At the Leipzig Book Fair, Neuland 2.0 showcases promising startups in book publishing.
(Image: Leipziger Buchmesse)
Germany’s second-largest book fair, the Leipzig Book Fair (March 23-26, 2017) will host the second annual Neuland 2.0, a presentation of up-and-coming publishing startups to professional and public visitors alike. Dubbed a “Startup Village for Digital Natives,” this exhibition showcases 15 select startups, their founders, and working prototypes for the public to try out.
In order to apply for one of the 15 spots within the Startup Village, the companies have been founded within the last five years, and must be planning to launch a product in 2017, and have a working prototype. And, of course, each startup must demonstrate that its idea is “innovative, technology-driven and consumer-focused.”
After its successful debut in 2016, Neuland 2.0 will again highlight startups at the 2017 Leipzig Book Fair
(Image: Leipziger Buchmesse)
The 15 startups were chosen by a three-person jury of experts from the technology and publishing industries. The 2017 jury includes: Martin Kurzhals (CMO, StoryDocks GmbH), André Nikolski (Managing Director, Basislager), and Eric Weber (CEO, Spinlab).
As part of the Neuland 2.0 program, the Leipzig Book Fair offers two prizes: the Business Prize (worth 3,000 euros) is awarded by the fair itself; and the Audience Prize, as voted by the visitors. Participants will also have the opportunity to make business connections and present their ideas to the larger book publishing community.
Arthur Lohrer, one of last year’s Startup Village participants and co-founder of Sensape, says: “You really could feel the positive feedback from the visitors. As an IT startup, we want to revolutionize digital sales strategy in the publishing business. During the Leipzig Book Fair we were able to gain valuable experience that will help us to further develop our system. We were also able to make new business contacts that we’ll hopefully be able to profit from in the future.”
These 15 startups were chosen by the jury to exhibit their product at the 2017 Leipzig Book Fair:
- aBook: Audible Reading Experience
- binee: Sustainable Usage of E-Readers
- Booktype: Book Production made easy
- Dipat: Bringing together Signature, Printing and Digital Content
- Jicki Sprachduschen: Learning a Language made easy
- Skimit: Social-Network-Service-App for Literary Content
- L-Pub: Digital Learning and Reading
- MyPoolitzer: Scouting Platform for Authors and Publishers
- Polynaut: Digital Content within a Context
- Readio: Responsive Reading
- SciFlow: Writing and Publishing Academic Texts Online
- Sharemagazines: Digital Reader Circle
- Ulysses: Writing-App for Writing Maniacs
- WaveFont: Enhanced Reading Experience
- XL Book: Reading for the Visually Impaired