Green start-up stories

Rethinking agriculture whilst building a sense of community: through their ‘Solawi Crowdsalat’ initiative, Sophie and Sebastian Löbbering demonstrate how regional vegetable growing, educational work and community engagement come together at the Welterhof in Dülmen.

SORIWA demonstrates what sustainable innovation in drywall construction can look like. Andreas Ridder and Michael Sommer from Warendorf are working towards making drywall construction more resource-efficient – with a steel-free system that combines environmental benefits with practicality.

How can disused pigsties be put to sustainable use? With ‘Stallgrün’, Thorsten and Judith have developed an indoor farming solution that opens up new opportunities for farmers and bolsters regional food production.

When curiosity turns into a project: Markus Lindken and Saskia Rauner and their family produce high-quality organic oils, mustard and ketchup at the Münsterlandmühle - with their own shop in Greven.

Even as a little girl, Nadine Röbbelen from the Borken district knew exactly what she wanted to do: become a hairdresser. Today, she has made her dream a reality with NR Hairdesign in Borken – and is showing how sustainability can be integrated into day-to-day hairdressing practice in very practical ways.

What began as a popular banana bread in the Glowkitchen café in Münster has become a food start-up that can now be found in supermarkets, organic food shops and even on board Deutsche Bahn trains and Lufthansa aeroplanes. With organic ingredients and clear values, the team shows that enjoyment and responsibility go hand in hand.

Talal Harb has launched FalaFeel, a street food concept that is inspiring more and more people in Münsterland. Inspired by the Lebanese cuisine of his home country, he serves 100 per cent vegan dishes.

What to do when suddenly you can't do anything? When Gudrun Denker was only able to use one hand after an operation, her everyday life became a challenge. From this situation, she developed a simple but ingenious aid that gives people with a wide range of physical disabilities a piece of their independence back: the Alltagshelfer-Brett. Find out how they put their vision into practice in their story.

A new approach to heating: with Inconsu, founder Flynn Herbst from Nottuln demonstrates how digitalisation and energy efficiency go hand in hand. His smart heating solution not only saves up to 40 per cent on heating costs, but also helps local authorities protect the climate. Find out in his story how an idea for his own home turned into a sustainable solution for entire communities.

Using crab shells to boost climate protection: NURICOS, based in Münster, transforms waste materials into innovations that strengthen plants. The start-up team demonstrates how sustainable biotechnology is helping the agricultural sector to tackle climate change.

Mechanical engineer Mark Berendsen is revolutionising the international tyre market with his company, Bear Machines, based in Heek. In doing so, he is reducing costs, waste and CO₂ emissions for the transport sector. Below, he explains how important the local network and support from the region were to the successful launch of his business in the Münsterland region.

Administrations are sluggish and dusty? comuneo proves the opposite: the start-up from Münster wants to make administrations more digital and impact-orientated and thus create real added value for society. Find out how the founders Katharina and Silke are realising their vision in their story.

The Walnut Factory in Ascheberg handcrafts high-quality walnut oil and creative specialities from regional walnuts – sustainably, lovingly and with a personal touch. Find out more about Carmen’s side business venture.

What began as a childhood dream is now a fragrant reality: in his small bakery in the heart of Havixbeck, Jürgen Mannert lives out his vision of traditional baking with Jürgens Brotwerkstatt - authentic, regional and with a lot of heart. Watch the video to find out how Jürgen's passion became Jürgen's bread workshop

A farm undergoing transformation, two founders with a vision: Carl Niehues and Johannes Wolf are combining modern aquaculture with regional agriculture – in a sustainable, transparent and collaborative way. This is how the Geflossenschaft is taking shape in the heart of the Münsterland region.

VAELU, based in Beckum, focuses on timeless fashion with a local connection and carefully selected materials. Founder Dania combines minimalist design with a commitment to creating durable clothing, whilst prioritising fair production conditions and a more mindful approach to fashion.

LOPPI in Rheine is an organised indoor children’s car boot sale run by Elena and Ricarda Weber. Here, you can buy or sell second-hand children’s items all year round – it’s simple, digital and stress-free.

Environ Energy GmbH, based in the Münsterland region, develops smart energy solutions such as the ENVI-IQ software, which efficiently connects photovoltaic systems, battery storage and heat pumps. Through its approach, the team is driving the energy transition forward.