Interview with the Wacken founder: Mr. Heavy Metal is investing in this startup

Saturday 20th March 2021

Interview with the Wacken founder
Mr. Heavy Metal is investing in this startup

In 1990 Holger Hübner founded the heavy metal openair Wacken together with Thomas Jensen. With that he made it to the top of the Festival Olympus. Now Mr. Heavy Metal has invested in the start-up "Better at home", which helps old people to remodel their homes in an age-appropriate manner.

Heavy metal and a startup that helps seniors – how does that fit together?

Holger Hübner: It's just a huge topic and, well, we're no longer young people either. I was born in 1966. You have to, let's say, deal with the subject. And, we always think this way: with our festival we humans do something good because it makes them happy. And with models like "better at home" you can also help older people and make them happy. I think that goes well together.

How do you mean to make you happy?

Holger Huebner

(Photo: picture alliance / Eibner press photo)

"Better at home" helps people to age with dignity at home and not have to go to a nursing home. This has now become particularly clear in the pandemic, when all of a sudden there were restrictions on access to nursing homes. Nobody was allowed in and the residents were no longer allowed out. But if they live in their own home, they can be visited and helped. In addition, "better at home" makes it possible for people who do not have enough money to remodel their home. The boys call this the all-round carefree package, they accompany, for example, care insurance subsidies and take care of it for the people.

Nursing has been an issue for a long time. Is a startup like "better at home" a reaction to that?

Yes, I think so. We have to take a look at the demographic structure, because we need ideas on how older people can participate better in life in the future. Some want to go to a residence. My father-in-law, for example, just wanted more company. Fortunately, there are simply several models and, above all, there is the necessary support in Germany. And ideas like "better at home" can of course still improve a lot. Especially in the country like here in Wacken.

What do you mean?

Many people have their own homes here. And with "better at home" a pretty good team that plans you exactly how you can remodel your own apartment or house – and also relieves you of the work with the care insurance. I've only been with it for two months now, but I can already see how much it helps people. And when you look at nursing homes, there is another problem.

Which one

They are really, really expensive. When I look at this on my father-in-law, that's really no snapper. And you often have to ask yourself, is the management accordingly? Is the food accordingly? For the money you have to pay a month, you can already afford a condominium.

Or remodel his apartment or house.

I agree. It's actually amazing that no one has really looked at it before. Not even the craftsmen. Although, they are mostly busy anyway. But that's really great, you can help older people that they can do a lot on their own. And then maybe they don't have to go to the home.

Is the return also luring with such investments?

You mean, is that where the money is tempting? No, I wouldn't say that. This is about something else. If you do things out of conviction, then there are other things than coal. With "better at home" I just believe in the vision and I hope that we will reach as many people as possible with it and, as I said, make as many people as possible happy.

That sounds a bit like: Having been successful all your life and now investing in startups as a hobby. Is that so?

No, of course it's not a hobby. Right now in the situation we are in. Many industries are down. Also in the event area. That's not exactly great. But we also have a large network through our festival. Craftsmen, for example, who can and want to work. We can mediate and help. And "better at home" isn't the only company I've invested in.

Which one else?

It's called "RetroBrain" and it develops video games for people with dementia. Dementia is the new widespread disease.

How do you come into contact with such companies?

In the case of "better at home" it was a coincidence. A buddy pointed it out to me. And I just found the idea very exciting, I liked the team. I thought something was going on.

Bastian Hosan spoke to Holger Hübner

The interview was first published by Business Punk.