Initial StartRaum GL Event: Transitioning from Student to Investor - Facing Each Other!
In the heart of Bergisch Gladbach, the Rheinisch-Bergisches TechnologieZentrum GmbH (RBTZ) and Rheinisch-Bergische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (RBW) recently launched StartRaum GL, a dynamic startup brand with a mission to strengthen the regional startup ecosystem.
Last week, the brand hosted its inaugural event, attracting over 70 participants from the local startup scene. The event, held in an old factory hall on the former Zanders site, was a fitting backdrop for the "startup journey." Keynote speeches from industry experts, including Frank Blase, CEO of igus GmbH & Co. KG, and Slawomir Swaczyna, innovation and startup expert at RBW and StartRaum GL, inspired the audience with their insights on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Fynn Ludwig and Nick Brunke, winners of the "Social Entrepreneur Prize" at business@school, presented their project for cancer patients and doctors, which aims to make a significant impact in the healthcare industry. Their presentation was met with enthusiasm, underscoring the event's focus on fostering innovative ideas.
Questions raised during the event included Investor Readiness, KPIs, Leadership, IP Protection, Storytelling, and Remote-First, demonstrating the diverse needs and interests of the startup community. Gwendolyn Rothstein from the Bergischer Women's Hub expressed her intentions to expand her community local in rural areas, further enhancing the startup ecosystem's reach.
Jan Offermann, a 20-year-old student, showcased his digital booking process for connecting companies with influencers for marketing campaigns, for which he recently received the NRW startup grant. Other startups like Vulcavo, one of the largest providers of digital property assemblies, also presented their projects.
Ronny Yvonne Strasser, the startup community manager of StartRaum GL, was pleased with the event's success, marking the first step in the brand's mission to build a future-oriented startup ecosystem. She and Slawomir Swaczyna are now collecting feedback from startups to plan future events and topics.
Dr. Markus Gick, Managing Director at the accelerator xdeck, offered venture capital and tailored 1:1 support for startups, with the pitch winners receiving a customized acceleration program for three and a half months. Alessandro Becciu shared his reason for leaving a secure job to focus on AI for security in autonomous buses, while Sebastian Schmitz presented his app "HofFloh" for organizing private flea markets, with the goal of making them more visible and reducing waste. Or Thomas Henderikx introduced his app "Happynest", a platform for separated families to manage shared responsibilities.
StartRaum GL serves as the central platform for startups and entrepreneurial talent in the region, combining the strengths and offerings of RBTZ and RBW under one umbrella to support startups at various stages, from students to investors. The initiative is active in creating not just workplaces but also spaces for dialogue, community-building, and support for startup founders.
The brand's core mission is to build a future-oriented startup ecosystem by actively supporting founders in their ventures, strengthening the innovation capacity of local Mittelstand (small and medium-sized enterprises) through close cooperation with young companies, and creating synergies beneficial to both startups and established businesses in the region.
StartRaum GL supports entrepreneurs by offering access to three complementary innovation locations: TechnologieZentrum Bergisch Gladbach, Zanders-Areal Bergisch Gladbach, and Rhombus-Areal Wermelskirchen. These networks of spaces foster collaboration, learning, and growth within the startup community.
In summary, StartRaum GL is a strategically designed startup brand and network that actively nurtures the regional startup ecosystem through physical spaces, community engagement, and collaboration between startups and local businesses. It acts as a bridge and catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis.
- The launch event of StartRaum GL, held in Bergisch Gladbach, not only attracted locals but also showcased a fusion of industries, with presentations on finance, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, business, technology, education-and-self-development, and healthcare.
- Bypassing the traditional job market, entrepreneurs like Jan Offermann, who recently received the NRW startup grant, presented cutting-edge technologies in fields such as digital marketing, AI security, and app development, demonstrating the potential for innovation in the regional startup ecosystem.
- With a goal to create a robust startup ecosystem, initiatives like StartRaum GL aim to support the needs of various stakeholders, providing resources for students like Fynn Ludwig and Nick Brunke, as well as established businesses seeking collaboration and growth opportunities in areas like venture capital, IP protection, and leadership development.
