Hey, dear reader!
Someone sent me this video the other day from an apparently well-known German vlogger about why he's leaving Germany because of how the country has become a nightmare to live in. Bad for raising kids, bad for working, bad for doing business, bad for, well, everything.
We all know people like that guy, so nothing new here. But let's zoom in on the doing-business part for a sec.
I moved to Germany 6 years ago and since then wore every hat: did my studies, got employed, did some freelancing, opened a company, closed it eventually, got employed again — the entire cycle.
Still remember how I first applied for a Gewerbe (trade permit), supposedly one of the easiest things, right? Only 2 steps: fill out an application form and get a tax number. Took me 2.5 months :)
I'm sure you also have dozens of such examples. And look, there are things we simply have to swallow and move on. Bureaucracy and high taxes are just one of them. It won't change overnight, that's just how it is.
If this stops you from starting, maybe you shouldn't even bother in the first place.
We choose to live here because of things dear to our hearts. We call this place home. And if you're serious about founding a company here, shift your perspective and look at what we already have:
the largest market in Europe
countless problems to solve with innovation
incredible founders proving every day that you can build great things here
grants and programs to get you started
a community with talented and curious folks
Is it enough? No — the problems are real. But I see change. And I see people with agency and determination making things better here.
I'm betting on Germany. Are you?
Save the Date 🗓
The events I'm most excited about in the weeks ahead.
Wednesday, May 27
12min.me SUSTAIN x IKS: Circularity (German) — Hear three sharp talks on packaging waste, lightweight construction, and environmental management — followed by networking at the Chamber of Commerce.
Thursday, June 4
Next.Gen Summit for Good (German) — Spend a full day with founders building social and impact-driven startups, with talks, workshops, and matchmaking at Körber Start-Hub.
Tuesday, June 9
Agentic Coding Meetup #5 (English) — Swap workflows, demos, and lessons with builders shipping agentic coding projects
Weekly Picks📍
All the events on my radar for this week.
This Issue’s Gem 💎
Tuesday, May 19
Startup Night Hamburg: Pioneer Lab meets EmpowHerNetwork (German) — Hear unfiltered founder stories from health and education startups, with a focus on female entrepreneurship via the EXIST Women program.
AI Everywhere 🤖
Tuesday, May 19
AI Mix & Mingle Women's Edition (German/English) — Connect with women and FLINTA* in AI over inspiring conversations on technology.
DVC Data & AI Lunch Meetup (English) — Trade notes on the latest in data and AI over a shared pizza lunch with Hamburg's data community at 60 Seconds to Napoli.
Thursday, May 21
Works in Progress (English/German) — Watch designers crack open their laptops on live AI workflows, with talks on Germany's new AI labelling law for creatives and how a static concept became an AI-animated web experience.
Tech Bite 🧑💻
Wednesday, May 20
AWS Summit Hamburg (English) — Spend a free day at Hamburg Messe with 150+ technical breakouts, hands-on labs, GenAI and Startup zones, and AWS experts on tap.
Data Engineering Meet-up Hamburg (English) — Trade pipeline horror stories and lakehouse architecture lessons over pizza and drinks, with short technical talks from practitioners working on data systems for AI in production.
Startup 101 🔨
Monday, May 18
found Co-working Day (English) — Spend the day working alongside Hamburg's founders, operators, and techies — no membership, no application, just drop in.
Tuesday, May 19
Team or Collision Course: Who do I work with and how? (German) — Get an honest look at co-founder dynamics and learn communication techniques to surface conflicts before they sink the team.
Meet the Mentor @Chamber of Commerce (German) — Get expert advice for life science founders on MDR certification, DiGAs, AI tools, and the health insurance market in 1:1 mentor sessions.
Friday, May 22
build fridays (English) — Ship products alongside other builders, demo your progress, and get feedback from fellow founders.
Get Inspired ✨
Wednesday, May 20
MatchDay at Digital Hub Logistics & Commerce (English) — Catch pitches from DealEngine, Pelora, Cargovibe, and Fleetloop plus live matchmaking at Speicherstadt's logistics and commerce community event.
Closing the Gaps! (German) — Explore how flexible work models, female career paths, and women in AI leadership can close labor market gaps, with insights from Mom Hunting founder Virginia Thrun.
Thursday, May 21
12min.me | IGNITE #118: Power Ahead (English) — Hear sharp 12-minute talks from KLU's Brooke Gazdag, Olympics 2026 lead Prisca von Voss, and found Hamburg's Kyrylo Korsun, plus networking at GoodBytz.
Breakfast & Beats (English) — Start the day at UWE Reeperbahn with founders and investors over breakfast, music, and a quick AI/cloud download from the AWS Summit.
Hamburg auf die EINS (English) — Connect with Hamburg founders, builders, and investors over short keynotes and open networking at BSP Business & Law School.
Change Makers Dialogues #11: How to change climate change (English) — Watch Kuehne+Nagel's documentary on sustainable supply chains, then dig into how companies move from sustainability ambition to real transformation with industry experts.
Every Saturday
Founders Running Club (English) — Energize your weekend with fellow entrepreneurs during a judgment-free 5K run followed by coffee and meaningful networking conversations.
Open Calls 📣
Grants, programs, and opportunities waiting for your application.
Waterkant Festival Pitch Sessions — For early-stage startups ready to pitch on Northern Germany's biggest startup stage. Apply for a slot at the Waterkant Festival in Kiel on June 18–19 to pitch in front of investors, partners, and an innovation-driven audience. Winner of the coop Award gets a 1-year partnership exposing their product to coop's 70,000-member community. Deadline: May 31.
SLUSH 2026 — For startups with proven product-market fit looking to scale internationally. Startup City Hamburg covers a conference ticket and a €500 cooperation contribution for one of 7 spots, plus joint presence at the Startup-Champs Germany stand at Slush in Helsinki on November 18–19. Deadline: June 7.
Antler Continental Europe — For ambitious individuals ready to find a co-founder, validate an idea, and incorporate within 6 months. Antler's residency runs across Berlin, Amsterdam, and Munich with day-zero investment, weekly partner sessions, and access to a global network that backs founders from inception through Series C — up to $30M as you scale. Next cohort starts September 14.
Job Picks 💼
3 open roles worth a look this week.
AI-Native GTM Associate at Wunder Mobility — White-label platform for shared mobility operators worldwide (Series C, $71.9M).
Founders Associate at eleQtron — Ion-based quantum computing using microwave-controlled MAGIC tech. 90+ employees, Hamburg + Siegen. (Series A, €57M).
Technical Marketing Manager at traceless materials — 100% bio-circular plastic alternative (Series A, €36.6M).
Hiring? Submit your job here. Want to feature it in the newsletter? Reply to this email.
That’s a wrap!
Check out the tune of the week from the found playlist
🏄♂
Share found Hamburg with your friends
See you next week,
Kyrylo from found Hamburg