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156 Beiträge seit 2014 — Recaps, Interviews, Kooperationen und Neuigkeiten aus der Düsseldorfer Startup-Szene.
Six startups. Five minutes to pitch. Two winners. And one evening bringing Düsseldorf’s startup ecosystem together. On September 2, 2026, the StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch Series returns for its second qualifying round of the year. Once again, founders, investors, corporates and startup enthusiasts will
The Unicorn Pitch Grand Final 2026 once again showed why it has become one of the most in-demand startup events in Düsseldorf. All 125 tickets were sold out well in advance, and requests kept coming even after capacity was reached. This level of demand reflects how strongly the format has establishe
Viele Gründer:innen hören früh den Rat: „Pack das doch direkt in eine Holding.“ Das klingt smart, strategisch und steuerlich attraktiv. Ganz falsch ist das nicht. Aber ganz richtig eben auch nicht. Eine Holding kann sinnvoll sein vor allem, wenn später ein Exit geplant ist und Erlöse nicht sofort pr
Last Unicorn Pitch of 2025 – Six Startups, Two Winners and Pizza On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, StartupDorf e.V. once again invited founders, investors and startup enthusiasts to Mindspace Düsseldorf for the next milestone of its Unicorn Pitch series – six startups, five minutes on stage, and one g
JUNE – The First Power Pitch (70+ Attendees, Built in Just 8 Weeks) With only eight weeks of preparation, StartupDorf and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, together with Heuking, launched the first Power Pitch. More than 70 attendees joined the inaugural edition – a clear sign that the regio
Am 2. Juli 2025 war es wieder soweit: Das StartupDorf lud zur ersten Vorrunde der Unicorn Pitch Series 2025/26 in den inspirierenden Community Space von Mindspace Düsseldorf ein. Sechs Startups traten vor einem gespannten Publikum gegeneinander an. Das Besondere: sie hatten nur fünf Minuten Zeit, um
2 minutes. No slides. Full attention. On June 11, 2025, we’re launching Ninja Pitch & Networking – a fast-paced new event format powered by StartupDorf and the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Campus Düsseldorf. Why a Pitch Format? Pitch events are more than competitions – they are performa
The StartupDorf Unicorn of the Year 2025: Christian Senfleben with Wellenpuls The Unicorn Pitch Grand Final 2025 was once again an evening full of energy, compelling ideas, and meaningful conversations. Five startups from North Rhine-Westphalia presented their ventures in front of the jury and audie
On November 20, 2024, the fourth and final round of the Unicorn Pitch Series 2024 took place. Once again, the Factory Campus in Düsseldorf served as the ideal venue, offering an open and inspiring atmosphere perfectly suited for this event. The evening began with a warm welcome from Hanns Tappen, Fo
Review: Unicorn Pitch – Third Round on September 4, 2024 On September 4, 2024, the third round of the Unicorn Pitch Series took place at Factory Campus, a familiar location and long-time supporter of StartupDorf. The evening began with warm greetings from Hanns Tappen, Founder and Chairman of Startu
Düsseldorf and Region Düsseldorf (administrative district) in Focus: Opportunities and Challenges for the Startup Ecosystem – The StartupDorf perspective, by Hanns Tappen The NRW Startup Report 2024 clearly shows that Düsseldorf and the Düsseldorf region are on a promising path to establish themselv
On July 3, 2024, the second round of the Unicorn Pitch Series took place at the office of our supporting member and event sponsor HEUKING. This event had around 60 participants and no chair was left empty. Unicorn Pitch in the Female Founder Version at HEUKING The evening began with brief greetings
On May 15, 2024, StartupDorf kicked off the new Unicorn Pitch Series in Düsseldorf with an impressive opening event. Co-hosted by Revotion, the 2022 Unicorn Pitch Grand-Final winner and an active member of StartupDorf e.V., this event was the first qualifying round of four, aiming to find the finali
The StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch Series The Düsseldorf startup pitch competition enters its fourth year. In its fourth consecutive year, the StartupDorf e.V. Unicorn Pitches will continue with four events spread throughout the year. In May, July, September, and November, digital startups from all over
3rd Unicorn Pitch Grand Final On March 6, 2024, the 3rd Unicorn Pitch Grand Final took place, marking an exclusive and unforgettable finale event for all participants. StartupDorf invited its members, key influencers of the startup scene, successful founders, and entrepreneurs to a special event tha
