Ole Kretschmann and Patrick Frank have been collaborating for the best part of a decade. They share a vision of providing a stage that's open and equal to all voices, engaging with a free community of listeners. So they put a team together and founded Voice Republic. It allows users to live stream and archive audio content, from big conferences to one-on-one interviews, from university seminars to community radio shows. The tool is quick and easy to use: one microphone, one URL and the world can tune in. When the stream is stopped the recording is automatically archived on the user's page.

Ole and Patrick are passionate about free speech, open knowledge and connecting communities of listeners and speakers. They are also strong advocates for an open and anonymous internet. Both come from artistic backgrounds, Patrick is a composer of new music and a cultural theorist. Ole is a writer and craftsman, but also the man behind Berlin's analogue photo booth revival. In his own words:

'This is our contribution towards an internet that stands for freedom of speech - we let you speak. We are unlocking a new and exciting field of content-publishing - the spoken word audio. Our start-up isn't about problem-solving - it is about creating dialogue, discussion and discourse. VR is a tool to do just that' 

Voice Republic is still in year one after launch. The team, based jointly in Zurich and Berlin, have stuck up partnerships with a number of key conference organisers in both countries - notably Berlin's prestigious re:publica - and has already begun it's drive for users and integration in the US. A major rebuild of the site goes online at the end of October with a feast of new features and improved functionality.

Why is Dislike at the Startup Weekend Creative Business?

The primary question the three founders see themselves confronted with is: How can you generate sustainable revenue with Dislike? The team of three is looking forward to interesting inputs from specialists on their field, but also to new ideas and contacts at the Startup Weekend Creative Business. Furthermore they are open to propositions regarding structuring and professionalizing, as well as handling the budgeting better and planning with a higher time horizon. Most of all they are not specialized in the fields of finance, marketing and distribution and want to benefit from the Startup Weekend Creative Business.

Are you in a similar situation? Do you need insights in specific fields? Or do you have great inputs or background knowledge? Then sign up for Startup Weekend Creative Business – Let us achieve great things together.

Ok, that’s an UK Definition, but what about good old Switzerland?

To give you a local example of the importance of creativity in economy, let’s have a look at this: In 2010, Christoph Weckerle and Hubert Theler from the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) released the 3rd Report on the Creative Industries in Zurich. Commissioned by Stadt Zürich, Stadtentwicklung / Wirtschaftsförderung and Standortförderung des Kantons Zürich, it shows not only the current situation of the creative industries but also the political goal to support this economic sector in its growth. They found that the creative industries play an important role not only in the cultural development of a city but also in economics. Read more on it here: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/prd/de/index/stadtentwicklung/wirtschaftsfoerderung/clusterstrategie/kreativwirtschaft.html and here: http://creativezurich.ch/zahlen-und-fakten/

Wanted: People with ideas.

If you're part of the creative industries or want to become a part of them as a startup, bring your idea to startup weekend creative business, form a team and start your journey!