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!