The platform for the German Startup and Entrepreneur Days (deGUT), one of the most important events for entrepreneurship in Germany, places high demands on content management. To ensure smooth collaboration between the various stakeholders, the website was implemented using Drupal.
The decision to choose this CMS was driven primarily by its fine-grained role and permission system – one of Drupal’s core strengths – which allows even highly complex workflow structures to be mapped precisely, securely, and transparently.
Intelligent role management for distinct user groups
At the core of the technical implementation is the differentiation of access rights for five central user groups. Drupal’s built-in role management enables a clear separation of responsibilities and accurately reflects the organizational requirements of the event:
- Trade fair agency:
Acting as the administrative backbone, the agency has extended control rights to coordinate content, maintain exhibitor data, and manage the overall layout of the event website. - Event organizers:
The participating institutions (IBB and ILB) primarily use the system to curate the extensive event program. They manage the planning of talks and workshops and coordinate the assignment of speakers. - Speakers:
To reduce administrative effort, speakers are provided with a protected area where they can independently maintain their biographies, upload profile images, and provide presentation materials or handouts. - Exhibitors:
Exhibitors receive dedicated user accounts that allow them to create and edit their own exhibitor entries. These include company profiles, service descriptions, logos, and additional information visible to visitors. Changes can be made at any time and take effect immediately within the system. - Visitors:
Visitor data is automatically imported from the ticketing system via an interface. Based on these imported profiles, visitors gain access to a dedicated networking layer.
This “Match & Meet” module uses the profile data stored in Drupal to enable targeted networking between participants, extending the value of the event beyond purely informational content.
Stability and security
Thanks to Drupal's robust architecture, the platform remains stable even under high traffic loads – such as during import phases or peak networking activity. Drupal's powerful role and permission system ensures that sensitive visitor data is protected at all times and that each user group has access only to the content and functionality relevant to their role.