Hinterland of Things

📣 Tune in for another impactful Voice of Hinterland! Gülsah Wilke, Partner at DN Capital und Advisor & Co-Founder and Managing Director 2hearts brought valuable insights on cultural and social diversity to the stage. She emphasized the immense value of individuals with dual cultural backgrounds. As the founder of 2hearts, she is committed to promoting diversity in the technology industry. 2hearts offers a network and mentoring program that makes it easier for talented people with a history of migration to enter the tech industry and support them in their professional development. 🖤 Gülsah's message is clear: We must unite in our commitment to #Openness, #Diversity, and #Democracy. This is the foundation of our future, and it’s up to each of us to uphold these values. Specifically, this means that employers need to show strong values, build a positive company culture, focus on technological innovation in recruitment, and prioritize early education and training of their workforce. 🚀 By fostering an inclusive and welcoming culture, businesses can attract and retain the best talents, driving innovation and growth. It's up to all of us to contribute to this effort and create a brighter future for our society and economy. 💭 Thank you Gülsah, for sharing what moves you in these times! We also extend our gratitude to Brigitte M. , Zarah and Tina for their engaging contributions. 📅 Mark Your Calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cd9v_0 #hinterland24 #hinterlandofthings #diversity #startups #innovation #foundersfoundation #impact 

Over the past few weeks, we have introduced you to various panels and discussion points from #Hinterland24 to give you a glimpse of who graced our stages. The topic of "Responsibility, Impact & Culture" played a significant role. Here’s a look at some of the panels that explored this theme: ⚡️First, we had the panel on fostering the innovation potential of a vivid and diverse society, featuring Gülsah, Zarah, Brigitte M., Tina and hosted by Antonia. 🚀Also on the agenda was the panel on how to find the workforce of the future and build a modern company culture with Frauke and Dr. Annika, with Florian as the host. 🛸 Next was the panel on enhancing employee engagement at the intersection of culture, technology, and leadership. With insights from Martin, Nina, and Kerstin and hosted by Sarah. ⛓️ Finally, the Expert Talk on entrepreneurship, impact, and commitment on the Founders Stage featured Magdalena, Valerie B., and Dr. Gesa, hosted by Antonia. Don't miss any updates on #Hinterland25 and sign up here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #innovation #diversity #companyculture #employeeengagement #entrepreneurship

🪐 At Hinterland of Things, we believe in pushing the limits and exploring new horizons. Our mission is to continually push the boundaries, think bigger, and foster an environment where innovation and inspiration thrive among startups, investors, and the German Mittelstand in NRW. 🥁 This year, we proudly brought the "Top 10 from 24," the crème de la crème of the NRW startup scene, to our stages for the OUT OF THE BOX.NRW Awards. We awarded the three most creative and innovative startups with a total prize pool of 50k, sponsored by NRW.BANK. Congratulations to our winners: 🥇 Synctive: For their remote monitoring solution for industrial maintenance, winning 25.000€ 🥈 Voltfang: For their innovative battery system refurbishment, earning 15.000€. 🥉 arttrade: For making art investments accessible, receiving 10.000€ 🙏 A special thanks to our esteemed jury members: Johannes Velling, Thorsten Heldt (NRW.BANK), Christine Rittner, Katharina Neuhaus, Jan Rombolotto, and Viktoria Lindner. Our fantastic hosts, Farina Schurzfeld and Jan Thomas, made this pitch finale a unforgettable startup moment at #Hinterland24. 🚀 The courage and creativity of these startups have demonstrated that entrepreneurial ideas can drive significant digital and sustainable transformations. Let's keep this energy going to accelerate digital development. The OUT OF THE BOX.NRW Award is presented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of NRW (Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes NRW) and was proudly hosted by Founders Foundation gGmbH for the first time. 🎟️ 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 #𝗛𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝟮𝟱! Remember, after Hinterland is before #Hinterland25! Pre-register now to get all the latest updates on ticket sales, the lineup, and much more: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #innovation #startUps #NRW #OOTBNRW #tech #MWIKENRW #Hinterland24 

