1. Press Release
Tunis, June 16, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Semifinals of the one-million-dollar start-up challenge in Tunis: students from Bremen,
Germany, make waves with their idea
Making the world a better place by supporting sustainable start-ups: that’s what “The
Hult Prize” Challenge is all about. Young people with innovative and sustainable start-
up projects are competing for a one-million-dollar prize to fund their social venture.
This year, the motto is “Redesigning Fashion.” The semifinals are held from June 16-
18 in Tunis. Three students from Bremen, Germany, are entering the challenge to
present their innovative idea and revolutionize the fashion industry.
Each year, The Hult Prize challenges young entrepreneurs to solve the world’s most
pressing problems with innovative and sustainable ideas. The winning team will secure a one
million USD funding for their social venture. This year, the focus is on the Fashion Industry
and how to make it more sustainable with the motto “Redesigning Fashion”.
Students from over 120 countries participated in the early stages of the challenge, with more
than 20.000 teams applying. But now the semifinals are underway, bringing the participants
closer to the coveted $1,000,000 funding. In Tunis and other cities worldwide, the
semifinalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of experts. Only 25 teams will earn a spot in the
next phase, the Global Accelerator, with just seven teams eventually reaching the finals. The
competition is fierce as these teams strive to make their mark and secure their visionary
futures.
Three passionate entrepreneurs and students at Constructor University in Bremen,
Germany, have entered the semifinals with their start-up “The Fashion Particle” to
revolutionize the fashion industry with their innovative, sustainable and out-of-the-box
concept. Iris-Stefania Petcu (Co-founder and CEO), Andrei Bancila (Co-founder and CTO)
and Saleem Zafar (Co-founder and CRO) designed a solution that promises to make a
significant impact on reducing carbon footprints, by leveraging creative problem-solving: “The
Fashion Particle” is empowering sustainable fashion through a centralized marketplace
connecting socially and environmentally conscious suppliers with manufacturers.
The team credits Constructor University (CU) in Bremen for creating a supportive
environment on campus that nurtures entrepreneurship. CU provides a buzzing
entrepreneurial culture, offering countless ways to support students and their entrepreneurial
spirit, bringing their start-up ideas to life. With close ties to the City of Bremen, which
promotes and nurtures start-up culture through its broad network and support system, CU
has become a great place for upcoming young talents in the start-up world.
Their journey wouldn't have been possible without the supportive environment at Constructor
University. The university's emphasis on entrepreneurship has encouraged them to dream
big and pursue their vision.

2. As the team prepares for the next stage of the competition, their anticipation grows, fueled by
the opportunity to refine their innovative idea and present it to a distinguished panel of
judges. With their sights set on the finals, Iris, Saleem, and Andrei are determined to leave
an indelible mark and contribute to the sustainable development of the fashion industry in
Bremen, Germany, and beyond.
"We've already established ourselves as a rapidly growing startup, having successfully
onboarded 14 talented student members, along with an impressive network of mentors and
support from 13 esteemed companies and institutions," Iris enthusiastically shared.
"Encouraged by this momentum, we are determined to turn our dreams into reality, driving
sustainable development and making our mark on the world."
About Constructor University:
An international community, vibrant and diverse. Offering academic excellence, ensuring the
highest standards in research and teaching. Empowering students to solve the world's
pressing challenges through knowledge and science: Constructor University is a top-ranked,
English-speaking, private university. Founded in 2001, it provides a wide range of 25+
academic programs and PhD. The Constructor ecosystem comprises the University, located
in Bremen, Germany, and an institute in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Over 1.800 students from more than 110 nations on campus benefit from a unique
interdisciplinary, foundational theoretical and practical education. Enriched with a buzzing
entrepreneurial culture that prepares young professionals to thrive in the job market. With
6.000+ alumni worldwide, our community keeps growing – with our highest cohort ever
registered in 2022.
The research-centric faculty projects are funded by the German Research Foundation and
the European Union's Framework Program for Research and Innovation as well as by
globally leading companies.
The Constructor ecosystem benefits from partnerships with high-ranked universities such as
Carnegie Mellon, the University of Geneva or the National University of Singapore School of
Computing, and technology companies such as Anisoprint, JetBrains and ChemDiv.
Constructor is a global institution dedicated to addressing the main challenges of the world
through science, education, and technology. Apart from the University in Bremen and an
Institute in Schaffhausen (Switzerland), the ecosystem relies on several for-profit entities that
provide technology infrastructures and solutions, life-long education programs, consulting
services, and funding.
For more information: www.constructor.university
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Contact:
Daisy Juknischke-Heinsen | Corporate Communications
presse@jacobs-university.de | Tel.: +49 421 200-4532
Picture caption:
(Source: Constructor University)