The UnternehmerTUM has launched the "Digital Business Lab," a new coaching program for small and medium-sized businesses. In cooperation with the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, UnternehmerTUM aims to provide small and medium-sized companies in Bavaria with rapid, practical support in their digital transformation.
What is the motivation behind UnternehmerTUM's move to offer a coaching program for small and medium-sized businesses in the future? Managing Director and co-initiator Sascha Rehbock answers this question:
“Medium-sized companies are particularly hard hit by digital transformation; international competitors and startups are currently entering the market and forcing traditional companies to massively increase their pace of innovation.”
However, most of them are unable to do this because of a lack of qualified experts, the keyword being the shortage of skilled workers.
Solutions for digital transformation in twelve weeks
This is precisely where the Digital Business Lab (DBL) comes in: Interested companies send one to three of their employees to Munich. There, experienced coaches train them over a period of three months on how to develop exemplary digital products, services, or even business models.
“Our program is aimed primarily at companies with 150 to 1,500 employees,”
Rehbock said. They are open to all industries. Furthermore, the DBL offers interested companies the opportunity to work with international talent during this time—and even to hire them. The DBL recruits the young professionals through the extensive university network of the UnternehmerTUM.
“An important component of our digital transformation offensive for SMEs”
In order to ensure the financing of the talents, the initiators of the DBL were able to Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy as a sponsor. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger comments on this as follows:
"The Digital Business Lab is an important component of our digital transformation initiative for SMEs. With its focus on larger SMEs, it complements the digital bonus for smaller companies. The Digital Business Lab promotes digital training for SME employees and university graduates and enables intensive exchange between both groups. This experience will convince many graduates to pursue a career in SMEs. I particularly value the practical nature of the Digital Business Lab. Here, international talent meets Bavarian SMEs, and we work together on digital innovations and solutions."
The creators are confident of the coaching program's success. Rehbock says:
"Medium-sized companies actually have the best prerequisites for digital transformation. They have shorter decision-making processes than large corporations. Furthermore, those in charge often make bolder decisions. Well-trained and motivated employees can achieve a lot in a short time – and we want to empower them to do so."