🖤 A heartfelt thank you to the Hinterland Alliance for your incredible support during the Hinterland of Things Conference! ⭐ With members like Dr. Oetker, Miele, Böllhoff Gruppe, WAGO, CLAAS, NTT DATA Business Solutions, Phoenix Contact, Dr. Wolff Group, Schüco International KG, GEA Group, STOCKMEIER Chemie, and GOLDBECK, our region is truly the heart of B2B entrepreneurship. Our long-standing entrepreneurial tradition and a dynamic environment where "everyone knows someone" fosters innovation and long-term success. 🗯️ We are honored to have such a strong alliance of companies and brands deeply rooted in our region's history, shaping the future with us. Thank you for being a part of our journey! Don't miss out on any information about #Hinterland25: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #hinterlandalliance #hinterlandoftings #b2bentrepreneurship #hinterlandalliance 

📚 #Hinterland24 offered a variety of masterclasses, addressing some of the most exciting topics in the business and technology landscape. Here's a look at the range of masterclass tracks: 🌳 Several sessions focused on driving corporate innovation and strategic growth, such as "Business Ecosystems: How to Navigate Tomorrow's Corporate Innovation Challenges" by Alexander Rösch and Katharina Götzen from PwC Deutschland and "From Tradition to New Business: Growth with GenAI and New Models in Family and Industrial Firms" by Thies Hofmann and Christian Zipp from Bridgemaker. 🤖 Also the transformative power of AI and technology in modern business was focused: Alex Leuchte and Markus Peter demonstrated how AI can transform mid-sized companies into market leaders through efficiency and innovation. Also Martin Kraft from DRUID AI as well as Nora Usunjan from Meta showcased how integrating AI can scale business operations. ⚙️ The sessions with Manuel Koch from Slack and Hector Ibarra from Amazon Web Services (AWS) brought best practices and demonstrated effective strategies for digital transformation and productivity enhancement. 💡 Key sessions also dived in the strategic integration of HR and the development of organizational structures. Jannis Neunecker from Personio as well as Wiebke Hörisch and Eva Maria Wiecko offered valuable perspectives on business scaling and growth strategies. 👾 While Ulf Valentin and Andrea Müller discussed the transition from product-focused strategies to customer-centric digital journeys, Sarah Brunswig and Patrick Klingberg from OMR Education highlighted innovative AI applications in marketing. 🤑 Katharina Weber´s session covered essential skills in entrepreneurship and negotiation, offering practical guidance on navigating the business landscape and securing successful deals. 🚀 These masterclasses offered a overview of current and future trends in various fields. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners and speakers for their contributions to making #Hinterland24 a resounding success. 📅 Mark Your Calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #Hinterland24 #innovation #masterclasses #transformation #tech

💡 One of the major highlights of the Hinterland of Things Conference 2024 was undoubtedly our impressive Exhibition, where over 80 startups from sectors such as EdTech, Climate Tech, Industrial Tech, and AI showcased their innovative products and ideas. 🗯️ We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the teams who were part of the Startup Exhibition at #hinterland24: 3D Spark, A352 SARL, acto, aicorite®, AKEYI , Apollo Green Solutions, AWAKE Mobility, Become1, bryo, Cito Transport Technologies GmbH, clockin, Clypp, Code Gaia, deeploi, Frontnow, Connected Crafts, Creaitor, core sensing GmbH, Cascaritas, CREDULAR, Deltia, DYNO, ECO2GROW, Einzigmalig, Empion, ENLYZE, Evolute App, GEMESYS , Golfstrom, great2know, Gridty, HASE & IGEL GmbH, heyData, hoorai.io, HRCast, Interloom, LADE GmbH, LIMATICA, Logidot, Logistikbude, mamgo, matriq, NovoAI, Numi Solutions, OmegaLambdaTec, Onu Energy, Orq.ai, Osphim, Partscloud, Penzilla, Planted HQ, Platform3L, PyroPower, recyclehero, SaasMetrix, SCND SaS, Skilled, StrategyBridge AI, Swifty, Synera, tacterion, TansoTech, TH OWL, Third Element, Tokenize, Tomorrow Things, ToolPlace, Valueworks.ai, VisionAI, WörkApp, Workerbase. 🖤 A special thanks goes to Vito, Celine and Tobias for their outstanding work in organizing and managing the Exhibition! 🦾 To help navigate the extensive Exhibition, we offered Guided Tours where Sanna, Tugba, Almut and Johannes led participants through the hall, introducing the startups and providing insights into their products. Thank you for the fantastic support! ✨ Want to stay updated on #hinterland25? Sign up here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #startup #innovation #networking #technology #conference #hinterland24

