UNSTOPPABLE – A CITY
OF SPORT

Regular sporting events, large and small, an extremely diverse club scene and committed sports sponsorship make Düsseldorf a city of sport. This strengthens the economy in many ways.

More and more Asian companies are settling in Düsseldorf - and enrich the city of sport on the Rhine with their passion for Asian sports and their sponsorship of local teams such as Fortuna. The symbiosis of business and sport promotes team spirit, motivation and corporate social responsibility.

The Dreischeibenhaus is considered an architectural symbol of the German post-war economic boom. While construction work was completed in 1960, the economic significance of the 94-metrehigh building continued to grow skywards: until 2010, it was home to part of Thyssenkrupp AG. Today, various well-known companies are located here in the immediate vicinity of the Kö-Bogen – including, since October 2023, NFL Germany. The declared objective, which could not be more fitting for this location, is growth - for the NFL, but also generally for the sport of American football in Germany.

With its online magazine Hiphop.de, ManeraMedia GmbH runs the most widely read pop culture magazine in the German-speaking world. The company has also set itself the task of embedding hip-hop culture in brands - and in football. How does that work? VIVID spoke to managing director Tobias Kargoll.

The second edition of the InDUStrial project brings together artists from Düsseldorf and its Ukrainian twin city, Chernivtsi.

A highlight of Startup Week Düsseldorf 2024: for the third time, startups met venture capitalists, business angels and family businesses - and experienced an extremely inspiring evening together.

Düsseldorf used to be big in cycling. Up until the 1930s, there were six large cycle racing tracks in the city. A long-buried tradition that is now being revitalised. Cross-country races such as the "QuerFeldRhein", the new profile of the classic "Rund um die Kö" and events such as Cyclingworld Europe are examples of the new Düsseldorf bike community. Trendsetters are often bike stores such as "La Bici", "Schicke Mütze" and "Awsum". They all stand for the newly discovered passion for cycling.

Around 90 per cent of all German companies are owner-managed family businesses. But what happens when the management retires? VIVID spoke to Victoria Frankenheim and Sophie Hinkel, both managing directors of their own family businesses, about their experiences.

From 3 to 7 June, Düsseldorf was once again a hotspot for everyone interested in startups: the 9th Startup Week Düsseldorf. More than 5,000 participants took part and around 120 events over the five days provided a platform for getting to know each other, exchanging ideas, networking and learning. The event has become an extremely important element and catalyst for the local startup ecosystem. Since the premiere of Startup Week in 2015, the number of startups has increased from 135 to 550 in 2023! Today, we would like to introduce you to three of these courageous founders: altus, consalio and O.C. Hairsystems.

When she was offered the position of CEO at Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, her husband said, "Go for it, take your chance!” As far as her 10-year-old daughter is concerned, Charlotte Beissel is the boss. She is the first female board member in the more than 155-year-old company. A fact about which the lawyer makes no fuss. Although she is aware that she is sending out a strong signal in favour of female managers. VIVID spoke to the woman who gave up her civil servant status, entered a male-dominated industry and is now mastering the energy transition and digital transformation.

VIVID recently celebrated its 25th edition. From the very first issue, the VIVID team has worked closely with the Office of Economic Development Düsseldorf. In this 26th issue, its director Theresa Winkels looks back on this successful magazine collaboration in an interview with VIVID editor Rainer Kunst, provides insights into her work and the development processes involved, and describes her close ties to the city.

A key player in the midfield, Oliver Fink helped Fortuna Düsseldorf win promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2011/2012 season. Following relegation, he captained the club back to the top flight in the 2017/2018 season. Shortly before his 40th birthday in 2022, the native of Oberpfalz played his last professional match. Today, the father of two boys is committed to Fortuna's youth work and strategic development.

E-sports has been a fast-growing market in Germany for years and, with its young target group, is one of the most exciting platforms for advertisers. It's not just Fortuna that plays in the virtual German Bundesliga, Düsseldorf is also a sought-after venue for international gaming tournaments. More and more companies are playing digitally themselves – as a team-building exercise and for recruiting.