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Around 100 founders, representatives from business and politics, and investors came together at "FOUNDERS & INVESTORS" to exchange ideas about financing, innovation, and entrepreneurial perspectives.
The event was organized by MakerPort and Gründungswerft , who began by presenting their work and services for the regional startup scene.
Greetings: Courage, innovation and moving forward together
The event began with greetings from politics, science and business:
Dr. Alexander Badrow, Mayor of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund , emphasized the importance of Dock 1 as a location for innovation and drew a vivid comparison:
"Founding a company is like building ships."
A city, too, is in a certain way a "startup" – with similar challenges, development processes and questions about the future.
Dr. Ralph Sonntag, Rector of Stralsund University of Applied Sciences , emphasized that innovation originates in people's minds – even in structurally weaker regions. New business ideas today arise primarily at the intersection of different industries. Universities are not only anchors but also the driving force behind regional innovation. To further strengthen Stralsund as a startup hub, a positive mindset and the collaboration of all stakeholders are essential.
Klaus-Jürgen Strupp, President of the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce , emphasized the region's strength, but also called for greater dynamism and solidarity. Another key issue is business succession: 44,000 business owners in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone are over 55 years old.
Financing startups: Insights from practice
Several successful companies presented their financing strategies and experiences in keynote speeches.
COLDPLASMATECH GmbH
Dr. Carsten C. Mahrenholz described the journey from initial product development with the support of business angels, through private investors, to strategic partners for seed funding. The company evolved from a single product to a comprehensive product platform and now also operates as a service provider.
Hypros GmbH
Tobias Gebhardt spoke about the spin-off from Stralsund University of Applied Sciences and coined the phrase: "Life is a pitch." Early-stage investors and venture capital firms accompanied the company on its journey. The crucial factor, he emphasized, is to always think ahead:
"What will destroy my business model in the next five to ten years?" – a thought that Axel Springer also posed with a similar question.
Given increasing price pressure, it is important to develop platform models that offer more than just a single product.
ZASTA GmbH
Sven Schannak presented the company's development: founded in 2019, a highly regarded appearance on "Die Höhle der Löwen" (the German version of "Shark Tank") in 2021 – without a deal. A second round of financing followed in 2023, along with a consolidation phase. After launching as a web application, an app was later developed to further simplify tax returns.
Investor panel: What investors really expect
The subsequent investor panel discussion included:
- Annemarie Milke (ESB Invest)
- Johannes Dahl (MBG MV)
- Franz Neumann (East Works)
- Lukas Fiedler (tokenize.it)
- Martin Schwarz (GENIUS Venture Capital)
A key takeaway: Fundraising is like selling. You have to be found and actively work towards that goal.
Platforms like LinkedIn play a crucial role in making founders visible and discoverable to investors.
At the same time, the discussion touched on why many startups leave the region: While networks exist, markets sometimes develop more slowly – starting a business is often easier elsewhere.
- Present the business model clearly and understandably.
- A strong, dedicated team and strategic partners
- Highlight the societal impact
- Understanding that investors also have (and must have) an eye on exit prospects and successes.
- Show consistency in the business idea
Pitching competition “Heaven of the Seagulls”
A particular highlight was the pitching competition "Heaven of the Seagulls".
Twelve startups presented their business ideas in three minutes each to an audience and investors.
Those present were:
- XelerateVR – omnidirectional treadmill for a fully immersive experience
- NOX AAL Technologies GmbH – Key management for smart door locks
- Artplaner UG – International Artist Platform
- h_OURs – Community exchange of services and goods
- Preling – App for self-reflection and prevention of loneliness
- PlantaMeer – Antibiotics from native medicinal plants
- Betaport Systems – Circular and scalable construction
- Matereal – Transparency about pollutants in building materials
- Cranelog Solution – Asset Lifecycle Management: Smart support for crane technology
- Fredis – Child-friendly shower for every bathroom
- Ready AI – Efficient call organization through AI agents
- Eino World – Knowledge platform for collective know-how
The audience voted for the winner by applause. In an extremely close vote, Anke Parson and Betaport Systems emerged victorious.
The diversity and innovative strength of the presented projects impressively demonstrated the potential that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern holds.
Networking and new perspectives
The subsequent networking session provided an opportunity to make contacts, explore ideas in greater depth, and initiate new collaborations. For some participants, this evening was likely more than just an event – it may well have been the first step towards a successful funding round.
FOUNDERS & INVESTORS #3 has once again demonstrated that the region possesses innovative strength, entrepreneurial spirit, and a willingness to invest. The crucial task now is to collectively harness this energy and carry it forward.
