The AREO GA41 GmbH creates office space for founders in Düsseldorf. The TREIBHAUS has already implemented a successful concept. But Rosita Kaiser from office leasing AREO and Bernd-Claas Gesterkamp, community manager from TREIBHAUS Coworking, have many more ideas.
With the TREIBHAUS-Dusseldorf you have established one of the hot spots for the start-up scene in Dusseldorf. How has the scene evolved in your eyes in recent years?
The Düsseldorf start-up scene has developed very lively in recent years; We see more and more courageous, young people, who do their own thing with a lot of motivation and spirit. This is also proven by the “German Startup Monitor 2018”, which stated that for the first time North Rhine-Westphalia provides the most startups in the survey – not Berlin.
They have very different offices on offer, everything is possible, from the 20 sqm MINI office to the 100 sqm MIDI office. What is the most used? Are there more solo founders or rather whole teams bringing new ideas to life?
Both teams and lone fighters start with an office, which is why we primarily offer smaller areas. The fact that the individual small offices can be combined later to a larger area, we offer each of our tenants the opportunity to grow individually. Often the startups already consist of small teams of two or three people right from the start. The typical one-man show, or more appropriately, one-woman show, is the same. They keep their balance with the teams.
You are developing around the TREIBHAUS within the framework of the “Triangle Concepts” another property that will complement the TREIBHAUS through living space and gastronomy. Can you tell us more details and what goals you have for yourself and the startups?
In urban and district development, the trend is manifesting that living and working locally are closer together again. Developers thus serve the demand of the people. We want to fulfill this desire to combine offers close to each other that complement each other with the Triangle concept. Say: I can live close to the place of work. Or find flexible accommodations near my office. That’s the one thing we work on. Gastronomy and other services close to the place of residence or work, we find equally useful. A first serve recently made against the hothouse newly opened THE GROUND COFFEE. A great coffee concept from England, in a chic industrial design that drives crazy decadent desserts. Within a short time a totally trendy shop, which offers our founders great lunch snacks and a break opportunity to the neighborhood tariff. In short: a win-win situation for everyone!
A triangle consists of three sides. What is your third element?
We really did not want to talk about that yet. These days we are in Hüttenstrasse 27, the soft-opening of our youngest offspring the “TREIBHAUS-COWORKING” by. As experts in small-scale living and working, it was only a matter of time before we also rented tables and memberships to digital nomads. Visit us there. We have interpreted what the scene otherwise does in our own way.
Do you support the startup week in Düsseldorf this year with your sponsoring?
Yes, exactly. We think the startup week is very successful, which is why we are happy to be there to support our startup scene.
You have successfully “exported” the TREIBHAUS concept to Cologne. What are your plans for the coming years?
At the moment, we are working intensively on the implementation of the Triangle concept on the subject of micro-living. We find it very convenient to provide housing near workplaces. Again and again we hear from tenants who are looking for a flat or apartment. We are happy to soon be able to offer you some really great, modern micro apartments.
Are there significant differences between the founders in Dusseldorf and Cologne – apart from the fondness for old or Kölsch?
Of course, the beer preference is a significant difference. In addition, the differences are actually negligible. Both locations have wonderful, creative minds offering ingenious services or products.
And your pitch to Dusseldorf as a startup location in three sentences?
As one of the best university locations, Düsseldorf produces many qualified, well-educated founders and staff. Because of the high quality of life, there is no reason to move away, but for others, all the more reason to settle in Dusseldorf. The city and state of North Rhine-Westphalia have also recognized this and offer a wide range of funding opportunities, which as incentives make the location extremely valuable.
Also published on Medium.