The newly founded innovator space e.V. aims to create an open space for digitalization topics. A kind of open lab and network is planned to boldly tackle visions and create new companies. At the same time, the innovator space is intended to be a space where the wider community is "picked up" and overcomes any inhibitions. The association will be based directly at Münchner Freiheit 7 until the end of March. Kick-off event takes place tomorrow, January 31st. We spoke with Vinzent Ellissen, chairman of the association.
Vinzent, you and seven other entrepreneurs have joined forces and founded an association, innovator space e.V. — what is your goal?
We want Innovative Minds Bringing people together across silos, regardless of education, university, or employer. All this is done free of vested interests and with maximum transparency to create a solid foundation of trust for all participants.
We hope that this will enable us to make a constructive contribution to solving current and future challenges in our societies and, at the same time, strengthen our local business location.
Germany needs a more open culture of mistakes and more curiosity
Why do you even do this?
We're all in the digital age and, to some extent, view these developments with concern. While we in Europe "slept through" the first wave of digitalization, we're in danger of not paddling decisively enough to successfully navigate the next waves.
In Germany, we urgently need more cultural openness to innovation and change in people's minds. We need more genuine acceptance of "mistakes," and thus more courage to actually try out new things with curiosity, or at least to support them constructively. We also expect more courage from politicians to take more visionary approaches.
“We have to ensure that we can scale locally!”
Ultimately, money shouldn't be the reason for failure either. More capital from private individuals, companies, and the government must ensure that our companies can scale locally. Otherwise, we will gradually lose them to other countries more willing to invest. The marketplace is often the world these days—whether we like it or not.
However, this realization hasn't yet reached everyone. If our project can provide inspiration to get our surfboards moving a little faster, and thus increase the chances of a successful wave ride, we've achieved a great deal. At the end of the day, we want to keep our own lives, as well as the lives of future generations—in keeping with our values—worth living.
To achieve this, we need stability in the economy, stability in society and stability in the environment – and the innovator space e.V. should ultimately contribute to this.
How exactly do you want to bring the topic of innovation to the streets and among the people?
There are already many great initiatives in Munich. However, in our opinion, many of them have relatively high barriers to access—either because they're "too far out," or the local culture "isn't yet so developed," or because they're enclosed spaces on the X floor of a building.
“Making innovation accessible”
Our vision is to create a place where people enjoy spending their free time, for example, meeting up for a beer in the evening. A place that's easily accessible both day and night. A place that requires as little driving as possible for the average member of our target group. A place that doesn't isolate itself, but rather is open to the outside world.
Innovations, and especially the people behind them, should become more accessible. This way, we can truly bring the rest of the population along with us into the digitalized future, with all its bright sides—but perhaps also its dark sides.
(Almost) every event is welcome
How exactly do you plan to use your current Innovator Space until the end of March?
We want to open the space for networking events, lectures, meetups, panel discussions, workshops, hackathons, exhibitions, and experience labs, among other things. In short, any event that supports our association's mission is welcome. We are convinced from our own experience that potential only emerges when the right people meet, get to know each other, and develop trust.
We welcome any collaborations that bring innovators together with SMEs and industry. We believe it's high time to leverage the current (still?) potential at our location through daily efforts to benefit our own society and the global community.
In concrete terms: Creating projects and products together
In addition to the events, the first teams are already forming, which are expected to develop various products during this period. Some of them aim to further lower hurdles for innovators or startups. I'm thinking of "open sourcing of standard contracts" such as shareholder agreements, NDAs, or participation agreements. Or the "outsourcing of any bureaucratic overhead" such as financial accounting, tax, notary, registration, or payroll accounting at a price that is economy of scale could be unbeatable.
Proof of concept by the end of March
Assuming your concept works – what happens next from April onwards?
Our concept is currently in the proof-of-concept stage, a kind of experiment. We want to find out over the next two months whether there is a real need for such a project. We firmly believe there is, but ultimately it depends, among other things, on whether there is actual demand and whether we launched the project at the right time. Of course, it also depends on whether we as a team can muster the necessary implementation capacity on a voluntary basis.
Participants wanted
If it works, we will certainly expand the concept further—above all, we will then more closely integrate partners from business, science, and politics to stabilize the project in the long term. We are currently welcoming anyone who can contribute, is interested in participating, and would like to support our mission.
And last but not least: What does Munich mean to you?
We all love Munich — otherwise we a) wouldn't live here and b) wouldn't put so much energy into a project that is also intended to strengthen our location.
For me personally, Munich means home, friends and family, security, Bavarian tradition, and, all in all, a fantastic quality of life! Let's keep it this way or even make it better!
Thank you, Vinzent, for the open conversation!
Anyone who is curious about the innovator space and the association should visit the opening event Stop by on January 31st — or visit one of the many upcoming events.
