There is now a central point of contact for anyone with a business idea: the university's start-up and innovation centre. Director Dr Petra Buchholz talks about the centre's goals and how a culture of creativity is being created on campus.
What goals are you pursuing with the start-up and innovation centre?
Buchholz: We want to increase the number of start-ups from the university and its surroundings. But in addition to this quantitative goal, we are of course also pursuing qualitative goals - such as establishing a start-up culture on campus and networking with all those interested in starting a business in the region.
How do you intend to achieve this?
Buchholz: First of all, we need to address people interested in founding a company and motivate them to develop ideas. The aim is to discuss and implement the ideas. We have planned three groups of measures for this. Firstly, marketing for the topic of start-ups: Via our online channels such as the Start-up and Innovation Centre website, our Facebook fan page, via posters and flyers and various other campaigns. Secondly, our events bring together start-up multipliers and their expertise: These include the start-up café, the Summer School Plus, excursions and business plan competitions. And thirdly, we advise and coach all those who have a start-up idea in our VentureLab Plus.
What exactly do you do when students approach you with a start-up idea?
Buchholz: We find out what stage the idea is at. If it is an initial sketch, we encourage them to create a concept with components such as product description, strategy, sales, business model and business plan. The next step is the question of financing. Here we provide advice on funding. We also try to help when there are questions about conditions with investors - for example, on company valuation, which is about how many company shares founders give to an investor for a certain capital contribution. We also provide support in the search for co-operation partners from the business world or other suitable team members. And last but not least, we try to prevent founders from making typical start-up mistakes.
What mistakes are these?
Buchholz: For example, an unclear business model, i.e. the question of how turnover is to be generated, or not having a well thought-out sales strategy.
"Starting a business" has been a topic at the university since 2005. What can you build on with the Start-up and Innovation Centre?
Buchholz: On the activities of Prof. Nicolai's Chair of Entrepreneurship, which supervised around 150 start-up projects in the EXIST III programme. We are also continuing established event formats such as the aforementioned Start-up Café or the Summer School Plus. Last but not least, we are focussing on personnel continuity. We have been able to recruit Christian Horneber as head of the VentureLab and start-up coach. Horneber previously worked at the Chair of Entrepreneurship.
You want to develop a vibrant start-up culture on campus. What should this look like?
Buchholz: For us, a vibrant start-up culture means that creativity and entrepreneurial independence become part of the campus. It comes about through many factors: through meeting places and events, through innovative ideas and visionary founders - who have the courage to be self-employed.
