For the first time, the ITB Berlin, the international tourist-market, devotes a whole day to the start-up-scene this year. From Wednesday 7th March 2018, until Sunday 11th March 2018, the representatives of the international travel market will meet at the Berlin exhibition centre at the Funkturm. With more than 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries and around 160,000 visitors in 2017, the ITB Berlin is worldwide the leading exhibition of the travel industry.
The special feature this year, is the premiere of the eTravel Start-up Days. This takes place for the first time on Friday 9th March from 10:30 am on the eTravel Stage in hall 6.1, during the eTravel World. At the eTravel World, established businesses, as well as young start-ups from the tourism industry, present their innovations around digital marketing, social media and mobile travel services. On eTravel Start-up Day, founders from Europe, America and Asia meet up with various investors. At altogether eight events, the young entrepreneurs inform about, amongst other things, their digital products and services from the travel technology sector and discuss themes of the travel industry. Some of the start-ups even take part in a competition for the title of the most innovative entrepreneur.
The focus of the start-up scene at the ITB Berlin, once more shows that Berlin is an interesting destination for people from all over the world. Yearly there are around 40,000 new foundations in the capital alone, 500 of which are technology start-ups. In the whole of Germany, Berlin is top of the list of new foundations, with a share of 16,8%. And young entrepreneurs are constantly looking for committed and highly qualified employees for their start-ups. These, they will mostly find outside of Germany. Nearly half of the start-up employees (47.7%) come to Berlin from all over the world in order to work here.
Berlin offers optimal conditions for the fast growing start-up scene and is therefore especially popular with international entrepreneurs. Because in Berlin, numerous investors are bustling around who can offer financial support to young entrepreneurs for the founding and further expansion of their businesses. Also, the excellent infrastructure with its founder centres and technology centres, as well as the large supply of co-working spaces, present Berlin as a sound basis for founders. Additionally, the creative atmosphere and the high quality of life are forever enticing many people into the capital.
