How we attracted Berlin’s top innovators to CIC Berlin’s inaugural event

Client

Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)

https://www.cic.com

Project date

October 2024

The brief

The Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) is a global leader in creating dynamic workspaces that foster innovation and collaboration. By providing flexible office environments, networking opportunities, and a community of like-minded professionals, CIC has established itself as a launchpad for cutting-edge ventures across industries. CIC Berlin, which took over the office complex in Lohmühlenstraße 65 in April 2024, aims to become the nerve center of the city’s thriving start-up scene, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to tackle challenges and drive progress.

For its Berlin campus' inaugural event on October 10, 2024, CIC asked us in August to help promote and support an event that would act as a ribbon-cutting ceremony as well as kick off the Venture Café Berlin's Thursday Gatherings, a series of weekly events specialized into creating opportunities for innovators and investors to meet and make their business grow.

The event’s goal was to bring together 500 guests from Berlin’s innovation and start-up ecosystem for an evening of exploration, networking, and panel discussions. With CIC being new on the German scene, this was their chance to be the center of gravity of the Berlin innovation universe and pull the brightest minds into their orbit, establishing their presence in the Berlin innovation galaxy.

The campaign

Our mission was clear: ensure "ampli'FIND" (we came up with the name and tagline - “from local groundbreakers to global shakers” - based on CIC’s vision) would have the desired impact and turnout, amplifying visibility and excitement. We focused on expanding the event's reach through strategic outreach, targeting potential speakers and key stakeholders. We submitted several panel ideas with relevant speakers in an effort to support the big bang we wanted the event to be. Our outreach efforts to our professional networks paid off, as a few of the contacts we engaged, even if they didn’t end up speaking, attended and added depth to the networking experience.

To build anticipation, we worked on spreading the word like a supernova across Berlin's start-up scene, making sure a relevant Who is Who of the local innovation ecosystem would beam in for the evening. From thought-provoking fireside chats on AI’s future to interactive demos of cutting-edge technologies, the event was a launchpad for new ideas and collaboration.

To keep things fresh, a PowerPoint Karaoke session entertained the crowd, adding a playful twist to the (sometimes) more formal discussions. Additionally, a photo booth was available for guests to snap memories of the evening, ensuring lasting keepsakes of the spontaneous connections that often lead to future collaborations.

A key highlight was the special art installation by 3D graphic artist Dendyden_k, organized in collaboration with our partners Die Rezeption, which captured the creative spirit of the event and inspired attendees to think outside the box.

Local DJs set the perfect vibe throughout the night, and keeping everyone energized were refreshments provided by all dae, ODE, and resident caterer COCO, offering a curated selection of Berlin-inspired drinks and bites. It was the fuel needed to power through all the spontaneous conversations and networking moments.

The results

CIC Berlin's inaugural event exceeded expectations. With close to 700 attendees, the event had a strong showing from industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Our network outreach contributed to the event's overall atmosphere, bringing together a diverse crowd for both the formal talks and the spontaneous connections that happen when innovative minds collide.

Our team ensured that everything ran smoothly, with no visible hiccups, and delivered a unique mix of activities that added an element of fun to the event. PowerPoint Karaoke and the photo booth were unexpected highlights, showing that networking can be both productive and enjoyable.

The art installation, live demos, and refreshing food and drink options created an atmosphere that sparked creativity, and fostered deep connections between the attendees. CIC Berlin’s first ever event ran like a well-oiled spaceship, without a single glitch in the mission.

Thanks to this successful evening, CIC Berlin is now well-positioned to thrive in its mission to foster collaboration and innovation. The event demonstrated CIC’s ability to create a dynamic environment that goes beyond a simple co-working space, offering a hub where ideas can take off and soar through the innovation atmosphere.

This project was an opportunity to show once again that we can adapt quickly and work in sync with our clients' needs. Like any good space crew would, we handled tight deadlines, adapted to changing plans, and delivered results that made an impact for our client. 

Just like CIC Berlin did, we’re ready to explore new frontiers, helping brands and organizations launch their own success stories. We are not just your good ol’ comms agency. Us Space Dogs have a few tricks up our sleeves, and this massive event in the Berlin cosmos is the perfect example.