In a showcase of innovation and sustainability, start-up teams from Europe’s leading business schools competed at the INNOVA Europe competition, where AcouBatt won the Rising Stars category and Hovanka secured the Young Hopes award.

Berlin – In a thrilling Grand Finale held at ESMT Berlin on September 5, 2025, the startups AcouBatt and Hovanka emerged as the champions of the third annual INNOVA Europe competition. 

This prestigious event witnessed participation from teams representing ten of Europe’s elite business schools plus the SPJIMR business school in India, all vying for a share of €25,000 in prize money while addressing crucial sustainable initiatives. 

AcouBatt, a team from London Business School led by Arthur Fordham and Chris Haoxin Xu, secured the grand prize in the Rising Stars category, receiving €20,000 and a year of free incubation support. They presented groundbreaking technology that utilizes acoustic sensors and machine learning to optimize battery formation processes, significantly reducing waste and promoting environmentally-friendly production methods. 

Meanwhile, Hovanka, hailing from the Kyiv School of Economics, won the Young Hopes category. Led by CEO Kris Nadiryan, they were awarded €5,000 to further their innovative mental health app, Mindset Architect. This app is designed to enhance emotional literacy and support users between therapy sessions, demonstrating a strong commitment to mental well-being. 

The INNOVA Europe competition, founded in 2022 by EDHEC Business School, POLIMI Graduate School of Management and ESMT, focuses on nurturing entrepreneurial talent and sustainable practices that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This year also marked the debut of the INNOVA Barometer, aimed at evaluating responsible entrepreneurship across European startups.

The whole event including the pitches by each of the eleven entries, as well as the announcement of the winners in each category, is available on youtube.

---

_{^{Image Credits: esmt.berlin}}