Regional Hero of the Year 2023: Emanuel Contaldo-Burger from Wood-Fashion – Fashion made of wood.
(Hanover, 17.10.2023) – At this year's deGUT 2023 was awarded for the first time the coveted Regional hero®-Award was presented. Together with the MiU24® KG deGUT was looking for innovative, regionally focused projects that combine sustainability, creativity, and a positive contribution to the community. The competition culminated in an exciting final on Saturday, the October 14, 2023, on the trade fair marketplace. The main prize, a tailor-made Reach package worth €5,000, was divided among the top three projects this year.
The winners and their projects
3rd Place:
Vanessa Toh with HeartMade
- Concept: HeartMade is a marketplace for craftsmanship that offers older women a platform to present their creative works to a wide audience. The project promotes local handicrafts while strengthening awareness of social responsibility and empowerment.
- Award: A bottle of Strauch sparkling wine and a reach voucher worth 1.000 €.
2nd Place:
Dieter Kupferschmidt with EasyMedBox
- Concept: The EasyMedBox is an intelligent solution for tablet supply that safely guides users through the medication process. This innovative product brings more safety and comfort to healthcare and particularly supports older people.
- Award: A bottle of Strauch sparkling wine and a reach voucher worth 2.000 €.
1st Place:
Emanuel Contaldo-Burger with Wood-Fashion.at
- Concept: Wood-Fashion offers clothing made from wood fibers, manufactured entirely in Europe. The collection combines sustainability, style, and a unique wearing experience. With the
- Award: A magnum bottle of Strauch Sekt and a reach voucher worth 3.000 €.
The special commitment of the jury
The jury, consisting of Tilo Hönisch, Head of Department at the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), and the Werberetter® Duo the MiU24® KG, did not have an easy time selecting a winner from the high-caliber pitches. The creativity and innovative strength of the participants led to the prize being spontaneously increased and distributed among the three best projects.
A look into the future
The Regional Hero® Competition will be continued next year. The aim is to promote further creative and sustainable projects from the region and offer them a platform for greater visibility.
Die MiU24® KG and deGUT thank all participants for their outstanding contributions and are already looking forward to 2024, when the next round of the competition starts. Further information and the full press release here: Press box: Regional Hero 2023