EVC Venture Contest - NRW

Sponsors & Partners                                                              
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in the heart of Europe Geographically central position in Europe – 17,5 million people – gross state product: 582,1 billion euros (22 % of German GDP) – economic hub of Europe – region with the largest concentration of universities and research facilities in Europe: 71 universities, more than 50 research centres – among them 12 Max Planck institutes, 13 institutes of the Fraunhofer Society and 11 Leibniz institutes, 3 Helmholtz centres and 13 Johannes Rau research institutes all jointly funded by federal and state governments - and some 100 research facilities attached to universities.
  North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
Almost 150 million people live within about a 500-kilometer radius of the state capital, Düsseldorf. This represents a third of all consumers and 45 percent of the purchasing power in the EU. The largest cities are Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Essen and Duisburg. The most important metropolitan areas are the Ruhr Metropolis with 5.1 million inhabitants and the Rhineland with more than 3.0 million inhabitants. More foreign investments flow into the business location NRW than into any other German state: The economic center accounts for 29.9 percent of all foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. Some 18,000 international companies have already discovered the investment location and control their German or European operations from NRW.
               


Hosts
 
BioCampus Cologne with its property area of 254.000 square meters will be one of the largest biotechnology parks in Germany. BioCampus Cologne offers Life-Science companies a pre-financed infrastructure, S1 and S2 laboratory facilities ready for occupancy with associated office space and sufficient expansion possibilities. Utilization of the shared facilities, such as the representative conference center on the eleventh floor in one of the buildings on campus, the campus restaurant with catering services and the 24/7 security service, relieve the organizational and financial burden on the companies. 





 


Co - Host
The Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an institution financed by traders, merchants and private companies; statutory membership and fees enable it to represent the general interests of industry, trade and the service sectors. The CCI contacts government and public authorities, parliaments and courts. A dialogue that is beneficial for both sides.
For Startups the CCI offers a huge range of services: support in creating your business model or business plan, advice on how to cope with loan and other support programs, information on alternative ways like venture capital and crowdfunding to finance your business, consulting you in questions of growth ... Your startup matters are our business!
 


Partner 
Düsseldorf is the capital of North Rhine-Westfalia, Germany's most populous federal state and lies right in the heart of the European Market. 150 Million people live within a radius of 500 kilometres, representing 35 Percent of the European Union's total population. Düsseldorf offers a seamless infrastructure and quick access to the European markets via Düsseldorf International Airport. Currently 135 start-ups are located in Düsseldorf. Among them leading start-ups like Trivago, Auxmoney or Secusmart. The city is a leading trade fair venue and Germany's top telecommunications, fashion and life sciences location.


Silver Sponsor

  
NRW.BANK is the development bank for North Rhine-Westphalia. It essentially orients its equity products on the life cycle of the firms. Thus, the regional NRW.BANK.Seed Fund and the NRW.BANK.Kreativwirtschaftsfonds invigorate the early-phase funding in North Rhine Westphalia. Young high-tech firms are supported by funding of up to € 8 million via the NRW.BANK.Venture Fund. For businesses with above-average growth prospects and a convincing management team NRW.BANK provides contacts to potential private investors within the win NRW.BANK Business Angels Initiative. In addition, the NRW.BANK.Mittelstandsfonds and the NRW.BANK.Spezialfonds provide equity in the amount of € 1 to 7 million to growth intensive mid-cap companies in special funding and restructuring situations.  


Media Partner

    

StartupDorf is a local, grassroots and entrepreneur-led network to foster Düsseldorf startup eco-system. A hub and local community to access support to start and grow businesses and to connect with other startup founders. It is an open place for all startups, stakeholders, and interested persons.