🎉 Join us for the Unicorn Pitch on September 28th! 🎉 Where? At the Wacom Experience Center in Düsseldorf’s Media Harbor. When? The doors open at 7 pm. Hosted by? The event will be led by Hanns Tappen. 🚀 Why should you attend? 🚀 At the Unicorn Pitch by StartupDorf e.V., you have…
StartupDorf – A Voice for Startups: Why Your Experience and Opinion on Coworking Spaces Matters The startup scene in Düsseldorf and its surroundings is growing, and we at StartupDorf e.V. are proud to have been an active part of this ecosystem from the very beginning, 10 years ago. Since our incepti
The Collective Expo Appearance On August 17th, the moment arrived: The Startup Club, StartupDorf e.V., showcased itself with an impressive 322.9 sq ft joint booth at the Digital Demo Day (DDD) in Düsseldorf. Organized by the digihub Düsseldorf/Rheinland, a close partner of StartupDorf, the day promi
StartupDorf Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary: A Decade of Innovation, Community, and Growth Honoring a decade of community, collaboration, and catalyzing change Looking back, it all began with a tiny seed in a grassroots initiative. StartupDorf planted that seed, not quite knowing what it would grow i
Reliving the Spark of the Startup Scene in Düsseldorf A nostalgic evening at Seifen Horst: The birthplace of the first StartupDorf Founder’s Roundtable A reunion with a special charm On August 2, 2023, promptly at 7 p.m., StartupDorf’s retro startup regulars’ table – the “Gründerstammtisch” took pla
Shape the future of innovation! Grow with the vibrant StartupDorf Hub in Düsseldorf and the whole Rhine-Ruhr region! Passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship? Ready to team up with the dynamic StartupDorf crew to craft the next wave of disruptive projects and initiatives? We’re on the hunt f
Sometimes it’s the small seeds that end up growing the biggest trees. That’s how it was with StartupDorf, which was originally launched as a community for founders in 2013. Today, 10 years later, we can proudly look back on an impressive track record and a vibrant and growing community. Each one of
Hey StartupDorf Family! Ten fantastic years have passed, and we’re going back to our roots. Do you remember our very first public meetings on the sidewalk in front of Seifen Horst? How the roundtable has grown over time, from small and exquisite gatherings to 115 smashing events that have shaped the
As in previous years, StartupDorf is not represented at the Startup Woche Düsseldorf itself, as we do not want to compete with our association / club members. Exceptions, of course, prove the rule: exceptions were the DUS Highflyer, which we organised for Düsseldorf Airport and the City of Düsseldor
Am 3. März 2023 ging es für ausgewählte Gründerinnen in NRW hoch hinaus! Denn das StartupDorf e.V., die Women Entrepreneurs in Science und Climb & Rise luden ein zum „Climb & Rise Leadership Workshop – Female Founder NRW-Edition“. Gemeinsam wollte man zeigen, wie die richtige Umgebung und gezielte I
Gemeinsam für mehr Inklusion in der Start-up-Community: Rückblick auf den 111. Gründerstammtisch vom StartupDorf e.V. Am 1. Februar 2023 fand der 111. Gründerstammtisch des StartupDorf e.V. statt und stand ganz im Zeichen von Inklusion und Diversität in der Arbeitswelt und der Gründerszene. Rund 50
On March 1, the 2nd Unicorn Pitch Grand Final took place – an exclusive and unforgettable final event for all involved. StartupDorf invited its members, multipliers of the startup scene and successful founders to a very special event that offered the best of pitch competition, fine dining and networ
As the Unicorn Pitch Grand Final approaches, we are pleased to thank a number of sponsors who are also members of the association – StartupDorf e.V.. What they all have in common is their commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the startup community in Düsseldorf and beyond. We ar
At the upcoming “Unicorn Pitch Grand Final” event hosted by StartupDorf, the jury panel will consist of a distinguished team of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, technologists and lawyers. The Jurys’ diverse backgrounds and expertise will allow them to evaluate the pitches from different perspecti
Düsseldorf, NRW, February 22, 2023 – – StartupDorf’s highly anticipated “Unicorn Pitch Grand Final” is set to take place on March 1st, 2023. The event will see five startups from all over NRW competing for the prestigious title of “StartupDorf Unicorn of the Year”. The competition, which is now in i
Your way to the guest list for … The Unicorn Pitch Grand Final 2023 – the exclusive closing event of the Unicorn Pitch Series 2022. … is via your registration on Eventbrite (priolink.com/gf23). We ask for your understanding for access to our guest list: StartupDorf is an open place. However, some fo
