What a village means – and how to find yours
Your village is your social network, which supports and eases your burdens during your crazy journey as a mom or dad . Who belongs to your village is very individual. It could be friends and...
Our idea in 8 minutes
"And now you come from the provinces,
And even if everyone says you're crazy,
You will do the same.
Do it in a charming way
Sometimes elastic, sometimes hard,
Sometimes you have to force luck."
Udo Lindenberg, from: I do my thing
" The things that caused me the most anxiety and stomachache ultimately brought me the greatest moments of happiness."
Fear turns into joy
December 2018
Every year after Christmas, I sit down and review "my" year. How am I feeling? What do I want to let go of? And what do I want to take with me into the new year? I write everything down and try to honestly reflect on what works for me and what doesn't. As I sat at my desk at the end of 2018, one thing kept coming back to me. The things that had caused me the most anxiety and stomach aches ultimately brought me the greatest moments of happiness. For example, the day the production company from Bielefeld called and asked me when I wanted to come over. I was dancing like a crazy person with the kids in the hallway. Or the day three enthusiastic feedbacks about HUGO suddenly landed in my email inbox, after I'd had an unpleasant complaint the day before and briefly considered not sewing at all. Or the day I posted in an Instagram story for the first time and spent every minute nauseatedly checking who had already seen that horrible video of me. Today, I receive messages every day from (complete strangers) saying that they are looking forward to my stories and that I have inspired them to create something of their own.
My biggest challenge in 2018 was putting myself out there. Since I still had a "normal" job and had somehow internalized the belief "don't want too much," I was completely inhibited. By limits I had set for myself. With this realization in mind, I spontaneously signed up for the South Westphalia Business Juniors' startup pitch two days before the deadline. Just like that. I wrote my application, clicked send, and just couldn't think about it again. Again, that fear, again, that stomachache.
"When I ask him when he last felt truly happy, he says: When you won the pitch."
February 2019
I watch YouTube with my husband Video in which coach and speaker Tobias Beck talks about the difference between fun and happiness. When I ask him when he last felt truly happy, he says, "When you won the pitch." I wasn't expecting that. We hadn't spoken about the competition for days. But I realized again how much more this little competition was than prize money and a golden pineapple. It was the first time I spoke openly and in front of "the whole world" about my expansive dreams and goals. My father said, "You really went all out!" And that's true. I just blurted out everything. I don't know the subjunctive. I had four PowerPoint slides, only one of which was about the business idea. It was more about showing: I can do this. I'll do it. Look, I'm doing it right now.
This standing set me apart from all the other great start-ups that evening. There were so many cool and, above all, viable business models. I'm grateful for the new contacts and look forward to future collaborations. But on this evening I wanted to win! I had to overcome my fear and show it all. I always imagine it like a mountain that I climb in slippery shoes, only to slip again and again and just want to cry and lie there because I have no more strength. Someone pushes me from behind, but I slide back again, I can already see the cross on the summit, but I can't get a hold and my arms and legs are like jelly. Then I tell myself, just this one more small step, just one more time. And one more time. And then suddenly I'm at the top.
Facts
The JU DO! start-up competition is financially supported by Startpunkt57 - The Initiative for Start-ups, the Siegen Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the South Westphalia Industry and Commerce Association, and the Westphalia-South District Chamber of Crafts. More information is available on Facebook , among other platforms. The competition has been held annually since 2014.
From 29 startups, the expert jury of entrepreneurs and business representatives selected six founders for the final on February 20, 2019, during the written application phase. The application includes information about the company's founding and a detailed description of the business idea. It includes questions about the brand, unique selling proposition, target audience, and medium- and long-term planning. The deadline for submissions was December 31, 2018.
In the final, each startup had eight minutes to present its business idea on stage. All media were permitted, except videos. The time was ticked on a large clock. Following the final, there was a further eight minutes for questions from the jury or the audience.
This evening, these six start-ups from South Westphalia presented their ideas:
- 1st Place (€5,000): Anna and Oskar designs, produces, and sells sustainable products for parents in the start-up phase. Whether diaper backpacks, changing mats, or other bags, their products are characterized by minimalist design, durability, and versatility.
- 2nd place (€3,000): Applicants Deutschland GmbH offers a cloud-based applicant management system with a metasearch engine for employee profiles, an integrated talent pool, and a network for personnel service providers.
- Third place (€2,000):open.INC UG helps companies digitally capture, consolidate, store, and use their data in a way that is appropriate for their applications – from data integration to data visualization.
- Giesswerk presented the possible applications of ultra-high-performance concrete in loudspeaker construction.
- DINO Solutions is a time management app that aims to help people develop new habits and plan their daily lives more flexibly.
- EducatedGuess.ai GbR provides companies with access to customized solutions using artificial intelligence through consulting and training.
Ten independent representatives were selected from the audience to rate each pitch on a scale of 1-10. This resulted in the Audience Award, the Golden Pineapple, for the most convincing performance.
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