German founder and entrepreneur days
The German Founders and Entrepreneurs Days (deGUT) are one of the most important trade fairs for self-employment and entrepreneurship in Germany with around 150 exhibitors from all over Germany. The fair takes place annually in Berlin. In addition to exhibitors, there is a free seminar, workshop and stage program as well as individual advice and forums: Experts and advisors from banks, business associations, chambers and other institutions provide information about everything you need to know and consider when starting your own business.
history
The first GründerTage took place in 1985 at the ICC in Berlin. Ten years later, the regionally designed event moved to the Siemens Forum via a stopover at the TU Berlin. From 1992 to 2007 the states of Berlin and Brandenburg organized the trade fair together, and since 1998 together with M&A Messe- und Expositiongesellschaft Lübeck mbH in the form of a PPP model.
In 1998, the Founders Days took place for the first time under the new name "German Business Founders Days". The special exhibition presented there and the award of the “Fair of Heroes” met with great approval and has since been continued every year as the “Founder Champions” competition. This competition will be continued from 2007 onwards under the name "KfW Entrepreneurship Award GründerChampions".
From 2008 to 2010 the trade fair for self-employment and entrepreneurship in Germany was held in the STATION-Berlin , the former post station at Gleisdreieck in Berlin. In 2009, 5642 participants took advantage of the fair. From 2011 to 2015 the fair took place in the former Berlin-Tempelhof Airport . The deGUT has been taking place in the ARENA Berlin in Treptow since 2016 with around 6000 participants .
The fair
Banks, ministries, technology and start-up centers, chambers, business development agencies, the Federal Employment Agency, professional associations, insurance companies, further training institutions as well as management consultancies and tax auditing companies present themselves on approximately 6500 m² of exhibition space.
In addition to this exhibition, deGUT offers a free seminar and workshop program as well as individual advice for those interested in starting a business, young or established entrepreneurs, students or freelancers. The organizers of the Berlin-Brandenburg business plan competition (BPW) are designing the seminar program at deGUT.
In free seminars, workshops and forums, speakers from theory and practice impart entrepreneurial knowledge. Individual advice gives those interested the opportunity to get individual advice from experts on questions relating to the topics of start-ups, financing, corporate succession or law.
The seminar program is supplemented by a stage program on the market square. Lectures and discussions take place here parallel to the seminars - all about the questions that concern the founders. The supporting program offers presentations by successful entrepreneurs, discussions and lectures.
The competition
As part of deGUT, KfW Bankengruppe awards the “KfW Entrepreneurship Award” (formerly “GründerChampions”). A successful start-up company is sought from each federal state and awarded the state winner. They then have the chance to be recognized as a national winner. In addition, a special prize and an audience prize will be awarded to the participants. Companies from all sectors that are based in Germany, have existed for a maximum of five years and have successfully established themselves in the market, can apply. In 2018, prize money totaling 35,000 euros was awarded.
The applicants are selected by an experienced jury made up of representatives of the KfW banking group, politics, business, state development institutes and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It assesses the business idea and the way it is implemented. The creation and maintenance of jobs and training positions as well as social responsibility and social action are also decisive for the award. The title “Kfw Entrepreneurship Award” (or previously “KfW GründerChampion”) is a quality award for young companies. With the award of the award, KfW would like to honor the successful founders as well as to contribute to the fact that the step into self-employment receives more public recognition.
The award ceremony for the winners will take place at the opening event of deGUT in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the evening before the fair.
Organizer and partner
The deGUT has been organized by the Investitionsbank Berlin and the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg since 2008 . DeGUT is funded by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises of the State of Berlin and the Ministry for Economics and Energy of the State of Brandenburg with funds from the federal states and the European Social Fund. The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier, is traditionally the patron of the fair. Other partners are KfW Bankengruppe, the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW) and Wall GmbH. The trade fair is carried out by the trade fair partner pcma gmbh. PEPERONI Werbe- und PR-Agentur GmbH has been responsible for deGUT's communication campaign since the end of 2008.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c KfW : KfW Award Reasons In: kfw.de. Retrieved November 12, 2017 .