The 2018 Noah Conference in Berlin had a special highlight in store — so we'll begin today's report with impressions from day 1. Not because the party went on late into the night, but because Al Gore took the stage as the grand finale.
Like Marco Rodzynek, founder of Noah, Al Gore Unfortunately, he didn't reveal how he was able to persuade him to visit Berlin. He didn't have time for it, either, because the former Vice President of the United States, almost-President, and affectionately known as Mr. Climate Protection, Al Gore, immediately launched into a convincing presentation: figures, facts, and examples of climate change, evidence of heavy rain and thunderstorms in Germany, floods, hurricanes, ... and then concluded the list of disasters caused by climate change with this:
"There is a lot of good news. […] And you are part of the solution."
New technologies, entrepreneurial spirit, giving things real value, even if they don't have a price tag attached—all of these things can make a huge difference and make the world a better place, according to Al Gore. A lot of buzzwords, very American, but at the same time a captivating speech. At the end, the 70-year-old took plenty of time for questions from the audience and explained how he manages to keep hope alive.
https://twitter.com/munich_startup/status/1004392353921200133
How a startup can benefit from Noah
But back to the startups and the Noah Conference. What does the Noah Conference mean to them? And what are they taking away from Berlin? We spoke with Markus Feigelbinder, CEO of the travel tech startup Fineway, spoken:
What makes the Noah so promising for you?
First, we're pitching. This allows us to present our content. Second, and this is most important for us, we can network with other technology companies at Noah—across industries.
What exactly do you want to take with you?
Contacts and exchange. Because many other industries are already further ahead than the travel industry in developing technologies that deliver real customer value.
What sets Noah apart from other conferences?
The density of CEOs and entrepreneurs combined with established companies and VCs. And the good weather.
Fineway had A large financing round was completed at the end of last yearThe founder revealed that contacts with the VCs who invested in the Series A had not just been initiated at Noah17, but had nevertheless been solidified.
International cross-industry inspiration
It's precisely the diversity of technologies across all industries that makes Noah so appealing. Even if you know the names of those on stage and what the startups or corporates are doing, getting a current insight into the topics currently affecting other, predominantly European, companies is exciting and provides a good starting point for the subsequent conversation on the terrace. This isn't just about initiating concrete business opportunities; for many participants, it's also about maintaining contacts.
Female Founders on Stage
The high number of women at the conference is surprising. Of course, there's still room for improvement, but at least 351 startups from Female Founders were represented in the pitching area. And on the main stage, the Noah Conference was able to ensure that 101 of the presentations were from women. For example, a panel discussion on the digitalization of the healthcare industry was led by three female experts. Why are we addressing this? Because it's important to shine a spotlight on female role models. In addition to this approach, there was also a Female Founders Lunch at Noah to promote networking and strengthen cross-industry and international collaboration.
Don't forget your sunglasses
And if you're now interested in attending Noah next year, you don't need too much planning in advance, although as a startup, it's certainly a good idea to make an appointment with a VC or two in advance. Otherwise, you'll probably meet people on the small conference grounds anyway. All the attendees are very open-minded, and it's easy to strike up a conversation over currywurst, ice cream, or a cold beer. One thing is especially important: Don't forget your sunglasses!
Who wants to know Why the Noah Conference is a class reunion and what happened on day 1 at Noah18, read here.
