For start-ups
The district of Böblingen stands for creative entrepreneurial spirit. Inventive minds provide impetus and create jobs. To enable start-ups to implement their ideas, the economic development agency provides a wide range of support.
Spoonie, an edible spoon made from cocoa fibers, tastes like chocolate and replaces disposable plastic in ice cream cups. Amelie, Julia and Anna are behind the sustainable idea, which won the "Start-up BW Elevator Pitch Regional Cup Böblingen" start-up competition in 2019. They later also impressed at state level and won the overall title. The start-up competition took place for the ninth time in 2022 and underlines the vibrant start-up culture in the region. The Elevator Pitch is just one example of the numerous activities of the district economic development agency. As part of the "Economically strong district" strategy for the future, the "Start-up/company succession" topic group focuses on entrepreneurial issues relating to start-ups. To this end, contact persons from the ranks of the Seniors for Business and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce have joined forces to form the start-up guides in order to pass on valuable know-how and expertise.
Another point of contact is the Zentrum Digitalisierung Landkreis Böblingen (ZD.BB). Online seminars and training courses prepare young entrepreneurs for the challenges of digital change. Furthermore, the business development agency is committed to providing unbureaucratic subsidies, grants and discounts to support start-ups in the first few years of their existence. The district economic development agency bundles all start-up-specific offers together with the seniors of the economy and other contributors from the thematic group in the "Start-up BB" marketing campaign.
At startup-bb.de and in the social media, important information and addresses for consulting services and financing options are summarized. As an ideal location for start-ups, Böblingen also offers a wide range of premises, such as the AI xpress in Böblingen, the Coworking Checkpoint Campus of the Gemeinnützige Werkstätten in Sindelfingen, the Softwarezentrum Böblingen/Sindelfingen or the Start-up Planet Sindelfingen, which also offers free consultation hours.
In addition to virtual consulting, the district economic development agency has initiated various event formats. Since 2014, "start.me.up" has been bringing creative idea providers together with potential partners and investors - the Elevator Pitch also takes place within this framework. In addition, the economic development agency has organized online seminars on business plans, financial planning and marketing in cooperation with the adult education centre and the senior citizens of the economy. The economic development agency also owes its start-up momentum to the active commitment of the municipalities - it is only with their support that the concept of start-up guides as local contacts can be implemented. The great diversity of start-ups in the district is also illustrated by the start-up roadshow: the Böblingen District Office and Senioren der Wirtschaft e. V. travel through the district to find and select the "Founder of the Month".
"This shows that the topic of start-ups has also gained momentum in the cities," says Dr. Sascha Meßmer, Economic Development Manager of the Böblingen district. Some towns and municipalities have already been awarded the state title of "Start-up-friendly municipality". The district succeeded in securing first place in the last round of the competition.
