PickWerk GmbH, a member of the Mobility & Logistics Cluster, took the stage at the third Makers’ CLUB 2022 on June 20.
In addition, our member Cynefy GmbH had the opportunity to present itself during the Makers’ Pitch.
For five years, the Digitale Gründerinitiative Oberpfalz (DGO) has been a key cornerstone for advancing digitalization in the region. With great enthusiasm, it drives innovative ideas from startups forward, supports young entrepreneurs in building their businesses, and offers optimal access to a unique startup ecosystem. This was on full display last Monday evening, June 20, at the third Makers’ CLUB 2022—one of many milestones in the organization’s success story, as the DGO celebrated its 5th anniversary! Success stories, Makers’ pitches, and a get-together provided plenty of inspiration, excitement, and lively discussion among the numerous attendees in a festive atmosphere, complete with a colorful buffet and extravagant DGO goodies.
Joined on stage by numerous guests of honor—including Dr. Jürgen Helmes, CEO of the Regensburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Oberpfalz/Kelheim, and Dr. Thomas Burger, Regensburg City Council member—Alexander Rupprecht, Managing Director of TechBase, and Prof. Dr. Veronika Fetzer, Project Manager of the Digital Startup Initiative and Head of Startup Support, presented an impressive overview in their opening remarks: To date, 250 supported startups—backed by 64 sponsors—have made it to the top of the successful startup scene with the help of funding programs provided by strong regional partner companies. At this point, the DGO’s extraordinary commitment was duly recognized as a benefit for all local tenants: “Life only comes alive when people talk to one another! And you can always find that energy at TechBase!” said Dr. Burger.
Courageous teams, a close-knit network, and growing ties to universities all help shape the arduous process of starting a business. In five-minute on-stage presentations, successful entrepreneurs Dr. Michael Mayer of Curicosmo, David Ofner of Evanium Healthcare, Jens Eckberg of Futuro Farming, Dr. Torsten Winkler of Magana Med, and finally Rafael Psiuk of Pickwerk shared with us just how much passion it takes to even take the risk of starting a company—and what it means to be a founder.
Whether it was a simple idea that came to mind over a cold beer after work, chance participation in startup competitions (such as the StartUP Factory) while still in college, or the simple desire to turn their passion into a career, all the founders went on to create their first prototypes, engage in lengthy consultations, and embark on a time-consuming search for the right business angels. “Trying something new doesn’t just require showing courage and expecting immediate success—it’s more like a rollercoaster ride with plenty of unexpected hurdles,” as speaker David Ofner put it. Sometimes a second fresh start is necessary to broaden one’s entrepreneurial perspective, Dr. Torsten Winkler went on to explain, saying: “The goal is to talk to everyone and anyone, because communication is what makes the product—that’s why we’ve adopted the term ‘magana,’ which means ‘talking to one another’!” This was the insider tip from all the young, up-and-coming teams: to build contacts and enter the market early, because market insight is at least as important as technical expertise.
The Makers’ Pitches by the founders of Cynefy GmbH, Ingenieurbüro Springs GmbH, Wolken-Antrieb, and Hackaburgshowed us what it takes to turn a vision into a success. In just one minute, each young entrepreneur managed to impress the audience with their business idea. The loudest applause went to Max from Hackaburg, who thereby secured the feature article in the business newspaper—the traditional grand prize of every Pitch Night at the legendary Makers’ CLUB.