The team of Fabian Mantsch and Lars Pfleider received close support in their application process from the start-up coaches at the University of Bonn’s Transfer Center enaCom. “We are delighted about this successful application for the EXIST start-up grant. Inspired by Learning impresses with its business plan, its focus on a highly relevant niche, and its innovative use of digital methods — combined with remarkable personal commitment. We look forward to continuing our collaboration,” says Sandra Speer, Head of the Transfer Center enaCom. The team had already won the University of Bonn’s 2023 Ideas Competition with their concept (link).
Based on customer interviews and surveys, they are now developing a prototype for an e-learning platform that tackles the complexities of tax law training. With the 12-month funding program, the prototype will be further refined. “I have been working in tax law for nine years. The growing shortage of skilled professionals and the image of the industry are a huge concern for me. That’s why I gave up my tax advisor license to start a company that supports the next generation of tax experts and helps shape the future of this field,” explains Fabian Mantsch, co-founder of Inspired by Learning.
Support from the University of Bonn
“With EXIST funding and the University of Bonn’s support — for example, access to high-performance computing resources during the pre-startup phase — we will significantly advance our AI-driven learning platform. Our goal is to develop an AI tutor, the ‘Taxpeer,’ who will serve as a personal companion for aspiring tax experts from day one of training through their professional exams and into their careers,” says Lars Pfleider. The Taxpeer will tailor learning content to individual strengths and needs, helping to reduce the notoriously high failure rate of over 50 percent in tax advisor exams.
Expansion Beyond Tax Law
The start-up project is supported by the Transfer Center enaCom and mentored by Prof. Dr. Rainer Hüttemann, Professor of Civil Law, Commercial, Accounting, and Tax Law and Managing Director of the Institute for Tax Law. Looking ahead, the team envisions expanding the platform to other disciplines: “The ability to evaluate and adapt complex text materials has clear potential for many other sectors. This innovation could provide scalable solutions for industries that rely on text analysis and interpretation, especially in education and professional training,” explains Marcus Wille, start-up advisor at the Transfer Center enaCom.