were numerous startups from abroad, highlighting Düsseldorf's appeal as an international location. These three “fresh ideas” exemplify the diversity of the local start-up ecosystem: Make way for Aitonomi, promptmeplease.ai and DNTOX!
CEO and founder Torsten Scholl
FULLY AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS
Digitalisation and automation offer enormous potential in transport logistics. This is precisely what Aitonomi AG (formerly TeleRetail AG) specialises in, providing a constant stream of new solutions. Founded by Torsten and Xenia Scholl in Switzerland in 2014, the startup has focused on developing autopilot software for vehicles of various sizes. The main development centre is located in Düsseldorf at the subsidiary company, Aitonomi GmbH. 'At the time of our founding, Amazon wanted to offer drone deliveries, but there was no road-based solution yet. We were convinced that drones could only be used to a limited extent in smart cities due to their noise levels and limited range. Therefore, we believed that the future lay in “Ground Robotics”,’ explains Xenia Scholl. In 2018, Aitonomi presented the first autonomous delivery robot in collaboration with TKE (formerly ThyssenKrupp Elevator) at the IAA in Frankfurt. As legislation did not permit widespread operation in public areas, the company focused on industrial sites. There, autonomous vehicles can transport goods such as pallets between production and storage in a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly manner. One of the world's largest autonomous semi-trailers was introduced by Autonomi in 2022 for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. In 2023, Aitonomi participated in the Oxagon & McLaren Accelerator (NEOM), presenting port automation technology in the form of a container transporter. In 2024, the company established a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. ‘The young generation of Saudis has a vision of positioning the country as innovative and progressive. We support them in automating and establishing new industries in the region, as well as training robotics experts,' says CEO Torsten Scholl. Aitonomi will continue to focus on AI, digital twins, and innovations in sensor technology in order to advance safe transport automation worldwide. •
Aitonomi GmbH
Wiesenstrasse 70, C8
40549 Düsseldorf
www.aitonomi.com
CHEMICAL SCREENING WITHOUT ANIMAL TESTING
The DNTOX team is committed to human health and does not use animal testing.
Little is known to date about how chemicals can affect the human brain. “Thousands of substances remain untested because current methods are too slow and costly, and rely on animal testing, which is only partially relevant to humans. Our human cell-based methods offer a faster, more cost-effective and more relevant alternative to animal testing for human brain development,” says Professor Ellen Fritsche. In March 2022, together with economist Silke Beaucamp, Dr Katharina Koch, Dr Kristina Bartmann, Dr Arif Dönmez and Professor Axel Mosig, she founded DNTOX. Since then, the spin-off from the IUF – Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medicine in Düsseldorf has been investigating the potential damage that environmental chemicals could cause to the human brain. The laboratory is commissioned by industrial customers from the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. The response to the innovative in vitro service has been positive so far. “Many companies are increasingly turning to animal-free alternatives, provided that EU regulations allow this. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also intends to make our methods mandatory for pesticides in the EU," explains Professor Fritsche. DNTOX has already received several awards, including the BioRiver Boost Award and the GFFU Start-up Scholarship from Heinrich Heine University in 2021, as well as coming second at the Chem Innovation Summit in 2024. “In the coming years, we want to make safety tests for detecting harmful chemicals more ethical, faster, and more reliable. We are working to ensure that our test methods are recognised as regulatory standards for key chemical groups. This will make an important contribution to protecting human health and reducing animal testing,” says Fritsche. •
DNTOX GmbH
Gurlittstraße 53
40223 Düsseldorf
www.DNTOX.de
Hybrid photo shoots: human ”base“ and prompted clothing and surroundings.
AI ART WITH HUMAN MODELS
With promptmeplease.ai, Markus Lienert combines real models, influencers and actors with state-of-the-art AI technology.
The speed and energy with which AI is transforming the creative industry is impressive — and somewhat unsettling when you consider the legal framework. The modelling industry is no different. “As a forward-looking modelling agency, we wanted to answer the question: How can we use AI to our advantage while eliminating its disadvantages?” explains Markus Lienert, managing director of Düsseldorf-based Brüderchen &Schwesterchen GmbH. Since early 2025, the answer has been promptmeplease.ai. This new brand combines real models, influencers, and actors with cutting-edge AI technology. While the basis of the hybrid photo shoots is human, clothing and surroundings can be prompted. The fact that the ‘real’ protagonists assign their personal rights to customers clarifies the legal framework (which AI cannot do!). "This allows us to retain control over the use of our performers' digital images. We also work with a specialised law firm,' says Markus. Potential partners react differently depending on their industry and size. 'Some are already open to using AI models and are working with us on initial projects. Others are observing developments, but are taking the opportunity to find out more about working with us.' PromptMePlease.ai's commitment to treating real people fairly and upholding ethical standards builds trust and opens doors, particularly with brands that value responsibility and innovation. The agenda for the coming years includes establishing long-term partnerships and robust use cases, providing reliable information, and setting new standards. As a city of fashion, advertising and creative industries, Düsseldorf offers the perfect ecosystem for this. •
promptmeplease.ai
c/o Brüderchen & Schwesterchen GmbH
Luegallee 7
40545 Düsseldorf
www.promptmeplease.ai
Words: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Aitonomi GmbH, privat, Markus à b+s studio, gavin_goodman