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.

Marcel Angelo Walker – coffee roaster and creative jack-of-all-trades.

For Marcel, doing the things he is most passionate about always came naturally. He is happy with his job as a coffee roaster, but after eight hours of work his day is far from being over: His free time is dedicated to his manifold interests. He likes to spend his hours reading a good book, doing some wood carving or emergency aid training with his dog until the cats become jealous. His house and garden need some attention too, as does the atelier - if he is not too busy making masterful cocktails as a barkeeper.

For Marcel, living his passions is essential: “You only live once. Following your passion means making the best out of your time.” As he is skilled in craftsmanship, he likes to work with his hands. An office job or party nights every weekend would never suit him. Salary is secondary, if you get up in the morning and are really looking forward to the new day, he says.

If you think that one has to pursue his passions and even make it a day job, the Startup Weekend Creative Business might be just what you need. Sign up now!

Stefano Foscaldi, founder of YoungFounders – The Startup Network

Stefano is passionate about business opportunities and making them happen. Early on he realised that his skill of thinking up visionary ideas alone was not enough. It required something more: the right people to make it happen. He cofounded YoungFounders.net, a company aiming to bring together the right people at the right time for a specific business venture. He used his talent in HR to create connections that would be beneficial and lasting. That is what YoungFounders is all about.

Stefano says that he found his passion connecting people for business, as he does not have all the skills to take and pursue the opportunities he sees. Not yet working full time on it, his passion his gradually becoming  a job.
Stefano is convinced that you have to live your passion. He says: “It is fun to work, if you are pursuing your passion. You can work harder, longer and more days a week but still like what you do. Isn’t this amazing? And if you get to earn money with it, that’s the jackpot!” You do have a passion as well? To start your entrepreneurial project, Stefano welcomes you to the Startup Weekend Creative Business, sign up here!

At startup weekend creative business we aim at creating an event which enables you to develop your own idea that belongs or connects to the fields of creative industries. But what do we mean by creative industries?

What is a creative business?

Are you a designer, an artist or a professional writer? Then you most probably already know that you belong to the sector of economy which we call creative industries. According to the UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) influential definition, they „have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property". Its 12 sectors are:

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!

Sure you've heard this one before. But as you seem to be interested in Startup Weekend Creative Business, you know that the opposite is true. As for Switzerland for example, creative work has already quiet some economical impact. Let's have a brief look at it:

Cultural Industries/ Creative Economy (Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft)

Cultural industries produce and distribute cultural or creative goods or services, which are usually protected by intellectual property rights. These industries include LITERATURE/PUBLISHING, ADVERTISING MARKET, MUSIC, CINEMA & AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION, MULTIMEDIA, BROADCASTING, CRAFTS & DESIGN, FASHION, GAME DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, VISUAL ARTS & PERFORMING ARTS, etc.

Entrepreneurship and Culture in Switzerland

The cultural and creative sector makes a significant contribution to social and economic development. In Switzerland, the creative industries form 4.2% of the GDP (dt.: BIP) and make for 5% of all employees.
Despite these impressive figures, the representatives of business and culture remain skeptical about each others fields - culture and commerce seem to stand in opposition and are rarely seen as natural allies. But companies are influenced by the cultural environment of a country and working in the cultural and creative economy is always an entrepreneurial activity. As a creative, you want your ideas to spread and to be successfull. Maybe you dream of living off your art, music or designs. As an entrepreneur, you are looking for ideas worth spreading - the potential of an economically successful product. After all, isn't that a lot that you have in common already?

Pride and Prejudice

So don't be shy. It's important to connect people with the right knowledge and drive to get from the idea to the realistic model of a business plan. We aim at establishing a forum and a workspace for people from multiple areas with their specific knowledge and insight. Out of this interdisciplinary spirit, ideas can grow. At Startup Weekend Creative Business arise business ideas, which, except for start-up funding, support themselves and are successful in the long term. Let it be yours - sign up now!