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500 guests celebrate innovative start-ups from southern Hesse
Darmstadt. Six startups, nearly 500 guests, and a stage brimming with ideas: That was Cherrypicks vol. 4 on Thursday evening in the Heinerwiesen festival tent. Founders from southern Hesse presented their innovations to an audience of investors and businesspeople. The event, initiated by the Marketing Club of Southern Hesse and the HUB31 startup center , has become an integral part of the regional startup scene.
A platform for new ideas and courageous founders
The evening was hosted by Heiko Depner , Program Director of the Marketing Club South Hesse, and Laura Melina Abascal y Ballester , Managing Director of HUB31. Depner emphasized: “We need more courage and willingness to take risks in Germany. Cherrypicks shows how much innovative power our region possesses – and that it is worthwhile to encourage founders to venture into new territory.”
The event serves as a dress rehearsal for the big pitch : The startups get the opportunity to present their business model, gather feedback, and refine their strategy. The audience ultimately decides the winner.
Winner of the evening: w3Learn
This year's participants included:
Chrood UG (smart security solutions),
MediEm (digital support for caregivers),
PreserviTec (building protection with AI),
MimoSense (sensor technology for medicine),
w3Learn (digital education platform)
and TRACK (digital organization of outdoor experiences).
After an exciting vote, w3Learn and received the Cherrypicks Award 2025 along with access to a mentoring and networking package.
New special prize for female founders
The special "Female Founders" prize awarded for the first time. Sponsored by Carmen Horst and Janina Foerster , it went to Hannah from CLNDR . She received a corporate design and social media package worth €5,000 .
Exchange and networking are the focus
In addition to the pitches networking and matchmaking key focuses. Sponsors, jury members, and guests took the opportunity to talk to the founding teams. "We want to create an environment where innovation is the norm – with room to grow, learn, and experiment," explained Abascal .
The event was supported by numerous partners from business and academia. The fifth edition of Cherrypicks planned for autumn 2026
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