The small town of Günzburg in southern Germany has set up its own online marketplace, with around 40 retailers. The initiative is a response to changes in consumer habits and the seemingly overwhelming competition from internet giants like Amazon.

Google, Whatsapp, Gmail. Most of us use these services every day, despite privacy issues. Collaboration platforms such as Wire and email service provider Posteo offer secure alternatives. Do they stand a chance?

Having a dignified funeral in Europe can cost thousands – more than many people can afford. Now a young Berlin start-up called Mymoria is looking to undercut standard funeral companies by offering services online.

They can't read or write, but they're learning to become entrepreneurs. After undergoing training at Barefoot College in India, 60 women from all over the world will return to their villages, with the skills to install and repair solar systems.

Lawyer Pamela Pabst is blind. In the courtroom she's unable to assess photos or other visual evidence. But what she lacks in eyesight, she more than makes up for with her other senses. As a result she's been very successful in her chosen career.

Billions of people don't have access to high-speed internet. Many live in remote regions without cable or fiber-optic broadband. But laser beams can reach anywhere. The German startup Mynaric is sending information round the world by laser beam.

It's been more than a century since the first lightbulbs lit up our homes. Today we can use our smartphones to regulate LEDs all over the house: to make them brighter, more colorful, to automatically switch on or off. Light has become smart.

The global population is exploding, cities are mushrooming and more farmland is needed. So why not turn high-rise buildings into greenhouses, with the latest LED lamps providing light? A huge opportunity for traditional light bulb manufacturers.

What to do when you can't sleep at night? Count sheep? Well if you're Olaf KRIEGER you hit the town. And he’s clearly not alone - it feels like the whole city is awake. Don't waste your time, make the most of your nights!

The trend researcher sees cultural changes underway. While older Germans still love big houses and cars, younger ones are, she says, more into experiences than possessions.