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What a year for the w2on team — it will surely be remembered by all involved. Before we reach the beginning of the year to come, let’s rewind through the last year, at least in thought. The last months of 2010 and the first few months from 2011 were packed with team outings (Mallorca, Ski Hut, Denmark), barbeque and poker nights, a 14-day recovery period at the turn of the year as well as the development of plans for an ambitious international project. The mood in the team of web workers was as a result positive and we were ready to tackle 2011 at full speed.

In May 2011, we reached a decision that would shape the remainder of the year. We decided that Leipzig is not the best location for the development of our web-worker team and the innovative business models planned and thus we resolved to relocate the web workers to Berlin by August 1st, 2011. Because the Internet corporation w2on was initially founded in Berlin and we personally supported about 200 start-ups from the city between 2004 and 2007, Berlin has of course always been an option for w2on.

In connection with this relocation, our entire team was cut in half in the second half of the year to 15 full- and part-time employees. Some people had to cancel and some opted against the move to Berlin and stayed in Leipzig. On the basis of the reduced team, once in Berlin, we initially focused on the content and optimization of our current projects. In addition, we have used these last few months to reestablish old contacts in Berlin and to expand our network with new contacts.

After our decision, it was also becoming clear that over the course of 2011 Berlin was indeed developing into the new European center for innovative technology-based business models. More and more web workers, from all parts of Germany and all over the world, were attracted by the daily increasing number of opportunities to develop personally and professionally. This regional concentration of innovative expertise in Berlin is likely just the beginning.

Our most important project in 2011 was supporting about 30,000 founders from Germany on unternehmenswelt.de. With small­business­crowd.com we have taken our first step into the U.S. market, and over the last few weeks in Berlin we have established the personnel structure in order to promote the internationalization in 2012 with native speakers. This and many other tasks (Co-Working Center, off-line support for founders, venture, Zandura) will be more intensively developed in 2012.

The year 2011 has not been an easy experience for the w2on team but a very interesting and busy year. We want to thank all those who have actively supported and facilitated us on our way. We wish all former and current w2on colleagues, business partners and all those who follow our development a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As of yesterday, the w2on Internet AG has moved into an approx. 500 m² office shared with 6wunderkinder GmbH in Wöhlertstraße 12 (Econa Internet Campus) in Berlin. We look forward to being within close proximity to the international and ambitious Wunderkind-team as well as being located in the heart of Berlin's Internet scene.

The w2on offices are only about 15 minutes from Berlin's main train station and thus quickly and effectively accessible from Leipzig. Nevertheless, the w2on webworkers will not commuting every day, but they are currently still intensely apartment-hunting. No later than 01.08. should everyone have a roof over their heads, otherwise we will end up having to use beds from IKEA in the office.

Simultaneously, along with the quarters for the w2on webworkers in Berlin, in Revaler Straße 99 in the part of Berlin known as Friedrichshain preparations are already underway for the expansion of a co-working center for webworkers in Berlin. We will certainly be publishing more details soon. You can already start following the project at http://www.facebook.com/berlin.webcity.

After our excursions in 2010 (London, Berlin, Mallorca) and our brief visit in January to Mühlleiten, it was again time to leave the city limits. This time we packed up our tents for 14 days in Denmark. As is always when the team from w2on is on the go, we accomplished a lot and slept little, and the time passed (too) quickly. A selection of images can be found here in the photo album for Denmark.

The w2on Internet AG supports the Elevator Pitch Night (EPN), which is based on the basic idea of a three-minute “elevator presentation” for startups. On January 31, 2011, 15 pitchers will take on the challenge in front of a jury of industry experts and an audience of about 200 selected guests. This competition supports startups on their way toward self-employment and give them the opportunity to draw attention to themselves and make contact with investors and potential customers.

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Yesterday, the Christmas party for the team from w2on took place. We started at 5 p.m. from the office and then made our way to the town of Grimma to the kart racing track. We rented the entire facility from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. so that there would be enough driving time available for everyone.

The “w2on Cup” consisted of 20 min. of practice, 20 min. of qualifying rounds and 20 min. of racing. Divided into 2 groups of 12—13 drivers, there was a total of 60 minutes driving time for each participant. After a few of our female drivers overdid it a bit in the qualifying rounds, the race organizers had to remind everyone again to tone it down and be more considerate of the other drivers. But when it was time to get down to business, the race itself was tough but fair.

The best racing times were lap times of less than 45 sec., and with a track record of about 38 sec. w2on certainly displayed its potential for entry into future races. The finale was decided by 3 web developers, Falk, Maik and Benjamin.

For between races, food and drinks were provided and a number of gifts were exchanged. All in all it was a successful Christmas party — a lot of fun which caused a number of bruises. A huge thank you goes to the team at the kart racing track in Grimma, who made this perfect evening possible. Videos from the evening can soon be found on our Facebook page.