Two years behind the GO! Start-up Zentrum Oldenburg (GO!) - the start-up support program of the Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Oldenburg (TGO) and it is far from over. On 1 March the new support programme will start - with expanded content.

With the support of the State of Lower Saxony, the City of Oldenburg and partners from the private sector, financing has been secured for the next three years. Jürgen Bath, Managing Director of the TGO, welcomes the continuation of the program: "The follow-up financing for our GO! clearly shows that we have done excellent development work. Our concept of professionally supporting innovative start-ups in the development of sustainable business models and networking with investors has already proven successful with 20 start-ups.

The city of Oldenburg shares the enthusiasm over the last two years and looks back on a successful cooperation with the GO! As the initiator and partner of the first hour, it will continue the close cooperation with the GO! "For some time now, the economic development agency has been focusing on future-oriented industries that are unique selling points for the location. The GO! creates the ideal breeding ground for the rapid development of ideas and marketability of products and processes. The cooperation with the business development agency has proved so successful that the city will continue to support the centre for the next few years. In this way we are also making a contribution to providing the right space for innovations not only in the city but also in the region", says Roland Hentschel (Deputy Head of the City of Oldenburg Economic Development).

However, continuous learning processes and innovative thinking are not only essential in coaching, the GO! as such also comprehensively adapts its own offer once again. For example, the funding period for start-ups is now extended to six months, during which the teams are prepared for market entry through intensive coaching and mentoring. Start-ups that apply for one of the places in the GO! and are already well advanced in their development can take part in a more flexible 100-day coaching programme via the so-called "fast-track". The fifth round of the accelerator will start in March with four start-ups in the support programme and one fast-track candidate who already has experience in setting up a company.

A further innovation of the offer is the special coaching program "GO! Corporates". EWE AG, among others, is also pursuing this additional intention through its advisory board membership and is expanding its involvement in GO! As a future Gold Member, the company benefits from the newly developed "Corporate Track". This will also give established companies the opportunity to promote ideas and projects in the agile and innovative environment of the GO! start-up centre. "As EWE has been part of the GO! start-up centre since its inception and we are delighted that the new offer will enable us to talk to external idea providers and founders and to support them, as well as giving our colleagues the opportunity to become part of the start-up community in Northern Germany as part of the Corporate Track," says Justin Müller (Director Fund Investments, EWE AG).

Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt, Managing Director of the Oldenburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is also pleased about the continuation and expansion of the project: "Young, innovative companies that conquer the markets with new business models strengthen our region. They create highly qualified jobs and positively influence the economic structure. The GO! strengthens our region. Together with companies in the Oldenburger Land we continue to support this project - actively and financially".

In recent months, in addition to the support of the State of Lower Saxony and the City of Oldenburg, we have been able to attract further partners from the local and regional economy. For example, from now on OFFIS - Institute for Computer Science will support the project as an expert in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Because this topic will also be promoted in the GO! as a further focal point in the future. OFFIS CEO Dr. Holger Peinemann is looking forward to the cooperation and new impulses for the region: "In order to promote spin-offs, OFFIS and the TGO have been working together for many years. With the participation of the OFFIS in the GO! Start-up Center, this cooperation will be intensified in terms of content and expanded with new support approaches. Especially for potential spin-offs in the dynamically growing area around the use of "artificial intelligence" there are good chances to transfer ideas into start-up activities".

In the future, the GO! will also be enlarged. The new coworking space "GO! Work". This will be officially opened in mid-April in the presence of Lower Saxony's Minister of Economics, Dr. Bernd Althusmann. "I am looking forward to the new link between our founding teams and the GO! / TGO network. Former participants of our Accelerator as well as partners of the Start-up Centre will receive a special prize through the GO! Work not only gives former participants of our Accelerator and partners of the Start-up Center the opportunity to work cost-effectively and flexibly, but also to network further and realize joint projects, including an innovative spirit", explains Alexandra Wurm (Project Manager of the GO! Start-up Center).

Further information on the new offers can now also be found on the newly designed website of the GO! Start-up Zentrum Oldenburg at www.gruenden-oldenburg.de.

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Caption (from left to right): Oliver Benkel (Project Manager GO!), Alexandra Wurm (Project Manager GO!), Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt (Managing Director Oldenburgische IHK), Roland Hentschel (Deputy Director of the Economic Development of the City of Oldenburg), Justin Müller (Director Fund Investments, EWE AG), Jürgen Bath (Managing Director TGO) and Dr. Holger Peinemann (Managing Director OFFIS e. V.)

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Text and image: GO! Start-up Centre Oldenburg (GO!)

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