Triumph of Ideas: Winners of the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2025

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 inspires young changemakers worldwide to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with creative and impactful projects. Out of more than 60 submissions, the public community vote and the final jury evaluation selected the three most outstanding Ideenkinder. Here they are:

Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 winners

Grand Price Winner - 1st Place: VulGenix – Sustainable BC Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Care

Team: Harshan Gurubaran, Aryakrishna Kanakamedala & Abhinav Gopalakrishnan
SDGs: Good Health & Well-Being; Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure; Reduced Inequalities; Responsible Consumption & Production; Life on Land

Why it matters:
VulGenix goes far beyond conventional wound treatment. The team transforms agricultural and food waste into nutrient-rich biomaterials for smart hydrogel dressings. These advanced wound patches adapt to the healing process, providing personalized care and higher effectiveness, while also lowering costs and improving accessibility. A powerful blend of circular economy and medical innovation.

Silver Winner - 2nd Place: Naturista – Planet- and Health-Friendly Coffee Pods

Team: Aditya Herekar & Karan Verma
SDGs: Good Health & Well-Being; Sustainable Cities & Communities; Responsible Consumption & Production

Why it matters:
Naturista reimagines the coffee experience with the world’s first soluble coffee pods made from pullulan, a plant-based, FDA-approved biopolymer. The pods dissolve directly in hot water, offer added health benefits such as freshness, antibacterial properties, and fiber—and biodegrade within days, leaving no toxic residues or microplastics. A practical and scalable innovation for eco-friendly everyday living.

Bronze Winner - 3rd Place: HushHeart – Hear What the Heart Won’t Say

Team: Anvi Anand, Eiaa Dev & Driti Ayinala
SDGs: Good Health & Well-Being; Quality Education; Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure; Responsible Consumption & Production

Why it matters:
Up to 60% of heart attacks occur silently, without warning symptoms. HushHeart addresses this critical gap with an AI-powered wearable ECG patch that continuously monitors heart activity. Its app-based system uses advanced models to detect subtle ischemic changes early, giving users timely alerts and empowering them to take charge of their heart health. A breakthrough at the intersection of medicine, AI, and human well-being.

The Bigger Picture of CEC 2025

The CEC 2025 is one of Europe’s most inspiring innovation competitions. Open to participants from the age of 13, the program combines idea submission, entrepreneurial training (such as the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas), and community feedback. After an online voting phase, the Top 10 projects were evaluated by an international jury based on innovation, feasibility, impact, and SDG relevance.

Why These Winners Inspire

Future-Ready Solutions: Each project links cutting-edge creativity with everyday impact, whether in healthcare, environmental protection, or personal empowerment.

Sustainability & Impact: From resource efficiency to preventative medicine, all three projects advance the SDGs while demonstrating the power of entrepreneurship for global good.

Young Changemakers: These teams embody courage and vision, showing what it means to transform ideas into actionable, world-changing solutions.

Thinking Ahead Together

These three winning Ideenkinder are a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about business. It’s about responsibility, creativity, and shaping a more sustainable future.

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is more than a contest: it is a space for learning, connection, and courage, where ideas take root and grow into impact. We look forward to seeing how these projects evolve and we warmly invite all participants to keep using the Entrepreneurship Campus as a platform for exchange, inspiration, and community.