Some company stories begin with a business plan, some with a funding round and some with a perfectly orchestrated launch. And then there’s Another Cotton Lab. The success story of the Düsseldorf-based streetwear brand began with a simple T-shirt. And with a day when most things come to a standstill: Sunday. Today, it has become one of the most exciting German brand stories – and a masterclass in community building.

The Düsseldorf region has become a key hub for innovative companies across Europe with a thriving startup scene. Some of the firms founded here have also grown to become highly successful scaleups. VIVID tells two stories of growth.

In 2020, the EU examined environmental claims made by companies and found that half of them were either unverifiable or unsubstantiated. Product information is therefore now to be regulated uniformly through a directive. For companies, this means one thing above all – a need for advice.

Growing and scaling up in the state capital: in Düsseldorf, fresh ideas receive professional support from the Economic Development Agency throughout various stages of a company’s development. From the initial steps – including business plans, funding options and integration into networks and events such as Startup Week – right through to the next major step, such as internationalisation, raising larger amounts of capital and strategic support.