Since the foundation of Startup Netzwerk Bodensee 2017 a lot has happened: 60 high-potential startups are registered on the portal. Over 70 multipliers and partners support the network activities and the start-up scene around Lake Constance – corporates, SMEs, universities, start-up, technology and transfer centers as well as public initiatives and supporters.
In addition to the successful event series Startup-Lounge Bodensee, the network will offer its own job portal in 2019, especially for startups and innovative talents who want to gain a foothold in the startup scene.
Philipp Kessler and Jens Freiter founded the Startup Network Bodensee 2017 out of personal interest. Her vision is to make the Lake Constance region an important hotspot for startups. The successful founders of HolidayCheck and WeKaufens have set themselves the task of building a network that provides promising startups with the necessary contacts and resources to advance their own ideas.
In addition to the online portal, the Startup-Lounge Bodensee was one of the first milestones towards a better networking of founders and start-up interested parties. In the meantime, it has become a monthly meeting place for the start-up scene. Ten events are planned for 2019. In Konstanz, Ravensburg, Friedrichshafen, St.Gallen, Liechtenstein and Dornbirn, the Startup Lounge welcomes over 130 founders, young innovative talents as well as entrepreneurs, SMEs, investors, mentors and supporters.
The startup lounge now radiates beyond the region. More than a third of the participants take a journey of more than one hour to attend the events. Keynotes from regional as well as supraregional sizes provide impulses and inspiration. The events are accompanied by innovative companies, such as Rolls-Royce Powersystems GmbH from Friedrichshafen, as well as experienced experts, supporters and local partners.
On Tuesday, January 29th, the Startup Lounge in Konstanz’s Neuwerk starts its 19th edition. Zurich Business Angel In his keynote, Johann Schlieper explains what constitutes a good business case in order to arouse the interest of an investor. The tickets are almost fully booked two weeks before the event. The interest in mutual exchange is great.
At the end of last year, the job portal also created a job exchange to help startups find the right team. “Startups are growing companies with an increasing need for staff and therefore always looking for talented new talent, creative minds and motivated employees who can identify with the company’s own vision,” says Philipp Kessler.
At the same time there are many job starters or experienced professionals who are looking specifically for entry into the start-up scene. With the job portal, the Startup Network Bodensee offers a first hub to find the perfect employee, co-founder or dream job in a startup. There are currently more than 20 vacancies advertised on the portal, and up to 40 job seekers visit the portal daily – and the number is increasing.
In 2019, the Startup Network Bodensee will start the new year with reinforcement (currently a total of five employees) and look at new cooperations and joint projects. The aim is not only to accompany more founders and startups on their way, but also to create added value for the degree of innovation of the region by networking with existing companies and SMEs.
“Especially for small and medium-sized companies, the local start-up scene holds great potential,” says Miriam Schuster, marketing director at Startup Netzwerk Bodensee since August 2018. “Whole sectors are changing, traditional business areas are in danger – and not in the course of decades, but within a few years.
This rapid change due to digitization presents medium-sized companies with major challenges. You have to be able to keep up with the big companies. Startups can help SMEs develop new products, technologies and corporate structures, “says Miriam Schuster.
With the three formats Startup Netzwerk Bodensee, Startup-Lounge Bodensee and Startup Jobportal Bodensee, founders at Lake Constance find a solid breeding ground to promote their own company.