Just a few years after its own founding, the digital startup center “Einstein1” on the campus of Hof University of Applied Sciences can look back on a number of successful startups in a wide variety of fields. Now, two satisfied young entrepreneurs wanted to give something back to the institution and thus thank the Einstein1 staff. At a donation handover, they thanked the team at Hof’s start-up center for their competent advice and active support in establishing their respective companies. Meanwhile, many interesting start-up ideas are waiting in the wings.
The initiative came from the founders themselves: “The Einstein1 was a very important building block in our considerations to found our own company. Without the know-how available here, we would probably not have been able to go our way in this form. We would like to thank you for that,” says Dr.-Ing. Andy Gradel, who has set up his own business with his company BtX Energy in the field of grid-supporting hydrogen production from biogas. Together with Tommy Hofmann, founder of the start-up company Hydrogen Technologies, Dr. Gradel presented a check to Dr. Jens Löbus, the new managing director of the Digital Incubator Einstein1. The donation amount of 1000 EUR will benefit all founders at Einstein1.
Support on a broad front
Good companies are created where people are given opportunities to develop. DGZ Einstein1 is such a place – together with the university’s StartUpLab and Maker Space. Here, ideas and even new concepts can be tried out and perhaps transferred into companies.”
Dr. Jens Löbus, Managing Director Digital Business Incubator Einstein1
Finally, in front of Bundestag member Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich, Hof’s mayor Eva Döhla and other guests of honor, Dr. Löbus gave a brief insight into the work of Einstein1. A whole series of promising start-up companies with interesting business ideas are now active here.
Creating entrepreneurial freedom
In his welcoming address, Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich emphasized, among other things, the importance of entrepreneurial freedom, which the state must ensure and thus promote innovative young entrepreneurs. Hof’s mayor Eva Döhla made clear the city of Hof’s attachment to the Digital Start-up Center and was pleased that the start-up center’s team was now complete again after the arrival of the new managing director Dr. Löbus. Together, they look forward to the future of the start-up scene in the region.
Changing start-up culture
University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, for his part, expressed his delight that together they had succeeded in establishing a promising start-up infrastructure in the region. Successful start-ups such as those of BtX, Hydrogen Technologies and many others are strong proof of this. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to change the German start-up mentality bit by bit
We need courage, optimism and there must be no more failure – only valuable experience.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, University President
