“Developing the ecosystem for start-ups and scale-ups together”

During this year's Startup Week Düsseldorf, we presented the new "ERGO ScaleHub" programme. Together with the two partners TechHub.K67 and Wirtschaftsförderung Düsseldorf, we want to provide targeted support for scale-ups in Düsseldorf in future. We asked Ella Gemünd from the management of TechHub.K67 about the details of the cooperation and her view of Düsseldorf as a scale-up location.

Hi Ella, congratulations on the successful launch of the “ERGO ScaleHub” together with the City of Düsseldorf and ERGO! Would you like to start by introducing your company and its business model?

Thank you very much – and sure, I'd love to: TechHub.K67 is an innovation community space for start-ups and established companies. At our location in the heart of Düsseldorf, we offer start-ups the space to grow and the opportunity to network with other young companies, customers and investors. In various event formats – from input sessions for knowledge transfer to larger networking events – we offer a platform for exchange on the topics of tech and innovation.

We opened our doors in August 2022 – so we are still more or less a start-up ourselves. Starting with the first 15 start-ups from the B2B tech sector, we are now a community of more than 50 start-ups and a broad network of corporate partners. In our daily work and at various events, our community comes together, networks and continues to grow together.

That's exciting! And what is your role in our new cooperation? In other words, what do you offer your partners – and what do you offer the participating scale-ups? And what motivated you to participate in the “ERGO ScaleHub” in the first place?

We think it's great that ERGO has launched the “ERGO ScaleHub”. Time and again, we realise that a first pilot with a company poses major challenges for many start-ups. Mentors directly from the company, as planned for the ScaleHub, help enormously here. As TechHub.K67, we not only provide a central and inspiring place to work in Düsseldorf, but also integrate the scale-ups into our community.

It is particularly important for young international companies to build up a network quickly and easily. Every company needs a stable network in order to find the right customers. There are also many small hurdles that need to be overcome in everyday working life. But you don't have to make every mistake yourself. We offer this network with the K67 community. In addition to help directly from the other start-ups, the start-ups receive support with tax and legal issues, for example, or in recruiting additional talent.

How would you currently describe the Düsseldorf metropolitan region as a location for start-ups and scale-ups? What advantages are there already today – and what should be further improved in the medium and long term through the new cooperation? In other words: Where do you and your partners want to go together?

The biggest advantage for start-ups in Düsseldorf is the enormous density of companies. Even though a lot is happening digitally these days, the proximity to customers is a real advantage. Düsseldorf itself is a very pleasant size: after a short time you know all the important players and find your way around the city. At the same time, there are many other large cities in the immediate vicinity. I consider that to be the best of both worlds!

The start-up ecosystem has also grown in recent years and there are numerous support options. Of course, we still have to measure ourselves against places like Berlin and Munich, which have built up an impressive ecosystem in recent years. Many venture capital funds are based in these locations. We still lack that in the Rhineland. In addition, the ecosystem is not yet as international as it is in other cities – although many international companies are based in Düsseldorf. However, as we are targeting international scale-ups with the “ScaleHub”, we can certainly develop the ecosystem here quickly together.

Interview: Ingo Schenk

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What motivates ERGO and the third partner, the Düsseldorf Economic Development Agency, to work together as part of the “ERGO ScaleHub”? And to what extent do the scale-ups benefit? We have already answered these questions in the case of ERGO, the interview with the city will follow shortly, as well as further articles and background reports on the new cooperation.