Don’t miss. On December 7, the last Gründerstammtisch (Founders’ Roundtable) of the year will take place. The motto of the last StartupDorf Stammtisch of the year is “Rock & Climb Your Business”! One thing is for sure, after this Stammtisch we can start the new year creatively, courageously and succ
The Unicorn Pitch, the startup pitch format of StartupDorf e.V., once again invited three exciting startups to Wacom in Düsseldorf’s Media Harbor on November 2. This time all seats in the cinema of the Wacom Experience Center were taken. Visitors who couldn’t get a seat were spread out in the corrid
Don’t miss it. On November 2, the last Unicorn Pitch of this year will start. The winning startup will automatically qualify for the StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch Grand Final, which will take place in spring 2023. Register now via Eventbrite, as the number of space is limited. Special feature this time:
The Unicorn Pitch, the pitch format of StartupDorf e.V., had once again invited three exciting startups to pitch on October 5. Although this time not all seats in the cinema of the Wacom Experience Center were filled, the event did not lose any of its quality on the audience side. This became especi
With your vote you have at least 2% of the total voting result in your hand, maybe even more if we have not reached the maximum possible number of visitors of 50 people. You realize that your vote counts for a lot. That’s why we thought that sometimes it’s good to have evaluation criteria at…
On 29.9. the German Startup Monitor 2022 was published. As a member of the DSM partner network, the answers of our Startup Association members also provide important study insights. We have now collected a few voices from our founders who refer to 3 DSM findings as examples. In our opinion, this giv
Am 5. Oktober ab 19 Uhr heißt es wieder “Pitch your Startup” beim StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch im Düsseldorfer Medienhafen. Anmeldung erforderlich. Limitierte Plätze. Spannend wird es auch dieses Mal, da in dieser Session ermittelt wird, welches Startup sich für das Unicorn Pitch Grand Final in 2023 qu
The Unicorn Pitch, an event format of StartupDorf e.V., was able to offer the audience three highly exciting startup pitches in front of a full house at the Wacom Experience Center on July 31. From AI to data services to education, very exciting startup business models with correspondingly high pitc
Am 31. August ab 19 Uhr heißt es wieder “Pitch your Startup” beim StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch im Düsseldorfer Medienhafen. Anmeldung erforderlich. Limitierte Plätze. Spannend wird es auch dieses Mal, da in dieser Session ermittelt wird, welches Startup sich für das Unicorn Pitch Grand Final in 2023 qu
Meilenstein des StartupDorf erreicht. Der 100. Gründerstammtisch konnte am 2. März 2022 gefeiert werden. Ein Rückblick auf das Jubiläum. Im Film festgehalten ein paar Impressionen und O-Töne vom Abend Am 02. März feierten wir den 100. Gründerstammtisch zusammen mit ausgewählten Startup-GründerInnen,
Der 100. StartupDorf Gründerstammtisch am 2. März, war ein wunderbares Fest mit tollen Gästen, spannenden Startup Pitches in einem wahnsinnig schönem Ambiente. Ein paar Impressionen. 100 Fotos. Pressemeldung. Foto-Credits: StartupDorf, Foto/Videograf: Manuel Peichl PRESSEINFORMATION – PRESSEMELDUNG
Das StartupDorf e.V. – ein Verein von Gründern für Gründer. Seit 2013 ist das in Düsseldorf beheimatete StartupDorf mit verschiedenen Events, wie dem Gründerstammtisch, ein bekannter Treffpunkt der Startup Szene an Rhein und Ruhr. Die im Ehrenamt organisierte Gründerinitiative vereint digitale
On December 1st, it’s that time again. We have both: Glühwein and Unicorn Pitches! To our great pleasure, the pitches will now again take place on site – Super7000. Best conditions for all founders who pitch and of course best conditions for the spectators who can get a complete picture of the start
On November 3, it’s that time again. For the fifth time this year, the StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch will take place. To our great pleasure, the pitches will now again take place on site – Super7000. Best conditions for all founders who pitch and of course best conditions for the spectators who can get
Dear Startup Friends! Last week we had an unintentional premiere. For the first time in 8 years, we had to cancel the planned Founder’s Roundtable, on Aug. 4, at very short notice and reschedule it for a new date, Aug. 11. Although the speakers and pitch candidates were all present, we could not get
