Academic foundations and entrepreneurial vision go hand in hand for Moritz and Jannis Hutzler. In addition to studying business informatics at OTH Regensburg, Moritz Hutzler has been supporting his brother Jannis Hutzler since 2024 in his vision of enabling greater digital security for children and young people on the internet.
The Kidgonet youth protection app 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 goal is 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 reflected in the app's professional implementation and innovative strength. ‘From the outset, our goal was for Kidgonet to meet the highest standards, not only technically but also ethically,’ emphasises Moritz Hutzler, co-founder of Kidgonet.
Making digital media use child-friendly and responsible
An intelligent internet filter that dynamically adapts to the child's age, regardless of the browser used, forms the core of the app. Cross-device screen time limits, flexible break rules and a portal make it easy for parents to make digital media use child-friendly and responsible – without violating their children's privacy.
The brothers share these strong values and high standards for the implementation of the youth protection app with professional footballer Manuel Neuer. As a family man, 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 foundation, the Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation, I know how important a safe environment is for children, both online and offline. Kidgonet offers exactly this security in the digital space. I am particularly impressed by the sensitive handling of the issue of privacy, a real unique selling point of the app,’ says Manuel Neuer, explaining his commitment as an investor and ambassador.
The collaboration with the professional footballer is particularly valuable for the two founders. ‘In Manuel Neuer, we have gained a partner who shares our values and helps us to raise social awareness of the safe use of digital media. As a young father, he also brings important perspectives that are of great significance in everyday media education,’ says co-founder Moritz Hutzler.
But Manuel Neuer is not the only one who is enthusiastic about the child protection app. At the Bavarian Digital Summit, the brothers were recently awarded the Special Prize of the Minister for Digital Affairs at the Bavarian Digital Prize B.BiGiTAL 2025. Minister for Digital Affairs Dr Fabian Mehring praised the founding team's extraordinary commitment to child protection, media literacy and digital responsibility: ‘The Kidgonet child protection app is a shining example of how digitalisation can succeed with attitude. Empowering children to use new technologies strengthens our digital future. The founders of Kidgonet show that entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility are not contradictory, but can achieve great things together,’ said Dr. Mehring at the award ceremony.
OTH Regensburg promotes digital innovation
The success story of Kidgonet is another example of the innovative spirit of the students and alumni of OTH Regensburg. ‘We are proud that such a socially relevant project as Kidgonet has its origins at our university,’ says Prof. Dr. Sean-Patrick Saßmannshausen, head of the Start-up Centre at OTH Regensburg. ‘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 promoting these issues with public visibility.’
Award winner Moritz Hutzler also emphasises: ‘The support provided by OTH Regensburg and the Start-up Centre was a decisive factor in the success of our start-up. Thanks to the wide range of support services, such as start-up consulting, I was able to drive our project forward with a clear focus alongside my studies.’
With the OTH Start-up Centre, OTH Regensburg provides targeted support to young start-up teams in the implementation of innovative projects and accompanies the start-ups with a comprehensive range of services in all phases of the start-up process. In addition to numerous start-up courses, events and pitch competitions, individual start-up coaching and a large network of regional and national partners, the OTH Start-up Centre is the first point of contact for anyone interested in starting a business at the university.
More information about the OTH Regensburg Start-up Centre is available at www.oth-regensburg.de/startup.
About the Bavarian Digital Award
The Bavarian Digital Award B.DiGiTAL is presented annually by the Bavarian State Ministry of Digital Affairs and honours projects that shape digital change in the interests of the common good. The Digital Minister's Special Award recognises individuals who, through innovation, attitude and social responsibility, provide impetus for human-centred digitalisation.
