May 22, 2026

About Next Conference, June 13, 2026

As part of the About Pop Festival & Convention 2026 (June 12-13, 2026), About Next will take place on June 13 – a sub-conference bringing together the creative industries, start-ups, technology, and innovation.

About Next creates space for exchange, new collaborations, and fresh impulses between the creative scene, businesses, and the public sector. At its core are the opportunities of a strong regional innovation ecosystem in which creative and entrepreneurial skills work hand in hand. Expect panels, talks, workshops, and best-practice formats on current topics such as new business models, digital sovereignty, community building, and sustainable cultural work. About Next highlights how creative industries are increasingly becoming a driving force for transformation, economic development, and regional attractiveness. Following the program, a get-together in the networking area with food and drinks invites participants to connect and exchange ideas.

The format was initiated by Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH together with MFG Baden-Württemberg, the City of Stuttgart, and the companies HearDis!, and Gold und Wirtschaftswunder.

As part of About Next, MFG Baden-Württemberg will present the workshop “Creative Collaboration – Wie stärkt Brückenkompetenz cross-innovative Zusammenarbeit?“ featuring Mira Kleine, Project Manager for Entrepreneurial Action. The workshop explores how bridging competencies can strengthen collaboration across different disciplines and industries, with a focus on new perspectives for cross-innovative processes between the creative industries, technology, and other economic sectors.

Full prog ram

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026, Doors open: 9:30 CET, Program: 10-18 CET | Location: HearDis! Space, Christophstraße 6, 70178 Stuttgart

Free convention tickets are available via this link. The ticket includes access to About Next as well as the convention programme on Friday. Optionally, the ticket can be upgraded to include the full About Pop program.

More information: About Next | Abo ut Pop

November 7, 2025

Start-up Monday in Ludwigsburg

On 17 November 2025 from 17:00 CET, the Wirtschaftsförderung Stadt Ludwigsburg, together with the agency Pulsmacher, invites everyone to a new edition of the Start-up Monday in Ludwigsburg – an event for aspiring founders, young start-ups, entrepreneurs, and everyone interested in the start-up scene and the creative industries.

At the next Start-up Monday, the impulses will come directly from one of Ludwigsburg’s key creative hubs: Pulsmacher’s neo.Office.

The evening’s topic will be something all founders know all too well: mistakes with consequences – also known as “fuck-ups”. Stories of failure will take center stage and aim to inspire learning as well as laughter. Anyone who would like to share their own story on stage is welcome to contact Max Höllen (m.hoellen@ludwigsburg.de) with their failure story.

Program:
17:00 CET: Admission
18:00 CET: Welcome and introduction of the neo.AI Lab
18:30 CET: Keynote by Katharina Aguilar, founder of UpVisit: “Heulen im Hoodie – Was wir aus dem Scheitern unserer Träume über Zukunft, Führung und Mut lernen können”
Katharina Aguilar offers a radically honest look at entrepreneurship – the tears between term sheets, the weight of responsibility, the quiet moments after the noise, and why it is often exactly there that something new begins.
19:00 CET: Fuck-up Pitches

Venue: pulsmacher GmbH, Kammererstr. 18, 71636 Ludwigsburg

Please register here: Registration

Sources and more information: Stadt Ludwigsburg | Pulsmacher

May 18, 2024

Apply now for IDEENSTARK 2024!

Creative professionals from Baden-Württemberg now have the opportunity to apply for the IDEENSTARK award from MFG Baden-Württemberg. For the eighth time, the motto for forward-thinking creative entrepreneurs, start-ups and solo freelancers is: “Your idea – your opportunity – your company”. The application deadline is Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

The ten selected winners not only receive the prestigious IDEENSTARK award at the IDEENSTARK award ceremony, but also the opportunity to participate in the exclusive support program with various stations free of charge. These include a wide range of tools that cover all facets of the individual everyday life of creative entrepreneurs: from strategy and financing to market positioning, communication, sales and personal development.

A central component of the program is the exchange among participants, which enables them to benefit from the collective wealth of experience.

For those who would like to find out more about IDEENSTARK or have questions about the application process or the program, the open IDEENSTARK consultation hour with project manager Mira Kleine offers the opportunity for clarification. The consultation hour always takes place on Mondays from 11:00-12:00 CET. Upcoming dates are: May 21 (Tuesdays due to public holiday!), May 27 and June 3.

Information and link to the consultation hours

More about Ideenstar k BW and the program

IDEENSTARK is organized by MFG Baden-Württemberg and supported by the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus Baden-Württemberg and the Start-up BW state campaign.