Corona aid initiative RE-START

VNG AG and Smart Infrastructure Hub establish Corona aid initiative RE-START: Small enterprises, self-employed persons or start-ups from Central Germany that have been damaged by the Corona crisis can apply for emergency aid of up to 4,000 euros.  

Given the Corona crisis small businesses, self-employed persons and start-ups from all over Central Germany have another opportunity to receive immediate financial aid: To support them, the Leipzig energy company VNG AG and the Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig have launched the joint aid initiative "RE-START". It is aimed at representatives from the media, education, retail, catering, event, leisure, mobility or health sectors who have suffered economic damage as a result of the Corona crisis. Affected self-employed persons as well as companies with up to ten employees and headquarters in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia can apply online at http://re-start.jetzt/ until 30 June 2020. 

The selected beneficiaries will receive emergency aid between 2000 and 4000 euros.  

"With this initiative we want to contribute to the preservation of economic diversity in our region. Small businesses in particular, which enrich our society with tremendous passion and creativity, are often hit particularly hard by the crisis. They must not fall by the way," says Bodo Rodestock, member of the VNG AG Board of Management. 

His company, which has more than 60 years of experience in the gas business, is participating in the initiative with a capital of 40,000 euros. "Wide-ranging social commitment has always been part of VNG's DNA, but solidarity is particularly in demand in times of crisis. Any kind of help is extremely valuable for those affected. In this respect, we would very much welcome it if other supporters would join in," said Rodestock. 

Co-founder Eric Weber of the Smart Infrastructure Hub Leipzig is well aware of the current worries and needs of start-ups and up-and-coming young entrepreneurs and is therefore convinced of the aims of the initiative: "Just like countless small shops, restaurants, cafés, media workers or service providers from the event industry, founders have been faced with problems. Some of those threaten their existence, through no fault of their own, as a result of developments in recent months. This is where we would like to start and make at least a small contribution," says the Managing Director of the hub, which also includes the Leipzig start-up company SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator. Over 50 business ideas have been successfully promoted there in recent years. 

RE-START receives additional support from Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung:

"The initiative is another example of the great solidarity and helpfulness in the region. We need local entrepreneurship, fresh ideas and diversity in the cities, which is why I very much welcome the initiative". 

VNG and SpinLab have been in close partnership for several years.  Together they support up-and-coming companies and start-ups in the energy sector. With the aid initiative, they are taking another path together in response to current events.       

Further information on the "RE-START" initiative can be found online at http://re-start.jetzt/.