Salzburger Anti-Schweiß-Startup gibt sich vor Markteintritt neuen Namen
Das Salzburger Startup, das bisher unter dem Namen Hidrei bekannt war, hat sich kurz vor Marktstart in "Don't call it Deo" umbenannt. Das Unternehmen hat ein Mittel gegen übermäßiges Schwitzen entwickelt.
Das in St. Gilgen in Salzburg ansässige Startup Hidrei rund um Gründer Stefan Steiner entwickelt ein Antitranspirant, das gegen übermäßiges Schwitzen hilft. Bereits Anfang des Jahres beteiligten sich im Vorfeld des Marktstarts zwei strategische Investoren am Unternehmen. Ingesamt konnte das Startup damals einen sechsstelligen Betrag raisen (brutkasten berichtete).
Neuer Name für Salzburger Startup
Kurz vor dem Marktstart und dem Go-Live des neuen Online-Shops am 16. August hat sich das Unternehmen nun in “Don’t Call it Deo” umbenannt, wie Stefan Steiner gegenüber brutkasten bestätigt. Der Diplom-Gesundheits- und Krankenpfleger verfügt über 13 Jahre intensivmedizinischer Erfahrung. Bis 2022 war er Gebietsleiter bei einem weltweit agierenden Medizintechnikunternehmen. Aufgrund seiner eigenen Erkrankung mit der nicht heilbaren Krankheit Hyperhidrose, die zu übermäßigem Schwitzen, insbesondere in den Achseln, führt, beschloss Steiner, ein hochwertiges Antitranspirant-Fluid zu entwickeln. Dieses Fluid sollte hautschonender und effektiver sein als vergleichbare Produkte auf dem Markt.
Zweieinhalb Jahre Entwicklungszeit
Nach zweieinhalb Jahren intensiver Entwicklungsarbeit gelang es Steiner, das hochwertige Antitranspirant-Fluid zu produzieren und erfolgreich auf den Markt zu bringen. Das Antitranspirant-Fluid soll mit nur drei Tropfen pro Anwendung wirksam die Geruchs- und Schweißbildung stoppen. Ein Flasche kostet rund 33 Euro und reicht laut dem Gründer für bis zu sechs Monate.
“Besonders erfreulich ist die Tatsache, dass Don’t Call it Deo die Phase der Markennamensänderung nutzte, um eine umfassende Studie mit dem Antitranspirant-Fluid bei einem der renommiertesten dermatologischen Institute in Deutschland durchzuführen”, so der Gründer. Das Fluid wurde so dermatologisch und klinisch getestet und seine Wirksamkeit bestätigt. “95 Prozent der Anwender:innen bestätigen, dass starkes Schwitzen innerhalb von nur drei Tagen gestoppt wird und 95 Prozent würden das Fluid weiterempfehlen”, so Steiner über das Ergebnis.
Zudem wird das Unternehmen laut Steiner offiziell von der Raiffeisenbank Salzburg gefördert und unterstützt und hat seine Büroräumlichkeiten im neuen Techno-Z Zentrum Urstein. In einem nächsten Schritt plant Steiner den Eintritt in den stationären Markt und strebt eine Kombination aus Online- und Offlinehandel an.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
The team around Redeem Solar Technologies Co-Founder Florian Ehrlich-Sommer benefited from the aws First International Incubator
Austria is increasingly positioning itself as an international hub for innovative entrepreneurs. A significant contributor to this development is the aws First Incubator, which will kick off a new round with a special focus call for international founders in spring 2025. This program, run by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), is designed for startup founders and founding teams, and students who want to establish a startup in Austria or have recently done so.
The aws First Incubator offers a combination of financial support, targeted mentoring, and a dynamic network – a package that helps international founders integrate into Austria’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Financial Support for Early-Stage Startups
Financial barriers are among the biggest challenges for early-stage founders. The aws First Incubator addresses this by providing monthly personnel cost subsidies and grants for project, rental, and travel expenses. This financial support allows founders to focus fully on developing their business ideas.
However, the program goes beyond financial aid. It offers a comprehensive package of workshops, project-specific mentoring, and specialized coaching sessions. These resources ensure that startups receive not only financial support but also strategic and operational guidance.
Knowledge Transfer Through Practical Workshops
The program’s workshops deliver targeted knowledge on topics critical to startups, such as business model development, marketing strategies, patent law, and funding planning. The practical approach ensures that the content is directly tailored to the needs of the founders.
A key highlight of the program is the direct access to experts and mentors who share their years of experience in the startup and business world. This individualized support helps participants overcome specific challenges and refine their business ideas.
Success Story: Redeem Solar Technologies
An example of the program’s success is the startup Redeem Solar Technologies. Founded by Florian Ehrlich-Sommer (COO) and his international team, the company develops photocatalytic reactors for sustainable hydrogen production. Ehrlich-Sommer explains how the program helped his team sharpen their vision and gain new perspectives: “Interacting with founders from different industries and countries gave us fresh perspectives and helped refine our business model. As engineers, we tend to communicate in technical language. Through the program, we learned to present our idea clearly and understandably.”
The international team of Redeem Solar Technologies | (c) Redeem Solar Technologies
Redeem Solar Technologies uses light energy to enable chemical reactions, in order to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly way. The startup’s solutions are particularly relevant to the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. Through the aws program, the team not only secured financial support but also made valuable connections in the Austrian startup scene.
Interdisciplinary and International Exchange
One of the most significant benefits of the aws First Incubator’s special international call is the interdisciplinary and international exchange. The participating teams come from various industries – from software startups to sustainability technologies and innovative food products. This diversity allows founders to gain insights beyond their own fields and learn from each other.
Ehrlich-Sommer highlights this exchange as a critical factor: “It was fascinating to talk to founders developing completely different solutions. This helped us question and improve our own approaches.”
Program Structure
The program lasts up to 12 months and includes regular workshops and coaching sessions. Participants meet in Vienna to attend these sessions and learn from experts. Teams rooted outside the city will need to commute to attend the program. This, however, is far worth the effort, as co-founder Ehrlich-Sommer emphasizes: “Being in Vienna helped us get to know the local startup scene and establish valuable connections.”
An essential part of the program is the intensive selection process. During this phase, founders work with mentors and experts to refine their ideas and prepare for the program. This preparation is crucial for consecutive success.
Austria as a Startup Hub for International Founders
The aws First Incubator plays a significant role in positioning Austria as an attractive destination for international founders. The combination of financial support, targeted knowledge transfer, and a dynamic network creates optimal conditions for innovative business ideas.
The program not only supports the individual development of participating startups but also strengthens Austria’s startup ecosystem as a whole. International founders bring new impulses, ideas, and perspectives to Austria, helping to enhance the country’s innovation potential.
Applications for 2025
The next round of the aws First Incubator’s international call starts in spring 2025. Founders with an international team who want to establish their startup in Austria or have recently done so should not miss this opportunity. Applications will soon be open – a chance that could be a crucial step for a startup’s future.
Aktuelle Nachrichten zu Startups, den neuesten Innovationen und politischen Entscheidungen zur Digitalisierung direkt in dein Postfach. Wähle aus unserer breiten Palette an Newslettern den passenden für dich.
