What does your company do, Dmytro?
MIO DIO Glas develops innovative solutions for double-glazed windows that eliminate aluminum framing from building facades. By maximizing thermal efficiency and reducing the amount of material required, we aim to significantly cut CO2 emissions while enabling more sustainable architecture.
What is your mission, and what problem are you aiming to solve?
Modern architectural facades depend heavily on aluminum framing systems. Aluminum is energy-intensive to manufacture, while conventional framing can create thermal bridges and increase the overall carbon footprint of a building.
Our mission at MIO DIO Glas is to eliminate aluminum framing from building facades. We want to turn double-glazed glass units into self-supporting structural elements, reducing CO2 emissions, improving thermal efficiency, and giving architects greater design freedom.
Who is behind MIO DIO Glas?
I founded MIO DIO Glas after spending 19 years in executive leadership roles in the construction industry. My background is in economics, and throughout my career I have worked extensively with large-scale material budgets, contractor integration, and architectural solutions.
That experience gave me a firsthand view of both the structural and environmental limitations of traditional facade systems. I founded MIO DIO Glas in Stuttgart because I wanted to rethink the role structural glass could play in the future of sustainable architecture.
What are the biggest challenges your company is currently facing?
Our primary focus is navigating the rigorous testing and certification processes required to introduce new material solutions into the European construction sector.
At the same time, we’re working to secure funding for our R&D phase and establish strategic partnerships with industrial manufacturers. Those partnerships will be particularly important as we prepare the technology for future scaling.
What was the biggest challenge during your startup journey?
The biggest challenge was moving from an initial concept to establishing a solid foundation for a large-scale R&D project in what is traditionally a very conservative industry.
In particular, we needed to validate the concept with top-tier partners before securing major funding. We approached this with a clear strategic roadmap. We submitted an application for a major innovation grant, successfully negotiated with leading German research institutes such as Fraunhofer to carry out our planned R&D work packages upon funding, and initiated discussions with equipment and material manufacturers.
The goal is to make sure our technology is developed with global market entry in mind from the beginning—and to position Germany as a pioneer in this architectural innovation.
What advice would you give to other founders?
Never be afraid to take action.
Germany has built an exceptionally supportive environment for innovation, and I’ve found that institutions, experts, and ecosystem partners are genuinely willing to help founders achieve their goals.
I wish I had understood earlier just how open and collaborative people here can be. That support has been vital in bringing our project to life. My advice is simple: be proactive, reach out, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
How has firma.de supported you throughout your entrepreneurial journey?
firma.de helped us incorporate our company in Germany in record time. That speed was critical because we were working toward a tight deadline for an important grant application.
Without the swift and seamless incorporation process managed by firma.de, we would not have been able to submit the application on time. Their guidance saved us critical time at exactly the moment we needed it and enabled us to take an important step forward with MIO DIO Glas.
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