← All posts

Second place at the Überflieger 2026: We are flying to Silicon Valley

Seven start-ups, three tickets to Silicon Valley. On September 9, the final of the 8th Überflieger competition took place at the guesthouse of the state government in Kiel. anymize secured second place and is flying to…

By ·

Second place at the Überflieger 2026: We are flying to Silicon Valley

Seven start-ups, three tickets to Silicon Valley. On September 9, the final of the 8th Überflieger competition took place at the guesthouse of the state government in Kiel. anymize secured second place and is flying to San Francisco.

What the Überflieger is

Since 2018, the Überflieger has given founders from Schleswig-Holstein the chance to present their ideas to a large audience and win a trip to Silicon Valley. This initiative is supported by StartUp SH, the Marketing Club Schleswig-Holstein, and The Bay Areas, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the state.

The Final

Seven teams pitched in the final before the jury and guests from business, science, politics, and the start-up scene. The jury included Minister of Economic Affairs Claus Ruhe Madsen. Nikolai Raitschew pitched for anymize.

The range of ideas was broad: new materials, battery technology, energy from ambient heat, AI for education, digital inheritance. And at the center of it all was the question that drives us every day: How can we use the best AI models without sensitive data reaching the AI? anymize anonymizes confidential information – whether patient data in a doctor's office, client documents in a law firm, or personal data in a company – before a model sees the text, and reintegrates it only in the response.

What Comes Next

For the three winning teams, the next stop is the San Francisco Bay Area. There, we will meet start-ups, investors, companies, and other people from the international innovation environment. It’s about direct feedback, an international perspective on our business model, and new contacts. The trip is organized by The Bay Areas.

We will take you along: We will report on the trip here on the blog and on LinkedIn.

Congratulations

To AERO MATERIALS for first place and HEIONTEC for third place, with whom we are flying to Silicon Valley. And to Celtrix, formorgen, edaira.ai, and ever&keep, who stood with us in the final.

By the way, this was not our only award in September. Two weeks later, we received second place at the Digitalization Award of the State of Schleswig-Holstein.

Thank You

To StartUp SH, the Marketing Club Schleswig-Holstein, The Bay Areas, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs Schleswig-Holstein, to the jury, and to everyone who cheered along at the guesthouse.

Try It Yourself

Do you want to see what convinced the jury? Test for free for 14 days.

Start now.
14 days free trial.

All models. All features. No credit card.

Rather watch first? Free webinar – anonymization live

We stand behind anymize. And we know – when an AI tool touches client, patient or employee data, a demo video isn't enough. That's why we give you 14 days of full access – all models, all features, no credit card. Enough time to be certain, before you trust us.

Your AI workplace awaits.