HARZ Startups is supported and driven by a team of six, led by Prof Dr Andrea Heilmann, Dean of the Department of Automation and Computer Science at Harz University of Applied Sciences, and Prof Dr Lutz Göcke, Professor of Digital Management in Nordhausen. "Our vision is a start-up ecosystem in the Harz region - across the borders of the three federal states," emphasises Andrea Heilmann and explains: "We want to connect founders and those interested in starting a business with all relevant players and help them gain visibility across the region." Lutz Göcke adds: "The Harz region has undiscovered potential that goes far beyond its impressive nature. We believe in the many creative minds in the Harz and the power of a community. Together, we want to develop innovative ideas to strengthen the economic power and attractiveness of the entire region."

Supporters of the project include organisations from both universities as well as the Magdeburg and Nordhausen Chambers of Industry and Commerce and EIN HARZ GmbH.

"Since the start of the project in April, we have already been able to organise several workshops with HARZ Startups with over 30 founders. In addition, the first Harz start-up round table and the first pitch night [editor's note: presentation of business ideas in short slots and subsequent evaluation by a jury] with participants from all three federal states were a complete success," reports project manager Lisa Heyde. She is the operational manager of HIKE, the startup incubator at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. At HARZ Startups, she is responsible for event organisation as well as being the contact person and networker for founders from the southern Harz region. In the northern part of the Harz region, Pauline Kraft (HS Harz) is the contact person for the start-up teams.

Philipp Haberkorn, founder of ex animo Media and also an alumnus of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, says of HARZ Startups: "'You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. - As a young founder in the Harz region, it's not very easy to meet like-minded people. Harz Startups is a real enrichment for the up-and-coming start-up scene in the Harz region. The exchange between us founders and young entrepreneurs is inspiring and very valuable. The resulting networks with experienced entrepreneurs and VC investors are just as valuable. I look forward to every joint event and all joint projects!"

The well-known venture capital provider, bm|t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen, is also enthusiastic about the commitment to promoting start-up activities in the region. "As a region with numerous universities and many bright minds, Thuringia still has untapped potential for exciting start-up ideas. Start-up initiatives such as HARZ Startups and the HIKE at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences can still achieve a great deal, particularly away from the larger conurbations - for example in the Harz region - and are extremely important as a catalyst. And bm|t is happy to be on board as an investor for start-ups with innovative business concepts and strong growth prospects," says Stephan Beier, Senior Investment Manager at bm|t.

The first highlight of the project was the Pitch Night on 22 July 2021, when four start-up teams from the region each had five minutes to present their idea to a three-member jury of experts. The winner was a solution for digitally determining soft skills as part of the application process. The jury prize was donated by venture capitalist bmp Ventures and includes participation in their Portfolio Day. There, the team has the opportunity to network with renowned financiers and other partners.

Regular, publicly accessible events and round-table discussions on start-up stories are planned for the future. Current event information can be found at www.harz-startups.de/veranstaltungen.

HARZ Startups is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as part of the model project "Best Practice Startup Ecosystem in the New Federal States".