A place for personal exchange
Matthieu Voss wants to develop the Charlottenburg Innovation Centre into a public space
The Charlottenburg Innovation Centre (CHIC) recently saw a change of leadership. Matthieu Voss moved in, bringing his ideas with him. Who is the new boss, and what vision does he have for CHIC?
Voss reveals that he deliberately took on his new role without any expectations. This approach, the new boss explains, is typical in management consultancy. “Approach every new project with an open mind and begin with an assessment,” says Matthieu Voss. “See what works well and what doesn’t, then build a vision from there.” The foundation of his vision for CHIC is innovation. And, in his view, this can only be the result of personal exchange.
“There is a huge difference between people connecting anonymously on a platform and people engaging in face-to-face conversations,” is the way he sums up his philosophy.
Voss now seeks to turn CHIC into a place for such personal interactions. He had already taken the first step towards this goal before the new year ended—and set up a pop-up cafeteria. Furniture was sourced from a nearby mega furniture store from Sweden.
“Start-ups are willing to leave the beaten track to build something new.
I am fascinated by this every time.”
Comfortable armchairs now invite people to sit back and relax. “We have over 50 innovative businesses. Now our founders can come together for coffee and actually have a conversation,” he says gladly.
He understands exactly what makes start-ups tick and what pressing issues they face. While completing his PhD in political science, he worked with various consulting firms, initially focusing on public sector advisory services. He later shifted his focus to issues like funding and organisation. And began consulting for young companies. “Working as a freelancer, I was consulting hundreds of firms from day one,” he says. “As the programme director and lead coach at the Berlin Startup School, I was also there to support young entrepreneurs.”
What fascinates him most about start-ups is their ability to break away from the old and create something new. “In my previous consultancy work, I had a lot of dealings with the public sector,” he says. “I have seen first-hand what it means to be stuck in rigid structures.” In contrast, business founders are willing to break away from conventional paths. They often start from scratch, building something of their own —sometimes even something unprecedented. “The fact that someone chooses to build something new instead of taking a secure salaried job with a steady income after university or an apprenticeship—that’s something I admire and find inspiring.”
“We will, in a way, turn the centre into a public space.”
The pop-up cafeteria is just the beginning, he says. Every three months, there will be an casual networking event over pizza and beers. Additionally, meet-ups with external guests will bring more vibrancy to CHIC. “We will, in a way, turn the centre into a public space,” says Voss. He is well aware that this transformation is only possible with the support of his team. That is why they started the new year with a strategy workshop, focused on vision and mission. “What I am planning is quite a cultural shock for some—and, in practical terms, an organisational shift as well,” he says. “I need to have my team on board for that.”
Kai Dürfeld for POTENZIAL
WISTA Innovation Centre and Incubator CHIC