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Volkswagen’s Transparent Shark Tank

Starting a business or getting a new technology is not easy; you need money, space, access to resources, and a lot of coffee (I’m guessing). At CeBIT 2017 Volkswagen announced they’re going to help entrepreneurs with most of these needs.

Space within the Transparent Factory in Dresden Germany is being freed up for an incubator program called the Ideation Hub. This space is being reserved for start-ups working on cutting-edge mobility solutions in fleet management, car sharing, concierge and navigation/parking services, and smart home services.

The program gives start-ups the opportunity to see their concepts brought to life. What makes this new initiative interesting is how they’ll decide who gets the keys to the front door; through a fast-paced competition that Mark Cuban would probably endorse.

Time is of the essence with this program: participants have until the end of April to send in their mobility ideas. Volkswagen and the Economic Development Department of the City of Dresden have launched a site where entrepreneurs submit their concepts. Select teams will then have 10 minutes to pitch their brainchild in Dresden.

Five groups will then get their own golden ticket: six months in the Ideation Hub starting in the spring. The program gives them access to resources of everlasting gobstopper proportions: technology, program feedback, and, of course, Volkswagen’s electric automobiles for testing purposes. Later in the year five more groups will replace the first five giving a total of 10 start-ups this unprecedented opportunity.

“We see our unique selling proposition in providing direct access to vehicles,” said Kai Siedlatzek, managing director of VW Sachsen, responsible for Finance and Controlling. “We will open the relevant software interfaces of our electric models to allow the start-ups to try out their ideas on, in or with a car or together with visitors to the Transparent Factory.”

“The Ideation Hub and the Transparent Factory will be co-operating closely,” said  Dr. Jennifer Geffers, Head of the Volkswagen Group IT Ideation Hub. “Together we offer a wide variety of possibilities for networking start-ups and their ideas with partners throughout the company.”

In addition to the resources at the Dresden facility, the groups will receive up to €15,000 to help with their expenses. The 10 teams will also get access to mentors and coaches, high-quality IT infrastructure, contacts with Volkswagen research and development employees and decision-makers, professional advice by Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB), and a really cool working environment. And hopefully lots and lots of coffee.

The post Volkswagen’s Transparent Shark Tank appeared first on VWVortex.



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