🌟 We are incredibly grateful to our Gold Partners for their contributions to #Hinterland24. Their expertise and commitment made our conference a remarkable success. Big thanks to Bridgemaker, Personio, Die Techniker Krankenkasse, Haufe Group Ventures, and Etribes for being part of our journey! 🎧 But, they didn't just participate. Among other they led the charge with masterclasses that empowered attendees and sparked new ideas. Let's take a closer look at the contributions that made our conference unforgettable... Bridgemaker's masterclass, "Von Tradition zum Neugeschäft," showed how family and industrial companies can grow with GenAI and new business models. Their insights on transforming traditional businesses into innovative powerhouses were truly inspiring. Personio tackled one of the most critical issues in any organization: the alignment between HR and the CEO. In their masterclass, "Die Lücke zwischen HR und CEO schließen," Jannis Neunecker provided actionable steps for HR professionals to elevate their roles and drive organizational success. Etribes took us on a journey into the future with their masterclass, "Super-Organisationen." Alex Leuchte and Markus Peter discussed how artificial intelligence can help mid-size companies become new global market leaders by placing efficiency at the center, transforming operations, and driving growth. Die Techniker brought a unique twist with their "Social Pizza" sessions to our conference. These 15-minute consultations on social insurance covered essential topics like payroll, contributions, and reporting. 🖤 We are proud and grateful to have you on our side! Thank you for helping us push the boundaries and for your unwavering support in driving the future of technology and business. 📅 Mark Your Calendars for June 5, 2025! Pre-register now to stay updated for #Hinterland25: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #Hinterland24 #innovation #partner #masterclasses #thankyou

✨ The day before this year's Hinterland of Things Conference the EdTech Next Investors Dinner took place in the Schüco Arena in Bielefeld. It was a key side event for those passionate about revolutionizing education. The room was filled with leading investors from venture capital, business angels, and corporate venture capital with innovative startups from our EdTech Next Incubator. And don't to forget: of course, our teammates, including Dana, Maimuna, Dennis, Nik, Sven, and Celine, were also there to support and engage in the inspiring discussions. 🚀 The dinner was a hub for exchanging transformative ideas and building connections. The EdTech Next Investors Dinner brought together those who have the power to make a real difference in education. By fostering these relationships, we're not just imagining the future of learning — we're building it. The dinner was a hub for exchanging transformative ideas and forging meaningful connections. 🖤 As we reflect on this successful evening, we are grateful for the valuable connections and inspiring conversations. A special thank you to the organizers and everyone who participated, making this event a perfect start into #Hinterland24. Together, we are building a brighter future for education. Stay tuned for #Hinterland25: https://hubs.ly/Q02Cdc-M0 #hinterland24 #hinterlandofthings #SchücoArena #bielefeld #techconference

