As befits an internationally positioned metropolis, the startup scene here also has an international focus. In collaboration with its partners, the Düsseldorf Economic Development Agency runs a variety of initiatives to familiarise startups from the EMEA region with the local ecosystem and encourage them to consider it as a potential location. One such initiative is La French Tech, which fosters connections between French entrepreneurs and Düsseldorf's tech community. Another example is the agency's engagement with Scandinavia, particularly Sweden. As part of an accelerator programme, ten Swedish startups visit the state capital every year. Skolon, for instance, has now selected Düsseldorf as the launchpad for its expansion, making it one of our 'Fresh Ideas'. They are joined by treatfuls and Eye-Able. Happy reading!

DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORM FOR EVERYONE

‘We wanted to understand why Swedish schools were falling behind in international education rankings, and we discovered that students were losing an average of about ten minutes per lesson due to having to log into different tools and solve technical problems,’ explains Oliver Lundgren. As CEO, he therefore teamed up with Peter Mattisson and Anders Abrahamsson, who are entrepreneurs with expertise in technology and education, to found an innovative platform in 2015. Skolon brings together all of a school's digital learning resources and tools in one place, accessible via a single login with a common structure. ‘In our Skolon Store, schools can easily find, test, purchase and use digital learning content. The platform simplifies the access, use and management of digital licences, saving time and effort. This leaves more room for what really matters: learning,’ says Oliver. Skolon is now used by over a million teachers and students in several European countries. In autumn 2025, the company began expanding into the German market, starting in Düsseldorf. ‘The city is considered a hub for digitalisation and education, which is very much in line with Skolon's mission. We look forward to forming new partnerships, building networks, and continuing to grow in this region,' says Oliver. The multi-award-winning scale-up, recognised as one of the 50 most innovative EdTech companies in Europe among other accolades, has a clear goal: 'We want to become the leading platform for digital learning in Europe, always striving to remain at the absolute forefront of technology and actively shaping the education of tomorrow.' •

SKOLON DE GMBH,
ELISABETHSTRASSE 11
40217 DÜSSELDORF
WWW.SKOLON.COM

The founding team of Eye-Able: Oliver Greiner, Chris Schmidt and Tobias Greiner (from left to right)

DIGITALLY ACCESSIBLE

Oliver Greiner experienced first-hand the challenges faced by his friend Lennart when he had to drop out of university due to a visual impairment and a lack of accessibility. This inspired him to found the startup ‘Eye-Able’ in 2020 with his brother Tobias, Chris Schmidt andEric Braun. ‘Our goal is to make the internet accessible to everyone. Accessibility should be a matter of course in all areas of life, from education to everyday digital life,' Oliver explains. This is why people with disabilities are included in the development of websites from the outset. Lennart now works at Eye-Able. Since the introduction of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the German Barrier-Free Accessibility Act (BFSG), companies have been required to ensure that their online services are accessible to users by 2025. ‘Accessibility is not only a social imperative, but also a growth driver. Companies with inclusive solutions are seeing measurably higher sales and conversion rates,’ says Tobias. Over 10,000 customers from various industries now use the service, including a major player in Düsseldorf. One success story is the integration of Eye-Able into the ERGO websites and ERGO ScaleHub. ERGO is not only a partner with a wide reach for us, but also an important source of inspiration,’ says Chris. Eye-Able has also been supporting the city of Düsseldorf with digital accessibility since 2022. The team aims to further strengthen its position as the European market leader through partnerships. ‘An inclusive future requires the joint commitment of businesses, politics and society. We at Eye-Able will continue to work on this with enthusiasm as a team,’ says Eric. •

WEB INCLUSION GMBH,
GARTENSTRASSE 12C,
97276 MARGETSHÖCHHEIM,
WWW.EYE-ABLE.COM

Erfanden treatfuls: Tugce Cakir und Magdalena Parylak

A NEW ERA OF SNACKING

‘Why aren't there any sweets that taste really good and are also good for you?’ – That's what Magdalena Parylak and Tugce Cakir asked themselves during a typical girls' night out. Amidst the sugar rushes and ingredient lists, the idea of creating their own enjoyable, healthy alternative began to take shape. In 2021, the two Düsseldorf natives founded treatfuls. ‘We greet our customers with creative packaging and slogans like ‘sweeter than your ex’ and ‘healthier than your last relationship’, making them smile right away. Then we win them over with the taste, and they keep coming back because of our clean list of ingredients, ’ explains Tugce. These include vegan, certified organic bars with no added sugar. Instead of using palm oil or glucose syrup, treatfuls uses dates, nuts, Fairtrade chocolate, and recyclable packaging. ‘We appeal to people who consume consciously but don't want to sacrifice enjoyment for themselves, their children or our planet, ’ adds Magdalena. This approach has been very well received: in less than two years, treatfuls has sold over a million bars and delighted more than 30,000 customers. Among other accolades, the start-up received the PETA Vegan Food Award for Best Vegan Snack. ‘We are particularly pleased with the support of our community, which has always been part of the journey, from a successful crowdfunding campaign to listings at Rewe, Flaschenpost, Budni and Alnatura, ’ says Tugce. The journey continues: by 2026, it is expected that over 4,500 retail outlets will offer treatfuls products, and expansion into new categories and entry into the Austrian market are already underway. ‘Our goal is to establish treatfuls as the leading lifestyle brand in the snack sector,’ says Magdalena.•

SNACKS WITH BENEFITS GMBH,
BIRKENSTRASSE 23,
40233 DÜSSELDORF,
WWW.TREATFULS.COM

Words: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Johan Andersson, Eye-Able, Max Sonnenschein

FRESH IDEAS FROM DÜSSELDORF

THE PLACE TO INVEST

FRESH IDEAS FROM DÜSSELDORF