In conversation with Ralph Carol – The interview was conducted by Hanns Tappen After the pitch is before the pitch. This, or similar, is how you can describe it in reference to sports competitions when you win as a startup at the StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch. After all, winning the series qualifies you
The topic of our Gründerstammtisch (Founders’ Roundtable) on June 2 is: Startups in cooperation with corporates – what does it actually look like in practice? Learn from the insights of practitioners on the topic of startups in collaboration with corporates and exchange digital ideas with other foun
In conversation with Melissa Günther – The interview was conducted by Hanns Tappen After the pitch is before the pitch. This, or similar, is how you can describe it in reference to sports competitions when you win as a startup at the StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch. After all, winning the series qualifies
The friendly startup pitch competition StartupDorf Unicorn pitches continue this summer. Two dates: July and August. On July 7 and August 4, three startups will have the chance to pitch their innovative concepts online in front of our audience of startup enthusiasts. Startups with digital innovation
Du bist noch auf der Suche nach dem perfekten Co-Founder? Save the Date! Gemeinsam mit dem WES Team der Universität Wuppertal und dem Fe:male Innovation Hub bringen wir am 30. Juni um 17.30 Uhr Menschen zusammen, die Großes bewegen wollen! Anmeldung Fragen zum Event können gerne an Eugenia Gagin (Md
Meet new StartupDorf club members on May 5. The startups Bounce Experts and Beautinda as well as our new supporting member OVHCloud will each introduce themselves in 15 minutes. Register here. From East to West could be the subtitle. If you classify our member startups Beautinda from Essen and Bounc
In conversation with Frederik Dürr – The interview was conducted by Hanns Tappen After the pitch is before the pitch. This, or similar, is how you can describe it in reference to sports competitions when you win as a startup at the StartupDorf Unicorn Pitch. After all, winning the series qualifies y
Recently I was asked how we run our pitch event and if we can provide some more info besides our registration page. We can! In this post I clarify the questions: What is the Unicorn Pitch? Which startups can participate in the Unicorn Pitch? When and where does the Unicorn Pitch take place? Is the…
Recently I was asked about the topic of scale-up. I would like to share my thoughts on this with you today in a few lines and try to explain A) what a scale-up is and how it can be differentiated from a startup and B) which team-related reasons can lead to a startup being more…
What product do you offer and who is it for? I offer internationals and expats the opportunity to easily and quickly settle into their new lives here in Germany. Life in Düsseldorf offers a number of free resources for our readers, but also offer an extensive welcome program that helps take them thr
Am 3. Februar 2021 fand der 89. Gründerstammtisch statt. Neben der Vorstellung von zwei neuen Vereinsmitgliedern waren wir sehr gespannt auf die Nutzung einer neuen Eventplattform, die von einem weiteren ganz neuen Vereinsmitglied bereitgestellt wurde. Der heutige Beitrag streift auch thematisch die
Welches Produkt bietet ihr an und für wen? Wir bieten mit der accono GmbH Sensor- und Individuelle Hardware-Lösungen für IoT/ Industrie 4.0-Anwendungen. Was ist euer Slogan, der euer Unternehmen und Team prägt? IoT Made Easy – wir wollen das Lösungen und Innovationen wieder einfach werden. Plug & Pl
Worum geht es bei deinem Unternehmen? Wir bieten mit gradar.com eine innovative, intuitive und skalierbare Software, die Unternehmen weltweit bei Stellenbewertung, Kompetenzmanagement und der Vergütungsanalyse unterstützt. Ende 2020 haben wir noch mit job-evaluation.net unser Produktangebot diversif
Interview mit der DERMANOSTIC Co-Founderin Dr. Alice Martin aus der StartupDorf Reihe 5+1 Fragen
Über die letzten Jahre hat sich zwischen den Machern vom StartupDorf und Silicon Luxembourg eine partnerschaftliche “startup-minded” Beziehung aufgebaut. Bei einem Keynotevortrag von Charles-Louis Machuron (Gründer von Silicon Luxembourg) während des Dorfhack am 11. April 2019 in Düsseldorf, entstan
In der 2. Umfrage geht es um die ersten Erfahrungen nach 2 Monaten “Lockdown”.
♥ 04.03.2020, ab 18.30 Uhr – Stammtisch No. 78 Diesmal: Digital Startups in the medical sector. ♥ Komm’ zur Sprechstunde Wir freuen uns darauf beim nächsten StartupDorf Gründerstammtisch Eugenia Gagin, Co-Founderin von DENTALHELD und Frederik Sterthoff, Founder von behoerdenarzt.de als Speaker begrü
Termine, Recaps und Neuigkeiten aus der Düsseldorfer Startup-Szene — etwa einmal im Monat, jederzeit abbestellbar.
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