Witten Prize for Health Visionaries goes to digital toolbox for psychotherapy

Under the motto "Start-Up Mental Health - Let's be open MINDed", this year's Witten Prize for Health Visionaries at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) honoured start-ups that develop solutions for mental health, prevention and support for therapeutic measures. Six finalists presented their ideas to an interested audience and a jury of experts. In the end, three start-ups were particularly convincing.

The company minime came out on top with its digital toolbox for psychotherapy and was awarded first place and prize money of 5,000 euros. Minime offers digital therapy materials that can be shared by patients and therapists via an app. Founder Nina Hackenbroich impressed the jury with her pitch. "This app makes an important contribution to making work easier for psychologists and therapists," said Prof Dr Eva Meisenzahl when announcing first place. The audience award of 1,000 euros also went to minime.

Krisenchat was delighted with second place and 3,000 euros in prize money. Children and young people with mental health problems or worries are advised and supported by volunteer counsellors around the clock via chat until they are able to take advantage of therapeutic measures. The jury recognised the outstanding voluntary commitment of many people to this particularly vulnerable and hard-to-reach group of troubled children and young people.

MindAhead secured third place with prize money of 1,000 euros. The platform, developed in collaboration with neurologists and neuropsychologists, offers tests and training to promote brain health and delay cognitive ageing.

After the award ceremony, the audience, start-ups, the jury and the student organisation team met up to network in lively discussions. Some student initiatives from Witten/Herdecke University also had the opportunity to present their voluntary work and talk to those present about their commitment to emergency medicine, stem cell donation or support for Ukraine.

About the Witten Prize for Health Visionaries

The competition was planned and organised for the eighth time by a team of students, this year by Arne Fleschenberg (Master Strategy & Organization), Carl Zolk (Bachelor Management), Jan Jorzik (Master Strategy and Organization) and Judith Willig (Master General Management). "We are delighted that we were able to offer six such great finalists the stage for their commitment to the fight against mental illness. The visions of the individual start-ups were so diverse, each of these companies deserves great recognition for their work!" says Judith Willig. Carl Zolk also summarises: "I think I can speak for our entire team when I say that the topic, and therefore the award, is particularly close to our hearts. For us, the day was a complete success that we will certainly remember fondly."

The jury for this year's prize was made up of Prof Dr Sabine Bohnet-Joschko (Witten/Herdecke University), Stephan Kohorst (Dr Ausbüttel & Co. GmbH), Prof Dr Eva Meisenzahl (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf), Eva Kuhn (Blaupause Gesundheit e.V.) and Axel Stellbrink (Stellbrink und Partner Patentanwälte mbb). The prize money of 10,000 euros is donated by the university's sponsorship organisation.

"The Witten Prize for Health Visionaries demonstrates the university's core competence in bringing together the disciplines of health, business and society and providing impetus for innovation," says the initiator of the competition, Prof Dr Sabine Bohnet-Joschko. "I am delighted about the special student commitment that made this event possible."