University of Hamburg: Creating Future FoundersHow the Future Founder Program Helps Shape Startups Like pickz ai

18 March 2025

The Future Founder Program, a joint initiative by institutions such as the University of Hamburg, TUHH, FH Wedel, Leuphana Universität and HAW has become a key stepping stone for aspiring entrepreneurs in Germany. The three-month program equips participants with the tools, mentorship, and industry insights needed to transform early-stage ideas into viable startups.

Prof. Michel Clement, from the University of Hamburg, plays a crucial role in supporting these founders, leveraging his experience in innovation, business development, and technology-driven markets.

"At the University of Hamburg, we are committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The Future Founder Program is an excellent example of how academia and entrepreneurship can come together to create real impact," explains Professor Clement.

One of the success stories from this year's cohort is pickz ai, an AI-driven eyewear consultation platform. Founders Sukhmani Singh, Stefano Markovic and Yash Luthra entered the program with the vision: to simplify the complex and time-consuming process of choosing the perfect eyewear.

pickz ai: From Idea to Award
Opticians and Customers often spend over an hour guiding through thousands of frame and lens combinations, making consistent, high-quality consultation a challenge. Their solution? An AI-powered co-pilot that assists opticians in analyzing facial features and customer preferences to recommend the ideal eyewear.

"The Future Founder Program helped us refine our concept, validate our market fit, and ultimately pivot to a fully B2B business model," Yash shares.

Through intensive workshops in design thinking, storytelling, and pitching, the team sharpened their strategy. The program also introduced them to key industry leaders, including Prof. Clement, whose expertise in innovation and new media provided valuable guidance.

A defining moment came at the Future Founder Demo Day, where pickz ai won the award for Best Business Pitch. The recognition underscored the market potential of their solution and further strengthened their credibility as they move toward commercialization.

"For anyone thinking about starting a business, I can’t recommend this program enough. The mentorship, network, and structure it provides can truly accelerate your journey," Yash advises.

A Thriving Startup Ecosystem at the University of Hamburg
Programs like Future Founder are just one of many initiatives the University of Hamburg and its partners offer to support entrepreneurship. Prof. Clement has been actively involved in fostering innovation, not only through his research in media, technology, and consumer behavior but also as a mentor for emerging startups. The next edition of the Future Founder Program is already on the horizon, continuing its mission of shaping the next generation of innovators.

Are you ready to build the future? Apply now: https://airtable.com/appeJjKK3unjqgYMR/pagMxuM8GbII4ADR9/form

A visual recap can be found under this link.