Start-up association apparently terminates cooperation with NRWalley

According to a media report, there are now two competing start-up lobby associations in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The Federal Association of German Start-ups (BVDS) has, according to a report in the Rheinische Post that it has terminated its cooperation with the state association NRWalley - apparently by email. According to the report, the BVDS is now appointing three NRW state spokespersons of its own: Sophia Tran, Viviane Wilde and Timo Marks. NRWalley is to remove public references to the cooperation by the end of the month.

According to the source, a message from managing directors Christoph Stresing and Franziska Teubert to the NRWalley chairpersons states that the "construction" is "not practical". There have been developments in the regional association that have reinforced this impression. Examples: a poster campaign that was considered overpriced and problems with the discharge of the former board.

Now there are apparently two lobby associations for start-ups in NRW. The BVDS is said to have the better reach, which could devalue NRWalley. According to the newspaper report, Madeleine Heuts, one of the board members of NRWalley, said that their focus is on the well-being and added value of start-ups. In order for founders to develop in the best possible way, cooperation with the BVDS is also necessary. With more than 280 members, NRWalley is certainly a strong voice.