Germany’s Ruhr region Founders’ Alliance opens Data Hub to intl startups

The Founders’ Alliance of Germany’s Ruhr region opens its Data Hub to invite startups from all over the world to develop innovative solutions based on unused large amounts of data.

The Data Hub was set up and will be coordinated by digital consultancy and company builder etventure and deals with a wide variety of questions – from rental forecasts in the real estate industry to early detection of subsidence in the post-mining period to more accurate forecasts of new customers acquisitions.

It is headed by Marc Weimer-Hablitzel, Principal at the digital consultancy etventure, which was commissioned by Initiativkreis Ruhr GmbH to implement the Data Hub.

Marc Weimer-Hablitzel

“The race for consumer data has largely been decided. In the B2B sector, however, German startups and founders are technically strong, but need access to exciting applications, good data sets and partners. With the Data Hub, we provide this access” said Weimer-Hablitzel in a statement.

“With our new Data Thinking method, we evaluate the existing data potential and, together with our partner companies, identify use cases that promise the greatest benefit,” he added.

The goal of the Founders’ Alliance is to make the Ruhr region an appealing location for data-oriented startups. The Data Hub is intended to have a “pull-effect” on startups to settle in the Ruhr area and to work closely with local companies.

In doing so, the Founders’ Alliance will provide sustainable stimulus for the Ruhr region as a business location, even after the coal mining era comes to an end this year.

Christian Lüdtke

“Today, there is no longer any reason to go to Berlin with your startup. I believe in the region and its advantages. With its industrial core, strong medium-sized businesses, 22 universities, and more than five million residents, the Ruhr region already offers an attractive infrastructure for startups,” said Christian Lüdtke, coordinator for startups in the Ruhr region and Managing Director of etventure.

“For the first time, the Data Hub is using the region’s great joint potential from business, science and the startup scene,” he added.

The three-monthData Hub program offers startups the opportunity to test their technology or business idea on specific use cases and to develop them further. In addition, the Founders’ Alliance of the Ruhr region makes its know-how and strong network of industry and science available to the startups.

As a further incentive, the participating startups will receive funding of up to 25,000 euros from partner companies.

The Founders’ Alliance of the Ruhr region is a central project of the founding initiative of the Initiativkreis Ruhr, founded jointly with the initiators of “Glückauf Zukunft”: RAG- Stiftung, RAG Aktiengesellschaft and Evonik Industries AG. Their goal is to establish the Ruhr region as an attractive region for startups.

Dirk Ostermann

“Yesterday the Ruhr area was rich in coal. Today, its wealth consists of the diversity of industrial data. The last two RAG mines will be closed by the end of 2018,” said Dirk Ostermann, Business Manager at RAG.

“As a result, the challenges of structural change from 2019 onwards will become the focus of our activities. We’re already laying out the foundation and the Data Hub program will help us in exchanging data with innovators from all across the world,” he added.

Until October 31, 2018, startups are still eligible to apply for one of the Data Hub’s seven Data Challenges.