These are the new start-up shared flats in Mönchengladbach

For the second time, the city of Mönchengladbach is awarding a rent-free shared flat for start-ups. This year's three winners can not only live there, but also use the city's infrastructure at a reduced rate and continue working on their idea with local companies and supporters.

If you want to be attractive for start-ups, you have to make an effort as a location. This is also demonstrated by the city of Mönchengladbach, which offers two shared flats for start-ups free of charge for one year each. During this time, the founders can enjoy all the benefits of the location, such as training at the sports club free of charge or networking with other companies. They also receive workstations and exhibition space and can devote themselves to developing their idea in peace. This year, three start-ups have this opportunity: SwarmTech Industries, Teils mit X and El Visar.

"We are very much looking forward to the new additions to our local start-up ecosystem," says Sebastian Leppert, Chairman of the Nextmg association, which takes on the coaching and mentoring role for the start-ups. This year's winners were selected from ten start-ups.

SwarmTech is the idea of Yusuf Ismail, a bionics student at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. He wants to use swarm intelligence in drone robots to monitor critical infrastructure from the air, for example to carry out maintenance work in good time.

Kristina Mituzaite and Viktor Yotov want to establish an online peer-to-peer library where unused items can be quickly and easily lent to neighbors, fellow students or colleagues.

The third idea that will move into the start-up flat share is from Elvira Sakiri, who has already won the NRW start-up grant: she wants to develop a sustainable and intelligent handbag made from natural materials that has special functions such as theft protection or a simple organizing function.