Mark Zechiel, founder of Upper Austria’s Balldesigner, has turned a past defeat in the TV pitch show “2 Minuten 2 Millionen” into success, growing the company into a robust midsize business that has
generated over €5 million in total sales since its founding in 2006
Now, Balldesigner introduces an aerodynamically
optimized, Fairtrade-certified soccer ball, featuring a golf ball–style dimpled surface designed through AI to reduce drag and enhance flight performance (“higher, faster, farther, more
precise”). The 12-panel design is patented in both the EU and the UK.
Manufactured in Fairtrade-certified facilities in Sialkot, Pakistan—audited by FLO CERT in Bonn—the
production avoids exploitative supply chains
Initial tests show the ball performs exceptionally well at high speeds, extending distance on long kicks, though short passes are a bit slower. It's already a hit in the Footgolf community: the
first batch sold out immediately, with the second underway
With global interest rising, Balldesigner is seeking a strategic, FIFA certified distribution partner to scale into mass sports. To finalize certification, they need €20,000; a faninvest campaign has raised €4,000 to date, and they have also launched a FlexCO in
May 2025 to facilitate investor participation
Recently, Balldesigner was the only Austrian finalist at the London-based “Sport Award Technology”—a notable stage for international exposure—and the company plans to supply Fairtrade balls to
Munich schools starting in autumn 2025.
Source: Brutkasten