„The 9th“: hub for start-ups New network in Bonn
Bonn · The new network „The 9th“ supports start-up-entrepreneurs. In a former shoe district in the Stockenstraße, they can connect with others, ask questions, exchange experiences with people and benefit from others’ knowledge. The place works as a hub and incubator at the same time.
To establish an enterprise it needs more than an idea. Much more. The first thoughts need to ripen, need to be developed, need to be cross-checked and have to grow into a stable concept. The required space for this process is now offered at the network „The 9th“, which has been established in Bonn’s city centre and is now open to all those who are interested. Eleven tenants are already on board, and the space of 250 square meters can support more than twice that number - and also provide essential support by networking with each other.
„To be in touch with others is vital, when you want to start your own business and be self-employed“, says Cedric Teichmann, who founded „The 9th“ this year in the Viktoria quarter and who is working in this field for a few years already. „In 2013 I first got in contact with this scene and noticed soon, that there is no network for young entrepreneurs in Bonn.“
So together with other like-minded people he founded the local community „Start-Up Bonn“. „But we needed an actual room for our meetings - without a physical place it is very hard to grow“, says Teichmann. 2016, together with Jörg Hass, owner of the Camera hotel, he founded the „Digital Hub“, in which enterprises from the area can invest in „new blood“.
But the centre for the digital economy of the future was a mere starting point for Teichmann. He wrote to the Signa Holding, who owns most of the Viktoria quarter. „I got a reply straight away. So I rented the former shoe district“ - knowing that the plans to turn at least a part of that block into a shopping centre were still on the agenda.
Not a problem, says Teichmann: „,The 9th’ is supposed to be an intermediate station for people anyway.“ At the moment, Teichmann supports several start-ups in the early phase of their foundation. „Usually you differ between the incubation phase, during which the idea gets developed and checked for economical feasibility, and the acceleration phase, during which you approach investors and potential customers. We focus on the former.“
The network helps to find legal and tax advisors, gets different players together and doesn’t shy away from criticising constructively. „In my experience, a start-up mostly fails if the required amount of flexibility isn’t present. If I want to sell a wallet and potential customers don’t buy it, I should ask myself why, any maybe try a different design“, explains Teichmann.
It is helpful to discuss things, ideally with a quite diverse group. „We have software developers, designers, artists and other freelancers, with which you can ‚hot-wire‘ easily. I hope, this idea takes off. Because we definitely need more start-ups in Bonn and the region.“ (Orig. text: Thomas Kölsch)