🎙️At #Hinterland24 we transformed three TINY SPACES into hubs of creativity and conversation. It wasn’t just about the size; it was about the vibe. This setup allowed us to record more then 15 podcasts and over 20 interviews, all capturing the voices of innovation and entrepreneurship. Shout out to some of our amazing podcast hosts and their guests... 1️⃣ Startup Insider: our long-time media partner in crime rocked our tiny houses with their team again! Special host among others Farina Schurzfeld and CEO Jan Thomas interviewed the finalists of the OUT OF THE BOX.NRW: arttrade, Synctive, and Voltfang. 2️⃣ Business Punk: How to Hack - our panel host Thorsten Giersch reports on new technologies and trends. One of his 6 guests: Former host Janna Linke! 3️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 - 𝐉𝐞𝐭𝐳𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐳 𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐡: who herself hosted her podcast in our tiny house with our CEO Dominik Gross diving into current economic and global developments and playing "one or the other". 4️⃣ Mittelstand Reloaded: the new podcast by DUP also hosted by Thorsten Giersch welcomed - beside other amazing speakers - also our CEO Dominik talking about the benefits of a diverse audience and connecting SMEs with startups. 5️⃣ 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬: Dr. Miriam Meckel and Dr. Léa Steinacker dove into Apple´s AI features and had a chat with Alona Kharchenko on her perspective about humanoid robots and insights into her work in the Ukraine. 6️⃣ 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐡: Dominik had a great chat with host Annette Weisbach exploring the German startup landscape and the significance of Hinterland areas in the economy. 7️⃣ 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡: Dr. Jan Evers chats with Elisa Hertzler about the importance of finding the right skill mix and how her platform uses AI to identify and fill skill gaps. 8️⃣ 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫ü𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧: René Klein sat down with Dominik and shared hacks for successful networking at founder events and exclusive insights into #Hinterland24. 9️⃣ Street Tweets: Dominik highlights - among others - the importance of strategic considerations to shape the future of the economy in various regions. 💭 Watch out for episodes by startup schlau podcast with Marc Schlegel, "Wegen guter Führung" with Antonia Götsch for Havard Business Manager, "robotspaceship" with Sean Earley and Business Class Podcast by Tilo Bonow. 🎧 Plug in your headphones and dive into the latest episodes — each one is full packed with the energy, innovation, and passion that makes Hinterland of Things an unmissable event! #Hinterland24 #podcast #innovation #tinyhouse #tech

🌟 Imagine walking into a buzzing tech conference, where excitement fills the air and the future of innovation is on. That’s the vibe at Hinterland of Things Conference. Behind the scenes, making all of this possible, are our amazing Platinum Partners: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Stripe, Rothschild & Co, DRUID AI, and Samsung Germany. 🚀 Attendees at Hinterland of Things were treated to masterclasses, hosted by our platinum partners, that didn't just inform but transformed. Let’s dive into what made these sessions stand out: 💭 Ever dreamt of taking your company public? Rothschild & Co.'s masterclass, "The IPO-Dream – How to Think Big in Germany," delivered by Wiebke Hörisch and Eva Maria Wiecko, was a treasure trove of insights. They guided attendees through the labyrinth of IPOs and shared secrets on how to scale and succeed in the German market. 🤖 As you already mentioned: AI was all around Hinterland of Things Conference. And DRUID AI took it up a notch. Martin Kraft’s session, "The best AI is just another cost if it is not used. Drive with integration, adoption and governance," was a game-changer. He simplified AI, turning it from a complex concept into a practical tool. Attendees learned how to integrate AI into their businesses, making sure it delivers real value. ⚙️ Amazon Web Services (AWS) knows how to get things done, and Hector Ibarra’s masterclass proved it. His session, "Driving Digital Supply Chain with Data & AI. The Amazon way," showed how Amazon uses data and AI to make their supply chain super efficient. Attendees got insider tips on how to use these strategies in their own companies. 🙌 We shoutout a big thank you to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Stripe, Rothschild & Co, DRUID AI, and Samsung Germany for their support and contributions. As you know: innovation thrives on collaboration, and with partners like these, we are well-equipped to drive the future of technology and entrepreneurship. Let´s push boundaries and create a brighter tomorrow together! #Hinterland24 #tech #conference #innovation #platinum #partners #thankyou