Just under 40 start-ups and newcomers will be presenting their business ideas on Monday 12 October at the Niederrhein 2026 Start-up Fair. The HNX start-up advisory service at the Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) and the Mönchengladbach Start-up Incubator (GFMG) invite you to the Mönchengladbach campus, Building Z (Richard-Wagner-Straße 99), from 3 pm to 8 pm. Doors open at 2.30 pm.
Admission is free, but registration is requested: https://messe.gruendungsfabrik.mg/
The focus will be on the business ideas of nearly 40 start-ups and newcomers, who will be presenting their start-up projects at their own exhibition stands to investors, companies and those interested in starting a business from the region. Another specialisation is the pitch competition, in which seven selected start-up projects will compete for two prizes of 500 euros each. The prize money is sponsored by Stadtsparkasse Mönchengladbach and Sparkasse Krefeld.
In the ‘Newcomer’ category, the following have qualified for the final: ‘Culivia’ by Icha Dhrifi (food/catering), the ‘Zero Waste App’ by Chantal Droste (sustainability) and ‘nodes’ by Lisa Gudehus and Sabrina Mauter (textile industry/sustainability). All three finalists are taking part in the EXIST Women programme run by the HNX team at HSNR. ‘nodes’ will also receive a kick-start grant from HNX of up to 7,500 euros.
In the ‘Start-ups’ category, the winners were: mbnt GmbH with its AI application ‘AI MIRROR’ for virtual fittings, ‘SafeKnot’ with a child safety app, ‘Nomlai®’ with an innovative drink powder for milk and plant-based drinks, and ThinkLane Systems GmbH with an AI-powered travel planning app. The selection was made via a two-stage application procedure involving a pitch deck and a presentation.
In the final at the start-up fair, participants will each have five minutes to present their business idea to the jury. They will then spend three minutes answering the jury’s questions. The winners will be awarded a distinction at the end of the event from 7.25 pm.
As well as the pitch competition, the fair offers the opportunity to find out more about various topics relating to starting a business and to establish contacts. Founders and those interested in starting a business can receive free advice on finance, legal matters, tax, business models, and name and brand development.
Another highlight of the programme is the keynote speech by Marco Kamischke, founder of Megamarsch, starting at 7.10 pm. He will talk about the origins of the project, from the initial idea through to the mistakes and challenges faced, right up to the launch and development of the extreme hiking events, which are now renowned throughout Germany.
“The Lower Rhine Start-up Fair brings together people who can benefit from one another: those interested in starting a business and start-ups receive valuable feedback and can establish contacts. For investors and companies from the region, the fair offers the opportunity to discover new business ideas and innovations and to engage in conversation with the founders,” says Stefanie Kutsch, project manager of the HNX start-up consultancy at HSNR.
