How Neuraflow won the Smart Country Startup Award 2024
Freshly founded, convincingly pitched and won: Neuraflow uses the Smart Country Startup Award as a springboard for the digitalisation of administration
Dustin Klepper, Managing Director of Neuraflow on stage at the Smart Country Convention 2024 Photo: Messe Berlin
When Neuraflow pitched on stage at the Smart Country Convention in autumn 2024, the young company had only been active in the industry for a year. However, the appearance in front of an expert audience and jury was a valuable opportunity to make their own mission in the field of municipal digitalisation visible - something they couldn't afford to miss, says Dustin Klepper, Managing Partner of Neuraflow: ‘I personally enjoy being on stage, but a bit of stage fright is always part of it. But: that's the job.’
Neuraflow supports administrative staff with routine tasks - a chatbot can independently answer numerous citizen enquiries, AI helps with research in the council information system, what previously took administrative staff hours can be done in a few minutes via AI, giving employees time for personal advice, creative solution finding and actively shaping liveable communities.
From the SCCON stage to the world
Winning the Smart Country Startup Award was a significant milestone for the team: ‘The award was a strong vote of confidence for us and an additional boost in our collaboration with cities and municipalities,’ says Klepper. Although Neuraflow had already been in dialogue with numerous local authorities beforehand, the pace has increased noticeably since the win: The company is now working with over 100 local authorities, has been able to conclude new framework agreements with data centres and has significantly expanded its team in terms of personnel.
The prize money was also put to good use - above all to secure operational processes during the growth phase. ‘A new developer laptop quickly costs several thousand euros - so the support came at exactly the right time,’ says Klepper.
From chatbot to comprehensive AI assistant for municipal administration
Since SCCON 2024, the neuraflow team has not only successfully implemented its solutions in many other municipalities, but has also continuously invested in further development in close cooperation with its municipal partners: ‘We are building a comprehensive AI assistant for communication between citizens and the administration - for all channels,’ explains Klepper. In addition to an email assistant and a voicebot for telephone enquiries from citizens, there is also a digital avatar on a physical stele that will answer questions directly on site in town halls or community centres. ‘Our goal is clear: the administration should be more accessible in all ways, while employees have more time for complex advice.’
neuraflow is also already working on the further development of its internal administrative AI assistant. neuraflow and its partner municipalities are working on a solution for municipal knowledge management that goes far beyond intelligent searches in the council information system - also in response to the impending loss of knowledge due to demographic change in the administration. ‘Our vision is an intelligent, networked administration in which AI supports human expertise instead of replacing it.’
More chops than spills - or fewer chapels and more chainsaws
Neuraflow is taking a more pragmatic approach to the digitalisation of public administration. ‘Our experience shows: The best solutions are not created on paper, but through bold implementation and direct practical application. Digitalisation in Germany needs fewer chapels and more chainsaws - pragmatic, goal-oriented and ready for action.’ Dustin Klepper appeals: less hesitation, more organisation.
Apply now for the Smart Country Startup Award 2025!
Innovative start-ups still have the opportunity to apply for the Smart Country Startup Award 2025 until 15 August. The prize is a coveted stage slot at SCCON 2026 and a one-year Get Started membership of Bitkom.