What advice would you share with other founders?
Put a lot of thought and effort into finding the right person to found your business with. You’re going to go through a lot of highs and lows together and there are going to be times when all you have left is your team. If you have the right team by your side then there’s nothing to worry about.
What surprised you the most when you started out?
As an optimist, it always surprises me just how long it takes to change anything. On the one hand, this is a big risk, as things rarely move as quickly as you’d think. On the other hand, this also represents an opportunity, as there’s a lot of potential to tackle and change things.
What would you like to see from politics and Germany as a business location?
More support for young companies who want to try out new things rather than tax cuts for the more established businesses! Germany clearly lacks financial opportunities - especially for businesses in their early stages during which it’s really difficult to find venture capital.
Why doesn’t Germany have a leading startup ecosystem?
Initiatives like the Digital Hub Initiative are an important start. Attractive cities, highly skilled young talents, and technological expertise are all brought together. However, companies in their early stages lack financial support and up until now there hasn’t been a trade-sale market for exits, nor are there any success stories to attract investors. The fact that it’s much more common for companies in Germany to borrow funds rather than to receive venture capital makes it difficult for a lively startup ecosystem to emerge.
