The SaltLabs in Halle was this year’s venue for bmp Ventures’ Portfolio Day on 18 September. Some 150 entrepreneurs, investors and partners were once again given an opportunity to take a closer look at the extremely diverse portfolio of bmp Ventures and find out more about the latest developments in Saxony-Anhalt. And for the first time, Startup Safari Halle was held in parallel to Portfolio Day; co-organised by bmp Ventures, it provided start ups from all over Saxony-Anhalt with a chance to showcase their companies at exciting sessions and workshops.

The main attraction of the evening were the pitches by five start ups and growth companies from the IBG portfolio. The following companies introduced themselves to our guests:

  • the software platform Digital Republic Media Group,
  • ​the software companies COMAN Software and Novus Work System,
  • the med-tech company Lab-on-Fiber, and
  • the bike manufacturer Urwahn Engineering.

The evening event was opened by Dr. Franziska Krüger, Head of the Department of Digitalisation, the Creative and IT Industries, Trade, Location Marketing, and Start Ups at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digitalisation of the State of Saxony-Anhalt.

Jürgen Terschluse, the host and managing director of SaltLabs workplaces + coffee GmbH, described the concept of his business, which combines premises for start ups with a coffee shop which is open to the public, and looked ahead to its future development as a start-up hub with co-working space in a central inner city location.

He was followed by Martin Menz, the founder and managing director of Relaxdays, a fast-growing e-commerce business from Halle, who reported on his experiences as a successful entrepreneur.

Before handing over the stage to the five portfolio companies, managing partner Oliver Borrmann concluded with an overview of what had been happening at bmp Ventures over the last twelve months; this had included many new and follow-up investments, several exits, and the new ‘Startup Gladiator’ venture capital programme.

Ywes Israel, an investment manager with bmp Ventures, chaired the event during the pitches and fielded questions from the audience.

And there was plenty of time for networking too: a warm day, a substantial al fresco buffet and cold drinks on the broad terraces of the inner courtyard formed the perfect setting for constructive discussions about interesting business ideas, innovations and cooperative ventures, before the evening drew to a close with an after-show party by the start up Safari Halle in Club No. 12 to the sounds of DJ Bionic.