Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) is offering young people a new platform to develop innovative ideas and bring them to market maturity. SWG is supporting start-ups with its GründerWerkStadt programme. SWG presented the concept behind it at a press event on 19 January.
The digital transformation is leaving its mark on the energy sector. It presents utility companies with new challenges and at the same time offers a wide range of opportunities. This is why comprehensive IT expertise is also becoming increasingly relevant for Stadtwerke Gießen. "We are facing up to the task that digitalisation brings with it and are now taking a further step into the future," explained Jens Schmidt, Commercial Director of Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG), at a press event on 19 January. Together with Technical Director Matthias Funk and Olaf Volkmer, Head of Energy Purchasing and Trading, he presented the GründerWerkStadt concept.
"We want to support young people with good ideas and help them to establish a business model on the market," explained Matthias Funk.
Ready for the market
The first step for the young founders in a so-called IdeenWerkStadt is to develop their initial ideas into a business model. They receive financial support for three months, can use the premises on the SWG site and benefit from the company's experience. "With a sophisticated concept, the start-ups then apply for the next phase, the actual 'GründerWerkStadt'. It offers the young men and women twelve months and all the necessary resources to work on their ideas and set up a company," explained Olaf Volkmer, who is responsible for the "IdeenWerkStadt" and "GründerWerkStadt" programmes at SWG. If the company is ultimately founded, Stadtwerke Gießen receives a share in it - in return for the financial support of the start-ups.
The premises of the "GründerWerkStadt" are located directly on the SWG works premises in Lahnstraße. For good reason, as Jens Schmidt emphasised: "This is where the entrepreneurial spirit and our very own strengths can come together to create something innovative." Apart from that, the physical proximity simplifies cooperation. "It's important to exchange ideas with each other and have face-to-face discussions, as this always gives rise to new ideas and solutions. We have been familiar with this principle at Stadtwerke Gießen for many decades. We already practise something similar as part of a long-standing cooperation with the local THM," added Matthias Funk.
An eye on future trends
In principle, any budding young entrepreneur can apply for a place in the "IdeenWerkStadt" or "GründerWerkStadt". "As far as the topics are concerned, we have deliberately kept the criteria very open, although the majority are likely to revolve around innovative IT solutions for the energy industry," explained Jens Schmidt. "But even if someone has a completely different great concept, for example in the areas of skilled labour recruitment, big data, knowledge management or security, there is a very good chance that we will shortlist the project," Matthias Funk assured us.
To work on their ideas and make them ready for the market, the start-ups need suitable premises. These are currently being created on the upper floor of the Umspannwerk West: a 180-square-metre open-plan office with mobile desks, two individual workstations, a presentation corner and a small kitchen. "We are creating the right ambience here," emphasised Olaf Volkmer.
Application phase started
The "GründerWerkStadt" and "IdeenWerkStadt" programmes also include an informative website at www.gruenderwerkstadt.de. Here, interested parties can find all the important information and apply directly. A detailed description of the idea is sufficient for the "IdeenWerkStadt". Anyone wishing to progress to the "GründerWerkStadt", on the other hand, must formulate more specific ideas. "We want to know what problems the future product will solve or what value it will create. This also includes questions such as: What does the competitive environment look like? Where are the pitfalls? Why are you, of all people, able to do this? What type of company do you envisage?" Olaf Volkmer enumerated.
The two SWG board members are certain: "We will support some young, creative people in realising their ideas. This will not only create added value for the start-ups and ourselves, but will also help the city and the region, i.e. our home region, to make progress in terms of entrepreneurial spirit and innovative strength."