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November 24, 2020

Top 10 Tips on How Startups Can Successfully Make Use of Brand Ambassadors

Written by Dr. Irène Kilubi

What is a brand ambassador, and what are typical steps for a startup to take before launching an ambassadorship program? Important questions to answer, as it is a great and effective way to promote your business and offering. Laying the foundation for an ambassador program certainly is no walk in the park, so we have asked Irène Kilubi, a brand expert and founder herself, who shared her top ten tips on how startups can successfully use ambassadors to promote their products. Read about the things you must consider, from defining your values to tracking your success.

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November 18, 2020

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes – Learning From Failure

Written by German Accelerator

As part of our mini-series on the culture of failure, we spoke to Dirk Schart, CMO and President U.S. of RE’FLEKT who participated in our program in 2016. He shared his insights on working with German Accelerator mentors and the importance of having the proper mindset, both as an individual and as a society, when it comes to learning from failures.

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November 11, 2020

Singapore, A Great Gateway To Asia For German Startups

Written by Lydia Koh

The Indo-Pacific region is the world’s growth engine, and it is a priority of German foreign policy. Singapore is at the heart of it, but why is this country such an attractive location for startups and businesses alike, and how can you access the market as a springboard into Asia?

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November 10, 2020

How to Get the Most Out of Your Mentoring

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

The benefits of working with a dedicated mentor during our program provides invaluable insight for the German startups. We caught up with current German Accelerator participant Fabian Alt (InGeneron) and Strategic Lead Neema Mayhugh (Wave Strategy) to learn more about their experience working together and their tips for how other startups can leverage the mentor/ mentee benefits.

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October 29, 2020

Top 5 Tips on Closing Sales Virtually

Written by Lydia Koh

With most sales conversations happening in a virtual context, we’ve collected the top five tips from our German Accelerator mentors to help B2B startups prospect, connect, and engage potential customers in the new normal.

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October 27, 2020

Making Sense of the U.S. Visa & Travel Changes During COVID-19

Written by German Accelerator

Wondering about your current options for traveling or working in the U.S.? While it might seem impossible at the moment, you may be relieved to hear that it is not. There are many restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we have simplified some of the current regulations and explained which visa categories are affected, how you might qualify for an exemption, and how you may be able to enter the U.S. as a business traveler.

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October 20, 2020

COVID-19: An External Factor Forcing Some Startups to Pivot

Written by Julia John-Scheder

To pivot or not to pivot is a question that many founders will face at some point in their journey of building a company. Sometimes outside forces push startups to reinvent themselves in order to be able to adapt to new environments. COVID-19 altered the landscape for a lot of markets, and it will probably continue to do so. In this article, we highlight some of our alumni companies’ pivots over the past six months to try to shed some light on their decision-making and communication around pivots. 

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October 13, 2020

B2B Go-to-Market Strategies in 2020

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

As part of the German Accelerator “Pass The Mic” series, we hosted a virtual fireside chat with serial entrepreneurs about adapting B2B go-to-market strategies and the extra adjustments that are required due to COVID-19. Stefan Groschupf (Automation Hero), German Accelerator Mentor Ralf Hirt (8W8 – Global Business Builders), and Andreas Hofmann (Program CEO, German Accelerator Silicon Valley) share their battle scars and advice on virtual networking, tailoring messages, and developing go-to-market strategies internationally.

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October 8, 2020

Culture of Failure: Fail Fast, Fail Often

Written by German Accelerator

Merriam-Webster defines failure as “lack of success” or “a failing in business”. But do you think Bill Gates or Elon Musk would define failure the same way? Does the perception of failure depend on the country and societal business norms? Let’s take a closer look at the culture of failure across startup ecosystems around the world. 

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October 6, 2020

Financing for German Startups: Traditional & Alternative Options

Written by German Accelerator

For the most recent German Accelerator “Pass The Mic” series, we hosted a webinar to explain the traditional and alternative financing options for German startups during COVID-19. Alex von Frankenberg (High-Tech Gründerfonds, HTGF), Angela Kerek (Morrison & Foerster), and German Accelerator Mentor Christian Janson-Euterneck (NeueCaptial Partners) brought different perspectives to address the current challenges German startups face, along with an overview of the public and private financing solutions they can tap into.

