2021 NRW Founders' Award 1st place: Schüttflix founders Christian Hülsewig and Thomas Hagedorn. (Photo: © NRW.BANK / Udo Geisler)
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July 19, 2022
Young companies don't just need a financial boost at the start. NRW.BANK, together with their bank, supports them throughout all phases – and puts the most creative business ideas in the spotlight with the NRW Founders' Award.
The business idea came to Christian Hülsewig while he and his brother were shoveling sand on their family farm in Herford. Two truckloads of sand arrived , but prices , suppliers , and delivery times were opaque to him . When orders started ending up in completely the wrong places, the man from East Westphalia had had enough. He developed an app that, since 2018, has been the first nationwide digital logistics hub, connecting construction companies , producers , and suppliers of bulk materials such as sand, gravel, soil, and crushed stone. Schüttflix was born and, thanks to its digital intermediary, now delivers bulk materials to every construction site in Germany on schedule . By the end of 2022, Schüttflix plans to expand into Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
With his entrepreneurial coup Christian Hülsewig and his start-up, founded in 2018, landed at Founders' Prize NRW 2021 in first placeThe start-up competition is organized by NRW.BANK, the development bank for North Rhine-Westphalia, together with the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs in its eleventh year. "With this we pay tribute to the major contribution, founders with their Innovations, their entrepreneurial courage, of their Creativity and hers Perseverance to the growth of North Rhine-Westphalia," says Eckhard Forst, Chairman of the Board of Management of NRW.BANK. In addition to the Schüttflix app, the 2021 start-up competition also honored Dermanostic (2nd place), a Düsseldorf online dermatology practice, in which patients can submit photos of skin changes via an app and have specialists diagnose possible diseases within 24 hours. Third place went to Hearing aid manufacturer in Bad Honnef, which is App that supports hearing-impaired people can be optimally adjusted to the home environment. The call for applications for the 2022 NRW Founders' Award runs until August 7, 2022 (see below).
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NRW.BANK's competition offers the best and most creative founders from North Rhine-Westphalia a platform that helps them gain greater public visibility and simultaneously connect with potential business partners and customers . A business plan is not required for participation. Simply complete the online application form at www.gruenderpreis.nrw . A jury of representatives from business, academia, and government will review the submitted applications. In selecting the winners, the jury will focus primarily on economic success and a viable business model . Other criteria include social commitment , environmental protection , sustainability , and family-friendliness.
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Quote: "We support founders in North Rhine-Westphalia with their innovations and entrepreneurial courage, so that no good idea fails due to a lack of financing." Eckhard Forst , CEO of NRW.BANK
Good to know: Even those who are still considering starting a business with ties to North Rhine-Westphalia will find a reliable partner in NRW.BANK, which supports them at every stage with tailored funding options – whether it's a start with relatively low investment, the capital-intensive development of a prototype, a start-up in the scaling and growth phase, or someone taking over a business. As the state's development bank, NRW.BANK provides support with low-interest loans , equity financing , and also independent, practical advice on funding opportunities.
Do you also have an innovative idea, technology, or want to bring your existing, young company into the spotlight or receive funding? Then contact NRW.BANK now – and turn your vision into reality.
Find out more now at www.nrwbank.de/de/gruender/
Founders' Prize NRW 2022
Small and medium-sized independent companies and freelancers can apply for the Founders’ Award NRW 2022 until 7 August 2022 if they
The competition is also aimed at individuals who have successfully managed a business succession , a start-up from unemployment , or a career re-entry – whether as a part-time or full-time venture. The NRW.BANK is donating a total of €60.000 in prize money (1st place: € 30.000 , 2nd place: €20.000 , 3rd place: €10.000 ).
Apply now www.gruenderpreis.nrw/
The path to funding
Founders can receive support from NRW.BANK with loans, equity capital, and funding advice. Important: Apply for funding first, then invest. If projects are already underway, no funding is available.
✓ Use advice: Contact the NRW.BANK funding advisory service, one of the STARTERCENTER NRW or a chamber.
✓ Contact your bank: Present your business plan there and clarify funding options and the question of collateral.
✓ Apply for funding: After your credit check and approval by your bank, you apply for the funding with your bank. Your bank submits the application to NRW.BANK.
✓ Conclude a loan agreement: After your application has been reviewed, you conclude the loan agreement with your bank.
✓ Implement projects: Start your project.
Would you like to learn more about NRW.BANK's funding opportunities? www.nrwbank.de
Start: It all starts with a business idea and a good business plan.
Assistance: A development bank can provide financial start-up assistance.
Pilot: Your bank will direct you to the development bank, help you with the application, and submit it there.
Growth: Development banks offer support for every phase of a business.
DHB is now also available digitally! Simply click here and register for the digital DHB!
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