On November 21, 2024, the Spreepark event hall in Beeskow provided a large stage for start-ups in the Oderland-Spree region. The event was hosted by the Oderland-Spree start-up partners' working group, which presented the 2024 Founder Award and the 2024 Courage Award on this evening. The "Succession Award for the Oderland-Spree Region", sponsored by the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Frankfurt (Oder) Chamber of Skilled Crafts, was also presented for the first time in the region.
The more than 80 guests at the award ceremony were welcomed by Beeskow's mayor Robert Czaplinski. The jury, which consisted of members of the working group, had selected the winners of the evening from 26 applications in advance, but had kept them secret.
The winner of the 2024 Founder's Prize, which is endowed with 2,024 euros, was Florian Henkel, who set up his own business in 2022 by taking over the Seecamp Waldreich campsite. Together with his three employees, the 25-year-old trained carpenter offers holidaymakers and long-term campers a place to relax and unwind directly on Lake Ranziger See in the municipality of Tauche. Together with the Founder's Prize, Florian Henkel was also awarded the Media Prize of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. The laudatory speech was given by Frank Steffen, District Administrator of the Oder-Spree district. With regard to the award winner and the applicants as a whole, he emphasized in his speech: "You are all a role model for many others who are thinking: What am I doing with my life?"
In addition to the main business start-up, the 2024 Courage Award was once again presented to a sideline start-up. This year's winner was announced by the Mayor of the City of Frankfurt (Oder), Claus Junghanns, in his laudatory speech. The 2024 Courage Award, which comes with prize money of 500 euros, was presented to Philip Murawski, who enriches Frankfurt's city center with the German-Polish art store KUKURYKU! She received the "Succession Award for the Oderland-Spree Region", which is endowed with 1,000 euros. She was honored for her successful takeover of Bestattungsdienst Sigrid Oßwald GmbH from Seelow with a laudatory speech by Wolf-Harald Krüger, President of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Frankfurt (Oder).
The program was complemented by a founders' gallery consisting of numerous posters. It contained personal statements from the applicants about their views on the path to self-employment and the regional environment, as well as tips for other founders.
Lars Strenge, Economic Development Manager at the Oder-Spree District Development and Infrastructure Office, was delighted with the successful event: "The evening showed that the start-up landscape in East Brandenburg is very diverse, creative and innovative and that the path to self-employment can be worthwhile for many people."