From the idea to your own company – Personal advice on the marketplace at the Potsdam Start-up Day 2024

Start-up consultations play a decisive role when it comes to setting the course for a successful business start-up. They offer valuable information on legal and financial aspects, and also help to develop and refine individual business ideas. Questions can be clarified through personal discussions, uncertainties and develop customized strategies for individual projects.
For this reason, all relevant partners for business start-ups in Potsdam from the Gründerforum are on site. The regional network brings together various institutions, such as business development agencies, chambers of commerce, universities, development banks and business start-up centers, all with the aim of improving the start-up climate in Potsdam.

“Bundling the start-up players in the city is very important for us in order to create synergies and create synergies and transparency, increase the efficiency of support services and also facilitate access to important information, funding opportunities and premises. This enables us to respond better to the specific needs of founders and create a sense of community,” says and create a sense of community,” says Klaudia Gehrick from the Economic Development Agency Potsdam.

Every year, the partners of the Founders’ Forum organize numerous events, The annual highlight is the Potsdam Start-up Day. Tilo Hönisch, head of the funding advice department at the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg, emphasizes the importance of networks such as the Start-up Forum: “The ILB sees regional regional networks as an important link between institutional players and local people. They ensure regular exchange, cooperation and support in a state like Brandenburg.

He also says: “Start-ups are the engine for innovation and therefore a key driver of economic growth and social prosperity. As the state’s development bank, we see it as our mission to actively support the start-up scene in Brandenburg actively promote and support the start-up scene in Brandenburg with targeted offers and know-how. The GründerTag in Potsdam offers everything worth knowing in one day for founders from and in the from and in the region, which is why participation is essential for anyone interested.”
Commenting on the role of the University of Potsdam as a partner in the Startup Forum, Head of the Startup Service Johannes Zier: “The Startup Service of Potsdam Transfer at the University of Potsdam plays a central role in this network, as we are Brandenburg’s largest university and a multi-award-winning and multiple award-winning entrepreneurship university, we not only promote education and research but also support and promote innovative start-up ideas.

Through our offers such as the Science Incubator, the International Startup Service, the Impact Factory and the MediaTechHub Accelerator, we are positioning ourselves as a driver of the regional, national and international start-up ecosystem and make a significant contribution to Brandenburg’s to the sustainable economic and social development of Brandenburg.
” On the GründerTag he says: “As a central spot for people interested in founding a company, Potsdam’s Founders’ Day is of enormous importance. At our stand, we offer comprehensive advice and information about our support services for national and international start-ups. In the workshop – From the idea to the business model – we impart practical knowledge about the the development of business ideas and provide interested parties with initial impetus for their projects.”

The Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW) will also be represented at the GründerTag represented. Petra Quehl, project coordinator for Brandenburg, will present the BPW’s offerings. “With the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition – our joint business start-up initiative of both states – we offer valuable knowledge and important contacts at the GründerTag Potsdam. Knowledge and important contacts and provide an insight into what the BPW has to offer. We support with networking with our partners and networkers and make the interested in setting up their own business how they can turn their ideas into successful start-ups with constructive ideas into successful start-ups by participating in the competition.” For Dr. Christiane Herberg, Head of the Economic Development, Environment and Technology Department at the of the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts, participation in the Start-up Day is also very important.

She emphasizes the importance of the skilled trades in and for Potsdam: “Around 1,900 around 1,900 craft businesses in 100 trades make a decisive contribution to the lively economic life and also make a significant contribution to tax revenue in the state capital of Potsdam, secure jobs and are an important source of future employment for 552 young people in the city. This shows that Potsdam cannot function without the skilled trades. To keep it that way, our business consultants are represented at the Potsdam Start-up Day. In Potsdam alone, around 700 craft businesses will be looking for suitable successors in the coming years. We show that the skilled trades sector offers exceptional opportunities to put their ideas into practice and to take over and continue existing businesses.

Our advisors provide comprehensive information about the various opportunities for setting up a business in the skilled trades sector and the free services offered by the Chamber of Skilled Crafts – whether starting a new business or business takeover. The Start-up Day is an excellent platform for networking, learn from the experiences of successful craft businesses and be inspired, while embarking on the path to self-employment.”

For Ina Hänsel, President of the Potsdam Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer Potsdam), the topic of business succession also plays a key role.
She says: “Potsdam’s economy has come through the crises through the crises of recent years. Active entrepreneurship and the and entrepreneurial spirit are strengthened by the IHK with formats such as the GründerTag and are the foundations for this positive development. It takes courage, a healthy willingness to take risks and support to set up your own company. This also applies to the company successions. Leading existing companies that are anchored in the market into the next generation and generation and provide new impetus in the process – that is one of the most important tasks for the coming years. The entire region benefits from this kind of entrepreneurial spirit, from innovations and from jobs and apprenticeships.” Social Impact gGmbH will also be on site with all of its Brandenburg projects and will and presents the various resources and support options for founders and existing companies.
Karina Börner, project manager at the Enterprise Start-up Center says: “A regional network for founders is of decisive importance for the success of a company. Importance as it promotes the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience.

Founders, mentors and experts ideally learn from each other, support each other and make valuable contacts. Social Impact is part of the Potsdam network because we are committed to equal opportunities for start-ups. We believe that innovative entrepreneurial solutions for social challenges regardless of origin, gender or health restrictions. With our expertise and experience from 30 years of start-up consulting, we support and accompany and accompany prospective founders.” The Potsdam Start-up Day is an excellent opportunity to find out about the wide range of offers and support services. All interested parties are cordially invited to visit the partners’ stands, be inspired and make contacts.

This year’s Potsdamer GründerTag starts on November 14 at 12 noon at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Potsdam, Breite Str. 2-3, 14467 Potsdam.

Program & Registration

Participation is free of charge.  Registration is requested. All program items and the registration form can be found at www.gruenden-in-potsdam.de/gruendertag.