Hey, dear reader!
One year ago today, the very first issue of found went out. Back then it was a simple overview of startup and tech events in Hamburg. Today, 1,100+ of you open it as part of your Monday morning routine to discover what’s going on in Hamburg’s tech scene.
There's no better way to celebrate a first birthday than dropping a big announcement:
We're launching the found podcast!
From day one, found's mission has been to connect the people building here and prove that world-class companies can come out of Hamburg. The podcast is the next step — a proper stage for the voices shaping this city.
Our first guest is Iskender Dirik — serial entrepreneur, angel investor (including German AI unicorn Parloa), CEO advisor, and co-founder of 2hearts, Germany's largest tech community for people with immigration backgrounds.
A few things we get into:
From a Turkish household in Wilhelmsburg to building and selling multiple tech startups
How he knew within two minutes that the Parloa founder was special
Going from extreme introvert to pitching in front of thousands at OMR
The rise of "storymaxxing" — and why style and signals matter more than most founders think
Why he co-founded 2hearts, and what Germany's tech scene still gets wrong about immigrant talent
Your feedback is very much appreciated! Enjoy!
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Save the Date 🗓
The events I'm most excited about in the weeks ahead.
Tuesday, May 5
Founder's Legal Toolbox (English) — Get practical legal checklists from a lawyer and live Q&A on founding, taxes, and common legal pitfalls.
Wednesday, May 6
Biospace Opening at DESY Innovation Factory (English/German) — Celebrate the opening of Hamburg's new life science innovation hub with keynotes, startup pitches, and lab tours.
Thursday, May 7
12min.me | START (English) — Take four early-stage startups through Disney-inspired Dreamer, Realist, and Critic rooms — and help shape their next move in 12-minute sparring sessions. Pitch your idea at [email protected] or join as a participant.
Saturday, May 9
Hamburg Stripe Community Launch (English) — Connect with founders, developers, and operators building with Stripe at the launch of Hamburg's first local Stripe community.
Tuesday, May 19
Startup Night Hamburg: Pioneer Lab meets EmpowHerNetwork (German) — Hear authentic founder stories and connect with female entrepreneurs.
Thursday, June 4
Next.Gen Summit for Good (German) — Get hands-on workshops and 1:1 expert sessions on ideation, funding, and impact — free for under-30 founders building for positive social impact.
Weekly Picks📍
All the events on my radar for this week.
This Issue’s Gem 💎
Wednesday, April 29
Defense Tech Meetup (English) — Connect with engineers, founders, and researchers shaping Europe's defense and dual-use tech at Hamburg's first defense tech gathering.
AI Everywhere 🤖
Monday, April 27
ProductTank (English) — Hear how AI is reshaping product management and get a practical LLM product framework from two experienced product leaders.
Tuesday, April 28
AI Mix & Mingle (English/German) — Meet AI and tech enthusiasts at Hamburg's monthly KI-Stammtisch — casual conversations, no presentations, all networking.
Startup 101 🔨
Tuesday, April 28
Startup Toolbox: Inner Development Goals (German) — Master resilience, self-management, and handling uncertainty — the inner qualities that keep founders going when the business plan doesn't.
Thursday, April 30
Climate Coffee (English) — Meet founders, investors, and operators building climate solutions over coffee — no name tags, no speakers, just honest conversation.
Get Inspired ✨
Tuesday, April 28
Future Innovators – Alumni Role-Model Talk (English) — Hear five alumni share three different paths from DESY's Future Innovators programme — from startup founding to deeptech commercialization.
Wednesday, April 29
North German Capital Markets Forum (German) — Discover how startup funding can position Hamburg as a deep tech leader and explore AI's role in shaping future business and capital markets.
Thursday, April 30
Founders' Tap Spring Edition (English/German) — Spend the evening with 30 selected founders over cocktails, a partner talk, and a deep read on Hamburg's founder ecosystem.
Saturday, May 2
Founders Running Club (English) — Energize your weekend with a judgment-free 5K run alongside founders, investors, and tech people — coffee and networking after.
Open Calls 📣
Grants, programs, and opportunities waiting for your application.
iF Momentum — For incorporated deep tech startups with a working prototype (TRL ≥5) and a full-time team. A 6-month acceleration program from Hamburg's Impossible Founders: €100K cash, venture credits, and tailored 1:1 support to reach pilot-ready deployment. Rolling applications.
Female StartAperitivo Hamburg — For women-led startups based in or connected to Hamburg. Pitch your startup to investors, jury, and audience at the Hamburg semi-final on June 11. Winner gets €5,000 in cash, coaching, and a spot at the Female Founders Contest national final in Potsdam on September 10. Deadline: May 10.
VivaTech 2026: Free Student Tickets — For students only. Get a free ticket to Europe's largest tech event — 180,000+ attendees, 14,000+ startups, 4,000+ partners, and 3,600+ investors in Paris. Germany is this year's Country of the Year. Limited spots — apply now.
Job Picks 💼
3 open roles worth a look this week.
Website Manager at plancraft — AI operating system for tradespeople (Series B, €38M)
Senior Technical Product Manager at Cybus — OT/IT connectivity for manufacturing (Series A, €8M)
Product Owner at justDice — AI-native mobile gaming product engineering.
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