Plug. And. Earn. Our V2G Hackathon with LAUNCH Rhein-Main

How do you turn a complex future mobility topic into a first viable startup concept within 36 hours?

That question was at the heart of the LAUNCH Build Days – GreenTech Edition on May 28 and 29 in Frankfurt. Together with SCHOTT and Kenergy Solutions GmbH, we joined the event as a challenge partner. Around 60 students, 20 teams, and two intense days full of ideas, energy, and entrepreneurial drive made the first LAUNCH Rhein-Main hackathon a strong start.

Our challenge was deliberately ambitious: Vehicle-to-Grid, or V2G.

Under the title “Plug. And. Earn.”, the teams were asked to develop solutions for a market that is still taking shape. V2G connects electric mobility, energy systems, charging infrastructure, regulation, and new business models. The technology is evolving. The rules are still emerging. The commercial models are still being written.

In short: the topic is highly relevant, complex, and anything but easy.

That is exactly why it was the right challenge.

Five teams chose to tackle it. They analyzed market potential, developed business models, explored user needs, and translated a demanding technological field into tangible startup approaches. Several teams worked late into the night to sharpen their solutions.

The results were impressive.

Not because a fully formed company can emerge after 36 hours. But because the event showed how quickly motivated teams can grasp complex future topics, structure them, and turn them into first entrepreneurial hypotheses. This speed, openness, and execution mindset are exactly what make hackathons so valuable for us as a venture studio.

For Next Mobility Labs, formats like the LAUNCH Build Days are more than innovation events. They give us access to fresh perspectives. They connect us early with young talent, potential founders, and strong partners. And they show which topics are driving the next generation of entrepreneurs.

A special thank-you goes to LAUNCH Rhein-Main for the strong organization and a successful first hackathon. The rooms were packed, the energy was high, and the motivation of the participants was tangible from the first working session to the final pitch.

We also want to thank Jan Born, CTO of Circunomics and shareholder of Next Mobility Labs, for his expert support in shaping the challenge and for bringing valuable industry insights to the jury.

For us, this hackathon sent a clear signal: future topics like Vehicle-to-Grid need more than technology. They need people who are willing to think through uncertainty, test new models, and turn ideas into concrete next steps.