Soft Landing Indo-German Startup Opportunities
29.04.2024
Ana Beatriz Benatti
Backstage
On the 19th and 20th of March, the "Soft Landing - Indo-German Startup Opportunities" was organised by KIT-Gründerschmiede, DWIH New Delhi and the Entrepreneurship Hub.
The programme is available below for INNOVATORS CONNECT TANDEM 2023 and the KIT-Gründerschmiede played a leading role in this project.
The aim of the virtual event via Zoom was to introduce Indian start-ups to the German ecosystem and support them in entering the German and European markets. Up to 16 Indian participants took part in the intensive dialogue.
Day 1: Introduction and networking
The first day of the Boot Camp started with a welcome and introduction of the partners by Ralf Stüber from KIT-Gründerschmiede and Andreas Kleinn from EnTechnon. Gisa Siegmund from BW_i then gave an impressive presentation on the opportunities that the “Land of Innovation and Ideas” – Baden-Württemberg – offers to start-ups and how they can successfully establish themselves there.
This was followed by interactive sessions with European start-ups. Yogesh Khedar from Autrik and Stephanie Pfeil-Coenen from Phaeosynth shared their valuable experiences and answered questions from the participants, resulting in a lively exchange and valuable networking opportunities.
Day 2: Investors and networks
The second day began with a presentation by Sabine Dietlmeier on the support available to start-ups from the city of Karlsruhe. Her session “Living and working in Karlsruhe” offered practical tips on how the city can contribute to the success of business ideas. Her personal commitment to Indo-German relations deserves special mention.
Lena Esseln from Start2 then explained how companies can expand globally, followed by Dr Eric Braun from KIT-Gründerschmiede, who provided important information on financing start-ups through venture capital in a scientific context.
Afterwards, Floria Stumpe from medicalvalues and Mohammad Bahar, founder of Biotech and Material Science Start-ups, led intensive discussions and exchanges with the participants. The day ended with a wrap-up and feedback session, allowing participants to share their impressions and learning experiences.
Conclusion
The two-day Soft Landing provided a comprehensive platform for aspiring entrepreneurs from India to gain in-depth insights and concrete support for the German and European markets. The combination of specialised lectures and direct exchange with European start-ups enabled the participants to make valuable contacts and gain practical knowledge for their entrepreneurial ventures. The event underlined the importance of international cooperation and was an important step towards fostering collaboration between the German and Indian startup ecosystems.
