A new start-up? Absolutely! But with due care!
One of the most exciting phases in life begins when you found a company. You have to clarify many questions, solve problems, and make decisions. Founders of companies usually have little capital - and mistakes cost time and money. For this reason, you should take advantage of the free consulting services provided by the University of Bayreuth. These consulting services are not only geared towards graduates, alumni, and staff members, but above all to students who want to become entrepreneurs. Starting up a business is a real alternative to getting a job, and what better way to do it than to transition to your own established company after graduating or completing your doctorate. Consultations are confidential and can be held in the office, by phone, or via video conference by appointment.
Ask the expert
Dr. Andreas Kokott has been working as a start-up consultant at the University of Bayreuth since 2009. Here he has put together some of the most important aspects of founding a company.
In the beginning, there is the question of whether the founding idea can be realized at all. Thus, even before planning, one should check which requirements and legal prerequisites (laws, regulations and standards) must be met. For example, in Germany a company homepage requires an “Impressum” section. When shipping products, registration with the packaging register and a contract with a waste disposal company are required.
Another important and often underestimated aspect is industrial property rights. This includes trademark and design protection, but patents and utility models may also play a role depending on the idea. There are two perspectives on intellectual property rights. On the one hand, one must not infringe the rights of competitors, and on the other hand one can apply for one's own protection rights.
The name of the company is an issue in almost every start-up consultancy. It must be clarified whether the name or logo is already being used by competitors in the same or similar form and, if so, whether it has been protected. Registering the company name and/or logo as a trademark at the German Patent and Trademark Office at an early stage is therefore recommended. The following applies when it comes to brands: Whoever registers first has the law on his side, not whoever uses the name or logo first.
In addition to trademarks, there are also design protection and technical protection rights, such as patents and utility models. These intellectual property rights should be checked before production or when importing goods. Having one’s own, granted patent is a very strong unique selling point and can be a decisive argument for investors. In the case of intellectual property rights, very detailed research is necessary. If required, the start-up consultancy will refer these cases to network partners, such as the Patentzentrum-Bayern/Bayern Innovativ.
#GründerUni: An interesting selection of successful Bayreuth company founders and founder teams can be found here: www.gruender.uni-bayreuth.de/de/erfolgsstories
Dr. Andreas KokottSupport for start-ups at the Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
University of Bayreuth
Nürnberger-Str. 38 / House 1
D- 95448 Bayreuth
Phone: +49 (0) 921 / 55-4672
Mail: andreas.kokott@uni-bayreuth.de
Web: www.gruender.uni-bayreuth.de