The TechQuartier (TQ) has a new Ecosystem Manager! Her name: Sarah Gronwald. Her expertise: business development, international marketing and investment promotion. Her main task: improve the coordination of the different organizations helping startups to develop and grow in the region.

Gronwald’s position is financed by the state of Hessen. The TechQuartier won an european tender process which had as objective to new connecter in the FRM ecosystem. To give you a better impression about the new Ecosystem Manager, here’s our quick interview with Sarah Gronwald. We’ll have a bigger portrait about Gronwald’s person once she has settled in her new position. So stay tuned!

Who are you and how did you get to the TQ?

My name is Sarah Gronwald and I’ve joined TQ as Ecosystem Manager at the beginning of this month. For the last six years I have been working for the investment promotion agency of the FrankfurtRheinMain region, supporting international companies to explore the region, successfully expand their business activities to Germany and set up operations in the Frankfurt Metropolitan area. Before that I worked for a Chinese-German consulting company, since my study background comprises intercultural and international business topics with a special focus on Southeast Asia and China.

What do you want to do with TQ?

My role at TQ will focus on further improving the coordination of support organizations within the FrankfurtRheinMain startup ecosystem. My goal is to accelerate networking, promote collaboration and facilitate information exchange between the different ecosystem stakeholders.

I am very much looking forward to further support the development of the startup ecosystem and community in the FrankfurtRheinMain region. Through direct contact with founders and ecosystem builders, we will exchange ideas and take concrete measures to tap into the full potential of the local startup scene.

What do you think will be obstacles or enablers of fulfilling your goals at TQ?

I guess, one of the ecosystem‘s greatest strength is also one of its biggest challenge – FrankfurtRheinMain is a diverse Metropolitan region with many important players being located in different cities, representing various industries and diverse perspectives.

By establishing a transparent dialogue and building on our common interests, i.e growing the number and size of local startups, we want to enable all players to take full advantage of existing synergies and create new collaborative projects. TQ’s network and experience, the backing by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, existing initiatives and the close cooperation with the team at StartHub Hessen will all contribute to this.