Hinterland of Things

Founders Foundation gGmbH goes Bits & Pretzels 🖤 #conference #munich #bitsandpretels #bits2024

🖤 Almost three months ago, #Hinterland24 took place in Stadthalle Bielefeld Betriebs GmbH - Kongress- und Eventzentrum, where we explored the immense potential of innovation outside the usual hotspots. During the welcome keynote, titled “Heartbeat of the Hinterland,” our CEO Dominik Gross highlighted a critical aspect of Germany’s economic landscape: decentralization. 🎤 Dominik drew an eye-opening comparison between the U.S. and Germany. In the U.S., 31% of the GDP is generated by just three states, with California’s Silicon Valley alone contributing 14%. In contrast, Germany thrives on a distributed economic model where no single region produces more than 8% of the GDP. Even more striking, 75% of Germany’s GDP is generated outside the 10 largest cities, powered by the innovation of hidden champions and world market leaders located in smaller, often underestimated, regions. As Dominik put it: "Germany’s strength lies in the regions, where innovation is born and economic power is truly distributed." 🗯️This underscores the essence of what we at Hinterland of Things are all about: creating a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs and world market leaders right here, beyond the typical urban centers. 🚀 Don’t miss out! The next Hinterland of Things conference is already on the horizon. Join our waitlist to be the first to know about upcoming announcements and secure your spot for next year’s event: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #innovation #decentralization #foundersfoundation #bielefeld #hinterlandofthings

🌟 Get ready for a deep dive into how top entrepreneurs drive impact and commitment! At this year’s Hinterland of Things, the panel "Entrepreneurship: Impact and Commitment" showcased the experiences and strategies of Magdalena Oehl from Talent Rocket, Valerie B. from XAnge and Dr. Gesa Miczaika from Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund. 🌈 Gesa Miczaika offered a powerful perspective on gender diversity in startups and the venture capital landscape. Her insights highlighted the significant gap in funding for female founders and underscored the importance of inclusive investment practices: while 15% of founders in Europe are women, they receive less than 5% of venture capital funding. Gesa explained that this gap isn’t due to bias but rather the male-dominated industry. And especially, female founding is represent a great, often missed investment chance. In the case of Auxxo, focusing on sustainable growth often led them to invest in women-led startups, showcasing that diversity and success go hand in hand. 🚀 The panel didn't just stick to gender diversity. They took a deep dive into impact and commitment, showing how startups can make real change happen. From building inclusive cultures to snagging diverse investments and ensuring long-term growth, they covered it all. The big takeaway? Sticking to these values not only sparks innovation but also creates strong, thriving businesses. 📺 Catch the full panel discussion on our YouTube channel! Link in comment. 🎟️ Make sure to pre-register for #Hinterland25 to be part of next year's innovation journey: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 #innovation #startup #Hinterland24 #hinterlandofthings #impact #commitment #socialmedia #growth

🎢 Ready to ride the entrepreneurial rollercoaster? This year at Hinterland of Things, Miriam Wohlfarth took the stage in the Fireside Chat: "The Entrepreneurship Rollercoaster: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur." Miriam opened up about the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey and shared game-changing tips for founders. 📱 During the chat she discussed the power of social media to elevate your startup’s culture and visibility. She shared how LinkedIn became a powerful tool in her entrepreneurial toolkit. By actively engaging and sharing her journey, she built a strong community and significantly increased her startup’s visibility. This approach made attracting top talent easy, eliminating the usual recruitment challenges. 🤩 Miriam's experience is a perfect example of how social media can elevate your startup. Today, startups thrive by building an authentic online presence. Founders who share their stories and company culture create vibrant communities and attract top talent without the usual struggle. It's not just about finding employees - it’s about creating a brand that people want to be a part of. 🚀 Dive deeper into Miriam’s journey and discover more of her practical tips for founders by watching the full panel on our YouTube channel. Her advice is invaluable for anyone, whether you're starting out or looking to grow your startup. Link in comment. 📅 Let’s get excited for #Hinterland25 and mark your calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 #innovation #Hinterland24 #hinterlandofthings #socialmedia #growth

