Startups make a pilgrimage to Bielefeld
The future is in the hinterland
18.06.2024, 12:00
East Westphalia-Lippe is sometimes disparagingly called the “hinterland”. This is precisely why the “Hinterland of Things” conference takes place once a year in Bielefeld. In an interview, founder Dominik Gross explains why it is exactly the right place to connect startups and medium-sized companies
Once a year, it is not Berlin but the city of Bielefeld in East Westphalia-Lippe, with a population of 350,000, that is the place to be for founders. The region is sometimes disparagingly referred to as the “hinterland”. But this is precisely where a lot of economic power lies: well-known family businesses and hidden champions are based here and have what many founders lack: money. Startups, in turn, have what traditional companies lack: ideas for digital transformation. These two worlds meet at the “Hinterland of Things” conference. 2,500 participants attended this year.
The German economy, whether medium-sized or startup, is currently facing many challenges: high production costs, a growing shortage of skilled workers and digitalization. Dominik Gross is the host of the “Hinterland of Things” conference and wants to prove that solutions are better found together.
Gross is CEO and co-founder of the Founders Foundation, a non-profit organization that educates, supports and connects founders. It is building a B2B startup ecosystem and hosts “Hinterland of Things.”
In the podcast “Startup – Now completely honestly” he reveals why cooperation between medium-sized companies and startups is more important than ever, what role artificial intelligence plays in this and what impact the current political environment and the aftermath of the European elections have on Germany’s economy.
With Dominik Gross Janna Linke spoke. The conversation has been shortened and smoothed for better comprehensibility. You can listen to it in full in the ntv podcast “Startup – now completely honest” listen to.
What is hidden behind the dazzling facade of the startup scene? Janna Linke knows. In the podcast “Startup – Now completely honestly” she takes a look behind the scenes of the startup scene every week and talks about topics that are currently making headlines. She classifies things and asks questions. Personally, honestly and with real added value. To do this, she speaks to personalities from the scene, experts and gives you the absolute all-round view. Together you will delve deep into the startup world.
“Startup – now completely honest” – the podcast with Janna Linke. On RTL+ and everywhere where podcasts are available: Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS feed