Regardless of whether you have a startup background or a craft background, both sides engage in relaxed conversation over a Weißwurstburger and Isarkindl beer, demonstrating keen interest in the diverse fields of innovation showcased at the second edition of "Startup Meets Crafts." Around 200 participants accepted the joint invitation from the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria (HWK) and Munich Startup.
Lamplbräu from Wolnzach taps one fresh beer after the other, the brine and bacon bread from the bakers brothers and the butcher Ehler sell like hot cakes and the chocolate from the Chocolaterie Amelie from Garmisch-Partenkirchen are not only admired, but also eagerly sampled. In short, the creative delicacies are very well received by the event's participants. Just as well as the diverse mix presented at "Startup Meets Crafts": from social startups and research projects on SMEs at TUM and Munich University of Applied Sciences to software and hardware, product, and service innovations from both the skilled trades and the academic startup scene. You can read more about the individual startups here.
An inspiring composition, which also Hartmut Drexel, Head of the Consulting Department at the Chamber of Crafts and Trades, happy:
"The event impressively demonstrated that startups and craft businesses are a perfect match. Tradition and innovation blended seamlessly. The multitude of creative minds and their ideas were impressive. The creative delicacies, in particular, completely won over all participants. We will organize an event concept with such a positive atmosphere together with Munich Startup as soon as possible."
It is also a successful evening for the participating startups – regardless of whether they are looking for new customer groups, suppliers or cooperation partners:
"The event was a great opportunity to easily engage with professionals from the trades. We were able to easily evaluate assumptions about the customer group and already engage with the first interested parties. We also met network partners who will be relevant in the future,"
thinks Max Felsner from Social Bee. Also Simon Nüesch from Vendl welcomes new contacts:
"This was a startup event of a different kind, more down-to-earth, more direct, and at the same time a top-notch atmosphere with culinary delicacies. Both our suppliers – mold makers – and our customers – brewers – are part of the craft industry. We were able to make new and promising contacts with both yesterday."
The online platform STAFFCHUM “Startup meets Crafts” will also be remembered as the starting signal for their online presence:
"We used the "Handwerk trifft Startups" event as a milestone for our go-live: STAFFCHUM went live in time for the event! In this very harmonious setting, we were able to establish our first, valuable contacts with our target group – craftspeople, small and medium-sized businesses – and meet representatives from the Chamber of Crafts. Thank you again for this fantastic evening!"
so Dr. Karsten Gessner by STAFFCHUM.
An exciting and entertaining evening, which will not be the last. Georg Raess, Innovation consultant of the HWK and co-organizer, is already looking to the future:
"Almost three times as many visitors and participants as at the first "Startup Meets Crafts" is fantastic, and I think more and more people are now realizing that startups and craftspeople are a great fit! Thank you, Regina, for the perfect collaboration! I'm personally very pleased about the collaboration and it motivates me for the third joint event in 2018!
Photo credits: Schuhmann / Chamber of Crafts
