What’s with #unerhoert?

If you are on social media, you may have noticed it in passing. On Tuesday this week, a small event called #unerhoert took place. As many people have asked me and my colleagues about it over the last two days, it makes sense to tell the unspectacular story behind it here.

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A group of digital enthusiasts

In recent years, Hannes Müller from BSSM has formed what would probably be called a network in our industry. Based on the realization that the classic advertising agency or its business model is dead and new paths need to be taken, Hannes has involved more and more different people in projects. This is how Peter Glassen, the people from the 4eyes agency, Aldo Gnocchi, Stefan Vetter, Erich Althaus and I gradually came together. Almost all of them already knew each other anyway.

In contrast to other networks, the focus was never on debating and discussing or reaching agreements, but on doing. In various constellations, we have worked together on very specific projects for clients. Be it in consulting, analysis, creation or development. From time to time we met and still meet to exchange ideas.

At one such meeting, we came across the topic of events and conferences and agreed that there is a veritable oversaturation of events. It is not necessarily the number of events that is too many, but rather the fact that many events follow the same pattern and are always attended by more or less the same people.

A platform for the quieter creators, the hidden champions

However, we have seen and continue to see from day-to-day practice that many people are actually involved in digitalization projects and do not sell this work to the outside world. They don’t head up the cool new digitalization unit or the corporate start-up, but struggle through the impassibilities and challenges that arise every day in connection with digitalization projects.

You don’t speak every week at some event like Aldo and I do. They’re not the ones in the limelight. They are the quiet doers, the ones who are unheard by the scene. Hence the name.

Why don’t we just try it?

Richer in the collective realization that it would be good to hear these people as well, we thought we’d give it a try. Aldo and Hannes were quick to rent a suitable venue and we evaluated and invited interesting speakers.

All three, Vloggy Strohm from WIR Bank, Andy Huber from Brack.ch and Luc Haldimann from unblu, were kind enough to join us straight away. We invited the 25 or so guests personally and the feedback was surprisingly good. So let’s just give it a try.

The event last Tuesday was met with very good feedback. As always, there are a few points that need to be improved. First and foremost, time management. But the subsequent social part went on for so long that the center had to “throw us out” at the end. What more could you want?

Visitors invite visitors

So we’re doing a #unerhoert No. 2 event, probably in June. You won’t be able to buy tickets again, you won’t be able to register anywhere and the event won’t cost anything again.

And the only people who can invite new visitors, apart from us initiators, are the visitors to the first event. We think that this will allow us to maintain the relaxed yet engaging atmosphere. Or at least we hope so.

Ideas, input, feedback

So if anyone has any ideas on how to make the event better or would like to start an event like this somewhere further away or whatnot, please just get in touch. Erich and I are the “OK” for the next episode and are open to anything.