Starmind Blog

On april 11, 2011, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities, closed a collaboration agreement with Starmind. LMU Munich is the first German university to join the Starmind network.

LMU Munich is one of the leading research universities in Europe, with a more than 500-year-long tradition. Some 47,000 students, 15 percent from abroad, are currently enrolled at LMU Munich. Some 700 professors and 3,600 academic staff members conduct research and teach in the university’s 18 faculties. Furthermore, with degree programs available in 150 subjects, LMU Munich offers a wide and well-differentiated spectrum that covers all areas of knowledge.

The university’s outstanding research balance has been recognized by many national and international university rankings, as for example the World Reputation Ranking. According to this ranking, compiled by the Times Higher Education Magazine, LMU occupies the top position among universities in Germany and is regarded as one of the most renowned universities on the European continent.

LMU Vice President Dr Sigmund Stintzing and Starmind CEO Pascal Kaufmann

LMU Munich is supported by the Excellence Initiative, an initiative launched by the German government with the aim of promoting world-class research and raising the quality of universities and research institutions in Germany. LMU is also part of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), an association of research-intensive universities sharing the values of high-quality teaching in an environment of internationally competitive research. The purpose of the League is to develop best practice through mutual exchange of experience, fully compliant with the Starmind philosophy.

Starmind, as exclusive marketplace for know-how and solutions, is only accessible by invitation or to members of partner organisations. From now on, LMU Munich is one of them and therefore, all students, researchers and alumni of LMU can exchange their knowhow and find answers to their questions on Starmind. Also, Starmind helps to increase the visibility of outstanding talents and strengthens the communication between universities.

The Starmind team looks forward to successfully cooperating with Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and wishes all LMU members fun exchanging know-how!

We are glad to release a first series of portraits and fun pictures produced by Walter M. Huber. The photoshooting took place in Zurich City on top of the Starmind Office glancing over Zurich and in front of the Starmind Office on April 1, 2011:

Starmind Founders and Partners Marc Vontobel (left) and Pascal Kaufmann (right) on top of the Starmind Office in Zurich City.
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Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Founders and Partners Marc Vontobel (left) and Pascal Kaufmann (right) on top of the Starmind Office in Zurich City.
[Download JPG]

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Founders and Partners Marc Vontobel (left) and Pascal Kaufmann (right) on top of the Starmind Office in Zurich City.
[Download JPG]

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Founders and Partners Marc Vontobel (left) and Pascal Kaufmann (right) jumping on top of the Starmind Office in Zurich City.
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Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

wStarmind Team from left to right:  Marc Vontobel, Pascal Kaufmann, Andy Villiger and Robin Guldener
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Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How

Portrait of Starmind Office Dog Lili Vontobel and Partners in front of the Starmind logo, April 2011.
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Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Portrait of Starmind Founder and Partner Marc Vontobel in front of the Starmind logo, April 2011.
[Download JPG]

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Portrait of Starmind Founder and Partner Marc Vontobel in front of the Starmind logo, April 2011.
[Download JPG]

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Portrait of Starmind Founder and Partner Pascal Kaufmann in front of the Starmind logo, April 2011.
[Download JPG]

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Portrait of Starmind Founder and Partner Pascal Kaufmann in front of the Starmind logo, April 2011.
[Download JPG]

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

Starmind Know-How Company

On Wednesday, March 2, 2011, Starmind awarded a prize for the best diploma thesis of the Kantonsschule Zürcher Unterland in Switzerland. The prize money of CHF 500., donated by a private Starmind patron,  went to Fahim Mozaffari for his thesis entitled „Erdölabbauende Bakterien: Auf der Suche nach der Turbo-Bakterie” (“Biodegradable bacteria: looking for the turbo-bacterium”). With great applause of all the high school students, Fahim Mozaffari received the prize from Robin Guldener, himself a high-ranking Starmind and year 2010 graduate from the Kantonsschule Freudenberg.

Two excellent Starmind: Robin Guldener (right) congratulating Fahim Mozaffari

“For me, this prize is the reward for all the effort I put into this project”, the proud Fahim Mozaffari said. His thesis was inspired by an oil stain on the school premises. In his work, he describes how to reproduce the bacteria that he found in this oil stain in a test tube. According to Fahim Mozaffari, the bacteria produce a biodegradable substance that can shrink an oil stain – or even an entire oil spill in the sea.

In addition to the rewarded prize money, Starmind CEO Pascal Kaufmann will assist the young winner with his career and study choices, act as a reference and publish his diploma thesis as e-book. “This will display the know-how and talent of Fahim Mozaffari and increase his visibility at a globale scale”, Pascal Kaufmann underlines.

Starmind congratulates Fahim Mozaffari to this prize and his outstanding diploma thesis!

Read the full thesis here or got to shortlink:   http://starm.in/VH
An article about the Starmind ceremony was released in a local newspaper on March 3, 2011 “Zürcher Unterländer”

High Quality picture 1: The two Starminds Fahim Mozaffari and Robin Guldener 1 (Short: http://starm.in/VI )
High Quality picture 2: The two Starminds Fahim Mozaffari and Robin Guldener 2 (Short:  http://starm.in/VR )
(Credits: Sibylle Meier)

Last year, Robin Guldener built a miniature version of the rHex robot for his diploma thesis. This robot is capable of handling various terrain materials and going over obstacles as high as 110% of its own height. Today, one year later, Robin Guldener runs his own business, iApe. The long-time Starmind is an acclaimed developer of iPhone applications. His newest creation for the Mac, “Colorize“, ranks in the top ten in 45 countries and is one of the most frequently downloaded apps in the United States and Switzerland.

With the help of “Colorize“, any photograph can be turned into a masterpiece within minutes. Once an image is loaded, the app will turn it into a greyscale version, allowing the user to brush the colour back into any object and make it stick out from the overall picture. Learn more about Colorize here.

The young entrepreneur’s last app, “Drunken Contacts“, is a helpful device, to retrieve and reorganise contacts by date of adding. “With Drunken Contacts, you never have to search for that contact you added yesterday again, it brings them to you within a single tap”, Robin explains.

His entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and talent make Robin Guldener an ideal Starmind and successful young entrepreneur. Starmind congratulates Robin to his outstanding achievement!

We would like to invite you to a panel discussion by the Marketing & Business School Zürich (MBSZ) on Monday, February 28, 2011 at Zurich Kantonalbank Steinfels in Zurich.

The topic of the panel discussion is “Career – a happiness hormone?”, a very interesting subject. As CEO of Starmind and brain researcher, Pascal Kaufmann will discuss the topic with four renowned personalities from various professional backgrounds. Oliver Steffen from the local television broadcaster Tele Züri will lead the discussion as moderator.

The event will take place at 6 pm Zurich Kantonalbank Steinfels in Zurich. Door opening is at 5.30 pm. The exact address is: Josefstrasse 222, 8005 Zurich.

Everyone is welcome to attend this panel discussion with following aperitif. If you wish to attend, please sign up here.

We would be happy to welcome you at this unique panel discussion.