WHO TO HIRE?

Demographic change is leading to a growing shortage of skilled workers. This is compounded by a difficult economic situation, which poses major challenges for businesses. VIVID took a closer look at how they are nevertheless managing to bring companies and young talent together.

Germany is competing globally for skilled workers, but the decisive factors are not only visas and immigration rules – anyone wishing to attract international talent on a long-term basis must invest in language skills, qualifications, fair recruitment and integration. The Düsseldorf- based company Onea Care demonstrates through the example of the care sector how this process can work and why it is becoming a strategic topic for an increasing number of industries.

Located right on the banks of the Rhine, Hamm has retained its village character to this day. This is despite directly bordering the Medienhafen, Bilk and Unterbilk, which are more industrial and urban districts. In the past, the main crops grown here were vegetables; the name 'Kappes Hamm' still refers to the Low German word for cabbage. Until the 1950s, the area was also renowned for its asparagus cultivation. Today, commercial horticulture predominates. Cut flowers and balcony plants are partly cultivated in open fields, under plastic sheeting or in greenhouses. The open fields play a vital role in providing the city with fresh air.

Millions of baby boomers are set to retire soon, digital natives are coming through and AI is gaining ever more influence. Given these developments, how can companies manage to document their knowledge, pass it on in a targeted manner and make the best possible use of it? VIVID spoke to a professor of business management, a family business in the succession process and a startup with AI-based knowledge software.

Almost every football fan knows Kicktipp. Very few people realise, however, that Germany’s largest football prediction platform is essentially run by just two people. This is the story of a Düsseldorf-based company that was never meant to be one – and is all the more successful for it.

Host city for UEFA EURO 2024 as well as the UEFA Women’s EURO 2029 and a candidate to host the Olympics – the city of Düsseldorf is definitely ‘on the map’ when it comes to hosting major international sporting events. But what does that actually mean for Düsseldorf as a business location? VIVID investigated.

The Startup Week is further proof that Düsseldorf has long established itself as one of Germany’s startup hubs: From 7 to 11 September 2026, around 9,000 participants came together for 93 events. Highlights included the Female Founders Summit, the ERGO Pitch Party and the Future Tech Fest 2026. Right at the heart of Düsseldorf’s startup scene are LearnSlices, navou and rh Yarn, which we introduce in this issue. Happy reading!

He develops property, has been collecting contemporary art for decades and, with the Philara Collection, has created a venue that has been shaping Düsseldorf’s art scene. To mark the exhibition space’s tenth anniversary, Gil Bronner talks about his passion for collecting, entrepreneurial decisions and the responsibility that comes with private initiatives.

For over twenty years, Petra Schlieter- Gropp has worked with Schlieter & Friends to create events that bring people together, ranging from the Lovebird Festival to corporate events and new festival formats. VIVID editor Rainer Kunst speaks to the event manager about good ideas, working as a married couple, viewing crises as opportunities, the importance of Düsseldorf's creative industries and why face-to-face encounters are becoming increasingly important in the digital age.

From Washington D.C. and New York to Düsseldorf – Vanessa McMann studied marketing and business administration in the USA, worked for the Washington Post and international branding agencies and eventually met her husband, the managing director of Foto Koch, which is how she came to be living in Düsseldorf since 2014. Here, she initially founded and ran the juice bar ‘VeJuice’. Today, as a yoga, Pilates and Lagree instructor, she promotes a positive outlook on life and plenty of exercise.

Christian Underwood has reinvented the way his strategy consultancy operates. Instead of working with 30 consultants, he now uses AI-powered software that enables companies to develop their own strategies. In this interview, he explains why agent systems are transforming the consultancy industry and why Germany is lagging behind in AI.