Launching a start-up with high-profile support to improve children’s online safety: With their app Kidgonet, brothers Moritz and Jannis Hutzler are campaigning to protect children and young people online. Not only do they have the backing of national team goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but they have also won a special award.
An app that protects children in the digital world
Academic foundations and entrepreneurial vision go hand in hand for Moritz and Jannis Hutzler. The two founders’ idea is to improve digital safety for children and young people online. Whilst Moritz Hutzler is studying Business Informatics at OTH Regensburg, he has also been supporting his brother Jannis Hutzler in realising this vision since 2024. The result is the child protection app Kidgonet, which also serves as a fine example of the innovative spirit of OTH Regensburg’s students and alumni.
The child protection app Kidgonet was developed in collaboration with children and educators, with advice from SOS Children’s Villages, fragFINN and the Munich State Criminal Police Office. The team’s aim: to help parents teach their children how to use digital media safely and responsibly, without exposing them to the risks of the internet. The founding team’s high educational standards are indicative of the app’s professional execution and innovative strength. “From the very beginning, our aim was for Kidgonet to meet the highest standards, not only technically but also ethically,” emphasises Moritz Hutzler.
Dynamic age adjustment included
At the heart of the app is a smart internet filter that dynamically adapts to the child’s age, regardless of the browser used. Cross-device screen time limits, flexible break settings and a portal make it easy for parents to manage their children’s use of digital media in a child-friendly and responsible way – without infringing on their children’s privacy.
The brothers share these strong values and high standards for the implementation of the child protection app with professional footballer Manuel Neuer. As a father, Manuel Neuer is particularly concerned about the digital safety of children and young people. “Supporting Kidgonet is a matter close to my heart. Through my charity, the Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation, I know how important a safe environment is for children, both online and offline. Kidgonet offers precisely this level of safety in the digital space. I am particularly impressed by the sensitive approach to privacy – a genuine unique selling point of the app,” says Manuel Neuer, explaining his commitment as an investor and ambassador.
The partnership with the professional footballer is particularly valuable to the two founders. “In Manuel Neuer, we have gained a partner who shares our values and helps us to raise public awareness of the safe use of digital media. As a young father, he also brings important perspectives to the table that are of great significance in day-to-day media education,” says co-founder Moritz Hutzler.
Award at the Bavarian Digital Summit
But Manuel Neuer isn’t the only one who’s impressed by the child protection app. The brothers were recently awarded the Digital Minister’s Special Prize at the Bavarian Digital Summit as part of the Bavarian Digital Prize B.DiGiTAL 2025. Digital Minister Dr Fabian Mehring praised the founding team’s exceptional commitment to child protection, media literacy and digital responsibility: “The Kidgonet child protection app is a shining example of how digitalisation can succeed when guided by the right values. Empowering children to use new technologies effectively strengthens our digital future. The founders of Kidgonet demonstrate that entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility are not a contradiction, but can together achieve great things,” said Dr Mehring at the award ceremony.
A university that promotes digital innovation
Kidgonet’s success story demonstrates just how much innovative potential lies within the students and alumni of OTH Regensburg. “We are proud that a project of such social relevance as Kidgonet has its origins at our university,” said Prof. Dr Sean-Patrick Saßmannshausen, Head of the Start-up Centre. “The collaboration with Manuel Neuer sends a strong signal about the social importance of digital education and media literacy. This helps young teams like Kidgonet immensely in championing these issues with public visibility.”
At the OTH Regensburg Start-up Centre, Prof. Dr Saßmannshausen and his colleagues see first-hand every day how young founders with clear values and a sense of social responsibility are actively shaping the digital future. The entrepreneurial commitment of the start-up team highlights all the more clearly how important dedicated start-up support at universities is. Award winner Moritz Hutzler also emphasises that the support provided by the Start-up Centre was crucial to the project’s success. As he explains: “Thanks to the wide range of support services on offer, such as start-up consultancy, I was able to drive our project forward with a clear focus, even whilst studying.”
A wide range of support for anyone wishing to start a business
Through the Start-up Centre, OTH Regensburg provides targeted support to young start-up teams in implementing innovative projects and supports the start-ups with a comprehensive range of services throughout all phases of setting up a business. In addition to numerous courses on entrepreneurship, events and pitch competitions, personalised start-up coaching and a large network of regional and national partners, the OTH Start-up Centre is the first port of call for anyone at the university interested in setting up a business.
More information about the OTH Regensburg Start-up Centre >>>
Good to know: the Bavarian Digital Award
The Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs awards the Bavarian Digital Prize, B.DiGiTAL, once a year. This prize recognises projects that shape digital transformation in the interests of the common good. The Digital Minister’s Special Prize honours individuals who, through innovation, commitment and social responsibility, are driving forward human-centred digitalisation. A great honour, then, for our founding team!