Together with VerbundVolksbank OWL, garage33, the Paderborn University's start-up centre, is hosting the grand finale of the "Call for Ideas" competition for the eleventh time on Thursday, 26 June. The initiative is supported by the start-up centres of the partner universities, the "Center for Entrepreneurship" at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) and the "Campus Foundery OWL" at Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (TH OWL). A committee of experts has selected the most convincing entries from numerous submissions: From 6 p.m., the finalists will present their business ideas to a jury and compete for prize money totalling 3,000 euros, donated by VerbundVolksbank OWL. Admission is free, free tickets are available on the event page.
Eight teams present their innovative business ideas
The aim of the event is to promote young talent from the OWL region and offer them a platform to further develop their start-up ideas. The applicants were able to apply in advance with an idea paper in which they presented the core of their project, corresponding market potential and feasibility, among other things. Whether it was a product, a service or a research project - there were no limits to creativity. Anyone who also addressed a social or societal added value could secure bonus points. Eight final teams were selected from all the submissions and will now present their business ideas to an expert jury in the final before answering questions from the experts.
"We need courageous and creative founders to ensure the future viability and innovative capacity of our business location. As a regional network bank, it is important to us to support them as they take their first steps," emphasises Ansgar Käter, CEO of VerbundVolksbank OWL eG, and continues: "This is why we are organising the 'Call for Ideas' together with garage33 and its cooperation partners, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Campus Foundery OWL, for the eleventh time now. This successful event format has become very well established in the start-up scene and enables start-ups to present their ideas at an early stage and utilise the bank's SME network. I am sure that this year's final of the competition will once again offer many moments of inspiration." The audience can look forward to a varied evening: In addition to exciting start-up pitches, the event also offers the opportunity to talk to founders, jury members and network partners and to round off the evening in a relaxed atmosphere.
