TOA and GesundZusammen launch an accelerator to combat COVID-19

-The initiative “GesundZusammen” (Healthy Together) was launched by the wefox Group, finleap, and via

- In collaboration with TOA they are now taking it to the next level: An accelerator for projects that use digital solutions to contain the spread of COVID-19

- At least five projects will be supported with €20.000

- Applications can be submitted until April 13, 2020

Berlin, April 8, 2020 – Tech Open Air (TOA), Europe's largest interdisciplinary technology festival, has joined the non-profit GesundZusammen initiative, which was launched by the digital insuretech unicorn wefox; via, a Global Citizen Foundation company; and finleap, Europe's leading fintech ecosystem. Together, they have founded the GesundZusammen Accelerator. The accelerator is live with immediate effect, and will support at least five organizations with €20.000 without them having to give up any of their shares. Additionally, the accelerator offers the ideal platform to communicate these individual solutions through a mentoring program as well as the reach of the well-known partners.

The goal is to bring them to market as quickly as possible. Applications are open to start-ups as well as researchers and inventors who may not yet have founded or be registered as legal entities. The focus of the respective project should be on the DACH region, but the location of the applicants can also be outside this region. Applications are accepted immediately and are open until the end of the week, April 13th. The goal of the GesundZusammen initiative (and thus also of the accelerator) is to support projects that want to use digital solutions to tackle COVID-19 and its consequences. In doing so, the initiative can draw on a broad range of supporters from the digital sector, as companies such as N26, the Federal Association of German Startups, Delivery Hero, Omio, Heartbeat Labs, BCG Digital Ventures, GetYourGuide, FreightHub and many more have been partners from the very beginning.

“The speed at which the idea for the GesundZusammen accelerator was born and implemented is encouraging”, says TOA-founder Nikolas Woischnik, who has been active in the Berlin start-up ecosystem for over ten years. “As a physical platform for the European and international tech scene, we are of course directly affected by the current situation, but it was also clear to us that this is a chance to activate our community for other, more urgent formats.”

Dr. Florian Resatsch, Chief Build Officer at finleap: “We are very pleased to have found a strong partner for the accelerator in TOA. Following the launch of the GesundZusammen initiative a week ago, we have received hundreds of e-mails from companies that want to make a contribution or are already working on promising projects. The accelerator was created to bundle this flood of ideas and to push the best of these forward as quickly as possible.”

Julian Teicke, CEO of wefox Group, said: “The accelerator is ready to launch its first tech solution to combat Covid-19, which we will announce next week. This will be a huge step forward that will enable people to track the virus while ensuring that their data is completely private.” The network of partners should grow continuously and, if necessary, the capital invested also needs to adapt to the current situation to guarantee as many projects as possible.

All key data at a glance:

● €20.000 capital (no equity)

● Free resources (products & services) from our partners

● Six weeks of acceleration program for the development of your products, building partnerships, user acquisition & further financing

● Access to mentors and experts from the partner network

● Anyone (companies, researchers, inventors) of any size can apply

● The application deadline is April 13, 2020

● Batch #1 of the accelerator program will finance 6-10 innovative, digital projects

● Applications are quickly evaluated by a top-class jury

● Projects will also be adopted on an ongoing basis afterwards

● The network of partners will grow constantly

● Batch #1 ends with a virtual demo day on May 25, 2020

About TOA

TOA (Tech Open Air) is Europe's first and largest interdisciplinary technology festival. Based in Berlin and initiated by Nikolas Woischnik, the festival connects technology, music, art and science and promotes an exchange and cooperation beyond the scene. In 2019, TOA counted 160 speakers from all over the world, 120 satellite events – organized by the community – and more than 15.000 international guests over four days. TOA is part of the Tech Open family, which includes the 5000 sqm coworking space Ahoy! Berlin (which was bought out by Knotel in 2018) and the communication service provider Openers.

Über GesundZusammen

GesundZusammen is a non-profit initiative that brings together the largest companies in the digital industry as an open ecosystem for the development of digital solutions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Data protection is a top priority. Initiators include via (a Global Citizen Foundation company), wefox Group and finleap. Partners include N26, Bundesverband der deutschen Startups e.V., GetYourGuide, Delivery Hero, Omio and many others. More information is available at GesundZusammen.de. Media contact: Kerstin Bock Head of Media Relations TOA press@toaberlin.com Solveig Rathenow Head of Venture Communication finleap John Shewell Director of Group Marketing & Communications wefox Group Email: media@gesund-zusammen.de

Contact for media requests: 

Kerstin Bock

Head of Media Relations TOA

press@toaberlin.com

Solveig Rathenow

Head of Venture Communication finleap

John Shewell

Director of Group Marketing & Communications wefox Group

Mail: media@gesund-zusammen.de