Ready, Set, Impact! – The Innovators Club Kick-Off

The figures in the run-up to the event had already shown that there is a strong appetite for entrepreneurship at BTU: over 120 registrations were received for the Innovators Club’s first event. Around 80 students, researchers and those interested in starting a business eventually made their way to the Unbelehr-Bar to jointly mark the start of a new era in Cottbus’s start-up culture.

From initial curiosity to real impact

The evening made it clear that innovation knows no bounds. The participants came from a wide variety of disciplines: from AI and cybersecurity to power engineering and Business Administration. The international flavour was particularly impressive: talent from India, Pakistan and across Europe exchanged ideas over cold drinks about their visions for AI agents, health tech or sustainable energy solutions.

Two people who are already on this path provided valuable insights: Julia Korensky (TripLeap) and Fritz Berkmann (NMI Technologies) shared their personal experiences as speakers. Their message was clear: the first step is often the hardest, but in the right ecosystem, anything is possible.

The path to start-up: where does the Innovators Club fit in?

A central part of the evening was the presentation of the “start-up journey”. Many interested parties wonder where they actually belong with their idea. At the Lausitz Science Park, there is a clear structure for this:

• Pre-incubator (Innovators Club): This is where it all begins. The aim is to discover potential, form interdisciplinary teams and validate ideas without the pressure to perform. We lay the groundwork.
• Incubator: This is where things get concrete. Teams with validated ideas work on their business model, develop initial prototypes and prepare for market entry.
• Accelerator: For start-ups that have already been founded and now want to scale up quickly – often with support from mentoring and investor networks such as the Startup Lausitz Ecosystem (MUL Accelerator).

“Nobody wanted to leave”

The atmosphere in the Unbelehr-Bar was initially characterised by eager curiosity and quickly turned into a lively buzz. There were presentations, discussions and networking. The highlight for the Innovators Club team: even after two hours of intense discussion, nobody really wanted to leave. The first project ideas were sketched out and contacts were made between students and representatives of the local start-up ecosystem right at the bar.

What happens next

The kick-off was just the beginning. We are building this club together with the community. In the current first phase, we are moving straight into implementation:

Regular co-working sessions will take place from now on. The first session is on 6 May at Startup Block. Here, we’re creating a space for everyone who wants to work on their projects, find partners or simply stay in the start-up vibe. Later in the year, there’ll be workshops, team matchings and, as the grand finale, the STAR*Parade.

Would you like to become part of the community too?

You can find all the details about the upcoming events here: https://www.b-tu.de/lausitz-science-park/innovators-club