"Start-up: Your departure, our drive" - under this motto, the Oldenburg Economic Development Agency is awarding prizes for innovative start-up ideas for the city center with free jobs and retail space. On the occasion of the reopening of CORE in Heiligengeiststraße, Ralph Wilken, Head of Economic Development, gave the official starting signal for two competitions.

Start-up/CORE competition:
Innovative start-up ideas with a social or ecological added value for Oldenburg are sought. Social and green start-ups in the pre-seed or seed phase can win a total of two permanent jobs at CORE for eight months. The so-called Fix Desk includes 24/7 access to the WORK area, a complete office infrastructure, a flat rate for coffee, tea and water, and membership in the CORE community.
For Social and Green Start-ups, the focus is on the social impact or sustainability impact of their business activities. The City of Oldenburg would like to specifically promote social and green start-ups and make them even more visible in the city center.

Pop-up/CCO competition:
Creative retail concepts that bring something new to Oldenburg are being sought. The prize is two pop-up spaces in the CCO for eight months, free of rent and incidental costs, right next to the CORE. In addition, the Economic Development Agency will donate 2,500 euros for the store fittings and equipment.
Pop-up stores (to pop-up: to suddenly appear) are store concepts that are operated for a limited period of time. They are characterized by their provisional character, a special presentation of goods and product selection. The city of Oldenburg would like to encourage people with new ideas and courage - especially in these difficult times - and give them a low-threshold start to their own retail business in the city center.

"Oldenburg is known for its start-up-friendly climate. With our two competitions, we want to further support this development and encourage pioneering spirit, especially in the city center," emphasizes Ralph Wilken, Head of Economic Development. "In addition, the pop-up stores will be a first visible building block from the immediate program for Oldenburg's city center, which was adopted at the end of March."

All information on the Start-up/CORE and Pop-up/CCO competitions, as well as the exact conditions for participation, can be found online at www.start-up.city. Questions can be answered by the city's start-up advisor, Dr. Wiebke Friedrich, by phone at 0441 235-2818 and by e-mail at gruendungsberatung@stadt-oldenburg.de.

Text and image: City of Oldenburg

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