The start-up centre of the University of Paderborn "garage33" and the "Center for Entrepreneurship" (CFE) of the University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld (FH Bielefeld) together with the VerbundVolksbank OWL call for the annual idea competition "CALL FOR IDEAS". The winners not only expect prize money of up to 1,500 euros, they also get the opportunity to realise their ideas with the support of the two business start-up centres. The aim of the competition is to further promote the development of innovative business ideas in the region. With the CFE as a new cooperation partner, the players hope to reach even more potential participants from all over OWL.
To participate, interested parties from the greater OWL region can submit an idea paper on two DIN A4 pages alone or in a team by 25 April. In addition to the business idea, the benefits, the market and the feasibility should be presented. It does not matter whether the idea comes from the product, service or research area. The social and societal added value flows into the evaluation of all ideas.
All participants receive professional feedback and can thus put the feasibility of their concept to the test. However, only the best teams will be allowed to present their idea to a top-class jury at the big pitch final on 30 June. "Due to the current situation, this year's final will probably be a digital format. Similar to last year, we will stream live from garage33. We hope that next year we can all come together again on the premises of VerbundVolksbank OWL. Because the relaxed networking between finalists and entrepreneurs from the region is the real heart of the event," says Carola Pense, event manager of the Technology Transfer and Start-up Centre at the University of Paderborn (TecUP).
Denis Breuckner from the three-member team "FERN.LICHT", which was able to secure first place in the final of the CALL FOR IDEAS last year with an idea for the digitalisation of construction site warning lights, sums up: "The interest after the Call for Ideas was great and we received so much positive feedback that we had our previously made assumptions confirmed. Suddenly, events rolled over: Companies and authorities contacted us to find out more, the WDR wanted to shoot a TV feature about us. For us it was super exciting and it gave us the necessary motivation. The competition also showed us the potential of our idea.
Further information on registration, the procedure, evaluation criteria and conditions of participation can be found at: https://www.tecup.de/call-for-ideas/.
Carola Pense, Technology Transfer and Start-up Centre of the University of Paderborn, Fon: 05251-60 4947, E-Mail: carola.pense(at)upb.de
