NRW: Why the start-up association and NRWalley are parting ways

The BVDS terminates its cooperation with its quasi-state association in Germany's largest federal state and re-establishes its own representation in Düsseldorf. This is just the latest step in a conflict that has been smouldering for some time.

The start-up scene in Germany's largest federal state is grating and creaking: Two weeks ago, it was announced that the Federal Association of German Startups (BVDS) had terminated its cooperation with NRWalley. Relatively informally, by email to the three board members of the North Rhine-Westphalian association, the Berlin-based organization requested that all references to the cooperation be removed by the end of July.

The letter is the end of a difficult construction that arose during the crisis that the start-up association experienced in 2019. At the time, NRWalley had split off from the association, but subsequently acted as a quasi-state association. The board members were also supposed to be the state spokespersons for the association in NRW. Now the federal association wants to try again with an official offshoot between the Rhine and Ruhr. "For us, this was an idea that we had had for some time," explains Christoph Stresing, Managing Director of the start-up association. Now a separate state association is to fight for more attention in Düsseldorf, with more professional structures than NRWalley, which was previously organized mainly on a voluntary basis.

One point of criticism may also have been the lack of presence in the election campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia this spring, although the start-up association has made contradictory statements on this issue. This could also be due to internal quarrels at NRWalley. Due to an expensive advertising campaign, the members refused to approve the actions of the old board, as reported by OMR reported. A new trio took over, Madeleine Heuts (founder of Raketenstart), Maria Mann (founder of Financery) and Nele Mletschkowsky (founder of Quofox). "We have professionalized the internal processes, talked intensively with the supporting members and are currently planning the next few months after three events," says Heuts, describing her start. This is actually exactly what the start-up association wants. So is the separation ultimately mainly down to bad timing?

Did NRWalley not approach politicians enough?

Both sides emphasize that they want to remain in contact and that the whole thing should not result in a duel between the associations in NRW. However, the separation is accompanied by disturbing noises. "It would have been good if we had spoken directly to the new chair beforehand," complains Madeleine Heuts. But before the email in mid-July, there had been no warning that the cooperation would no longer continue. In addition, NRWalley was already addressing some of the points of criticism on its own initiative.

However, there are also people in NRW who welcome the move. For example Timo Marks, founder of the start-ups Onefid and Perfect-ID. Marks was one of the initiators of NRWalley and a board member of the association until he stepped down at the beginning of this year for time reasons - voluntarily, as he emphasizes. "As a member of the NRWalley board and state spokesperson for the start-up association, I effectively held two honorary positions alongside my work as a founder," he says. There was hardly any time left for family and friends. However, he was still the BVDS state spokesperson. And he remains so: alongside Sophie Tran (founder of Spotlight Ventures) and consultant Vivian Wilde, he is now one of three state spokespersons appointed by the association independently of NRWalley. "We needed and still need the cooperation with Berlin," he explains the reorganization: "That's where the key decisions for start-ups are made, for example on topics such as employee participation." In addition, only the professional structure of the BVDS allows the office of state spokesperson to be exercised effectively in an honorary capacity.

Marks' seamless transition between the structures nevertheless causes some grumbling in the NRWalley environment. Especially as he was responsible for communication between BVDS and NRWalley. "Of course, I don't know what he communicated to Berlin," says Madeleine Heuts. "But we certainly exchanged ideas with politicians in NRW, we had a meeting with Andreas Pinkwart right after he took office," she says. The founder defends himself against these accusations: "I always told the new board to approach the startup association in Berlin and talk to them." He considers it inappropriate that the debate is now shifting to a personal level. "We are concentrating on representing the interests of start-ups and making a contribution to making NRW more attractive as a start-up location. That is our top priority," he says.

Both associations continue

What happens now in North Rhine-Westphalia? Both associations emphasize that they do not want to get in each other's way. NRWalley wants to continue in any case. "We have the same mission of promoting start-ups and new businesses," says Madeleine Heuts. "The more offers there are, the better for the ecosystem." Stresing from the start-up association also emphasizes that there should be no confrontation. "With the realignment, we are creating a local presence in NRW. We see that as an advantage," he says. "Ultimately, we want to set up the structures as professionally as this federal state deserves," he explains.

At NRWalley, they are convinced that their regional focus will be enough to survive. They want to focus less on topics such as research and more on close cooperation with the founders. Supporting female founders, founders with a migration background or those from the LGBTQIA+ community should be a focus. "There are also several associations with different focuses in other sectors," says Heuts.