German Founder Award
WeSort.AI wins the start-up prize
The 22nd German Start-up Award was presented in Berlin on September 24. The founders of WeSort.AI emerged as the winners in the start-up category. Their vision: AI-supported high-speed sorting of waste.
The Würzburg start-up WeSort.AI leaves no yoghurt pot unrecognized: Whether crushed, scratched or dirty, the artificial intelligence recognizes exactly what is in front of its electronic eye. WeSort.AI can distinguish between over seven million different types of packaging. Sorting is fast and almost 100 percent accurate; human sorters take five times longer and achieve just half the accuracy, according to the company.
A documentary about waste separation gave the brothers Nathanael (30) and Johannes Laier (29) the impetus to found a company. They deliberately chose a field that is highly relevant to society and at the same time offers great potential for innovation. Laudator Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board for Human Resources and Social Affairs at Porsche, said: "Waste sorting at this level has never been done before. Not with an AI that is constantly learning and recognizes everything that doesn't belong in the bin. The two founders are already working with the major international players in the industry. You could say that nothing in the waste business works without their AI."
The German Founder Award is presented annually in the categories of student, start-up, rising star and lifetime achievement. Exceptional entrepreneurial achievements can be honored with a special prize. The German Founder Award is presented by the partners stern, Sparkassen, ZDF and Porsche. The cooperation partner is the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.
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