📣 At this year's Hinterland of Things Conference, we had the privilege of delving into the future of artificial intelligence with two incredible visionaries: Dr. Léa Steinacker and Dr. Miriam Meckel, renowned expert and speaker. 🔍 Léa Steinacker shared groundbreaking insights into how AI is revolutionizing industries and reshaping our approach to traditional business practices. From enhancing productivity to driving innovation, AI is at the forefront of transformation. One compelling example discussed was a recent Harvard Business School study where 800 consultants were split into two groups - one using AI tools and the other not. The results were staggering: the AI-empowered group solved 12% more tasks in the same amount of time, and completed them 25% faster. Notably, their work quality was rated 40% higher by human evaluators. This demonstrates that AI isn't about replacing human effort but augmenting it to achieve superior outcomes. 🔥 In an engaging fireside chat moderated by Uwe Jean Heuser from DIE ZEIT & ZEIT für Unternehmer, Léa Steinacker and Miriam Meckel discussed how traditional companies can harness AI to stay competitive. They explored practical applications and the transformative impact of AI in various sectors, offering valuable strategies for integrating these technologies to drive growth and efficiency. 📺 Catch the full panel discussion on our YouTube channel! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear from the experts and gain insights into the future of AI. Link in comment 🎟️ Ready to dive into next year's innovation journey? Pre-register for #Hinterland25 and be part of the cutting-edge conversations shaping the future: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 #innovation #startup #Hinterland24 #hinterlandofthings #AI #artificialintelligence #growth #transformation

🔍 Are family businesses and startups truly two different worlds, or are we just buying into outdated stereotypes? The recent panel "The Responsibility of Family Business Values in a Modern World" at the Hinterland of Things Conference tackled this exact question. But is it really a case of "old, serious, long-term" versus "glitzy, young, quick gains," or is there more common ground than we think? 💫 Vanessa Weber, CEO of Werkzeug-Weber GmbH & Co KG, emphasized that successors in family businesses often find themselves in a startup-like situation, stepping into their parents' shoes while carving out their own paths. This blend of tradition and innovation can bring fresh perspectives and drive progress. She highlighted the mutual benefits of mentoring startups, which not only inspires but also introduces new ideas into established businesses. 🚀 And also Wilhelm Alexander Böllhoff, Managing Partner at Böllhoff Gruppe, doesn’t see startups and family businesses as fundamentally different. He pointed out that many startup founders share a long-term vision and commitment to success, similar to traditional family businesses. He noted that the supposed divide between startups and established companies is often overstated. Historically, family businesses were the original startups and this entrepreneurial spirit continues today. 🤝 By bridging these worlds, we can leverage the strengths of each to foster mutual growth and innovation. The discussion at Hinterland of Things showcased how family businesses and startups can learn from each other, driving forward with shared values and goals. 📺 Don’t miss the full conversation on YouTube and dive into more insights! 📅 Mark your calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 #hinterland24 #insights #familybusiness #startups #innovation #growth #bielefeld 

📣 After our Hinterland of Things Conference, it’s time to step out of the OWL bubble and explore new horizons. We’re beyond excited about the IMPACT FESTIVAL! ⚡️ The IMPACT FESTIVAL is Europe’s largest B2B event dedicated to sustainable innovation. Bringing together over 200 start-ups and SMEs offering cutting-edge sustainable solutions, along with leading corporates and more than 250 investors, the festival is at the forefront of driving impactful change. 📎 With insights from 170 expert speakers, an inspiring stage program, and hands-on masterclasses, the event is a powerful catalyst for the sustainable transformation of our economy. This year, we’re expecting over 4,500 participants. Join us on October 30 and 31 at Messe Frankfurt! https://lnkd.in/dDJ9vpEn #sustainability #impactfestival #innovation #b2b #sustainablefuture

🚀 What a ride! At this year's Hinterland of Things, we had the pleasure of hosting some of the most inspiring founders and unicorn creators who shared their journeys and valuable insights. 🌟 One highlight was the fireside chat with Miriam Wohlfarth, a true FinTech trailblazer, who shared top tips for successful startups. Her advice: make sure to work with someone you know well before founding a company, get legal help early and use social media to boost your brand and attract talent. 📍Beyond Miriam's key takeaways, we welcomed unicorn founders on stage who showcased innovation doesn’t just happen in the big city hotspots; global giants can also grow in small towns like Chemnitz as the founders journey from Martin Böhringer showcased. Staffbase now operates from international offices in Leipzig, Berlin, Dresden, Cologne, New York, Amsterdam, London, and Vancouver. 🎉 And also Daniel Khachab, co-founder and CEO of Choco, cracked the magical one-billion-dollar mark. Operating across the US and Europe, Choco makes it easy for restaurants to organize their daily food purchases and order from suppliers. 💰 Founder Journeys like these show that sometimes it’s the “basic” ideas that evolve into billion-dollar enterprises. Take Hakan Koç's story of online car-buying: frustrated with bad experiences in buying and selling cars, he knew there had to be a better way. And his idea took off! With AUTO1 Group, he built Europe’s largest used car dealership and revolutionized the used car market. 📺 Curious to hear more about it? Experience their journeys again by diving into their panels on our YouTube channel. 💭 A big shoutout to Miriam, Daniel, Hakan, and Martin for sharing their founding stories with us at this year's Hinterland of Things! 📅 Let’s get excited for #Hinterland25 and mark your calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 #unicorns #innovation #startup #OWLregion #Hinterland24 #hinterlandofthings #unicorn #growth

🚀 Ready for another Insight Highlight from this year's Hinterland of Things Conference? Then deep dive into the current trends and challenges in the VC world. The panel discussion titled "Inside the 2024 Venture Capital Landscape," featuring Carsten Gjoertler Salling, General Partner at Dreamcraft Ventures, Marie-Helene AMETSREITER, General Partner at Speedinvest, and Florian Heinemann, Founding Partner at Project A Ventures was hosted by Nadine Schimroszik from Handelsblatt. 🌟 One of the big topics? "Tourist VCs" – those investors who dip in and out of the market without really committing. He anticipates that many of these tourist investors will exit through M&A or fail to raise new funds. While this might sound concerning, he views it as a positive shift: it's crucial to eliminate underperforming and unprofessional investors to strengthen the asset class, especially now when we need dedicated entrepreneurs and long-term investors to build and scale new companies. His take? The sooner we can clear out the tourists and make way for the real deal, the better for everyone. 🎥 Want to get the full scoop on the current VC landscape? Head over to our YouTube channel and watch the full panel. Link in comment. 📅 Mark your calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 Let’s drive the future of innovation together! #insidehighlight #venturecapital #vc #startup #ecosystem #innovation #hinterland24 #vcinsights 

💫 The Hinterland of Things Conference 2024 once again highlighted the importance of tackling current challenges with innovative ideas and bold visions. During the panel "Enhancing competitiveness for family businesses: corporate venturing beyond the core business and business model," Andreas Sennheiser explored with host Anja Müller from Handelsblatt the essence of entrepreneurial courage. 🎧 When it comes to high-quality audio, Sennheiser is a name that resonates. This family-owned company from Wedemark-Wennebostel near Hanover has been a pioneer in the industry for 75 years, excelling in both consumer and professional audio gear. Even though Sennheiser has been around for 75 years, the company still has to prove itself in the global market. Sennheiser aims to be more than just a manufacturer of technology; they want to position themselves as an audio brand that also creates engaging content. 🙏 Against this backdrop, Andreas Sennheiser shared his most significant learning at the conference. He highlighted the importance of not just having a visionary idea but also the courage to bring that vision to life. The discussion emphasized the need for established companies to venture beyond their core businesses. Collaborations between corporates and startups can lead to groundbreaking innovations, leveraging the strengths of both worlds. 🎥 Dive deeper into the discussion and explore how entrepreneurial courage can transform the future of business. Watch the full panel on YouTube and gain insights on how to harness the power of vision and collaboration in the modern corporate landscape. 📅 Mark your calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0. #hinterland24 #insights #startups #innovation #familybusiness #growth #bielefeld