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September 30, 2020

10 Startups, 3-Minute Pitches, 1 Best Pitch Award, 1 Mom – Our Highlights from the New York & Silicon Valley Startup Night

Written by Sophia Junginger

Alongside 110 participants, we were excited to watch the 10 startups in our U.S. Class 2020-3 pitch at our virtual New York & Silicon Valley German Startup Night. The event represents the culmination of our 3-month intensive program and helps connect companies with investors, venture capital representatives, potential customers and partners, as well as our mentors and our jury Anne Cocquyt, Sarah Foley, and Julian Roeoes.

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September 29, 2020

Opportunities for HealthTech Startups in Singapore & Germany

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

German Accelerator’s virtual fireside chat, co-organized by the Singapore Embassy in Berlin and SGInnovate, explored the landscape for startups thinking about expanding to the Singapore and German markets during COVID-19 and beyond. After kicking off with an overview of internationalization from Ambassador Laurence Bay, the panel provided insights from a wide range of experiences and cross-cultural knowledge. Moderated by Marc Filerman (our Life Sciences Program CEO), the panel comprising Dr. Jack Tan (TeleMedC) and German Accelerator participant Sirko Pelzl (apoQlar) provided the startup perspective, while Harjit Gill (APACMed) was able to speak from an industry perspective, and investor and German Accelerator mentor Shoko Suzuki (Harbourfront Ventures) rounded out the conversation. 

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September 24, 2020

A Starter Kit for How to Do Sales in the U.S.

Written by Julia John-Scheder

When expanding your business into a new market, there are many things to consider, and oftentimes the sentence “do your homework” is the credo during the preparation phase. With sales, this rings true on your home turf, but in new markets where sales processes might not even have been tested yet, it is even more important. Find out more about the key takeaways from our session with our mentor Martin Guersoy, Managing Partner at Kaan & Associates, on how to set up your sales approach in the U.S.

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September 22, 2020

Six Months into the Pandemic

Written by Franziska Rammel

Over the last six months, our world has been turned upside down. It’s safe to say that the pandemic has affected our lives at all levels. And, even though we have somehow adapted to the new normal, it’s still a difficult, uncertain, and challenging situation for both our private and business life. Economies around the globe are suffering, many companies need governmental funding, and even large corporates fear insolvency. We asked our Program CEOs to share their thoughts and observations around the impact of COVID-19 on the startup scene worldwide.

 

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September 15, 2020

Virtually to Success – How German Startups Expand to International Markets From the Comfort of Their Home

Written by German Accelerator

There are many reasons for startups to join our global accelerator programs. One of them is the opportunity to travel to the world’s leading innovation and startup hubs and experience the local hustle and bustle. That was, of course, pre-COVID-19. The global pandemic changed the way we and many other organizations operate, but the wheels didn’t stop spinning and to cater to the unabated interest for international expansion, we are now offering fully virtual programs. We spoke to a few of our startups participating in our global programs to find out why they applied and participated over the past few months and learn from the experiences and growth opportunities they’ve had.

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September 10, 2020

Startup Stereo Episode #04 – “Every Breakdown Is the Opportunity for a Breakthrough” – With Andy Goldstein

Written by German Accelerator

In this episode of “Startup Stereo”, Andy Goldstein shares his personal perception of crises – or as he calls them “breakdowns.” According to him, every breakdown is the opportunity for a breakthrough! We also talk about pitfalls entrepreneurs might face and tips for founders to successfully steer their business through a crisis. Towards the end of the conversation, we look at digital transformations and Andy’s personal experience as an American living in Europe for more than 35 years.

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September 8, 2020

Top 10 Tips for First-Time Leaders

Written by Katrin Grunwald

Taking over your first team can be quite a challenge: You have more responsibility, can encounter new uncertainties, question if you can handle the workload, and might feel like you need to know everything from day one. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Katrin Grunwald, a fempreneur herself and coach for first-time leaders, shares her top 10 recommendations for a successful start for your first leadership role. 

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September 1, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Session

Written by German Accelerator

Florian Leibert (D2iQ) | From Schweinfurt to Silicon Valley: How a German Founder Convinced Andreessen Horowitz and Brad Silverberg to Support His Business He came, saw, and built. Florian Leibert, General Partner at 468 Capital and Founder of D2iQ (formerly Mesosphere), is an entrepreneur and investor with a stoic edge. In this German Accelerator Coffee Session, the computer science whiz from Schweinfurt, Germany, shares his Silicon Valley success story, the value of a strong network and introductions to the right people, and what being an investor means to him.

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August 10, 2020

How Are Things? A Virtual Chat With German Accelerator Participant Prime Vector Technologies, a Startup That Is Working on a COVID-19 Vaccine

Written by Lydia Koh

In the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, #GAStartup Prime Vector Technologies (PVT) from Tübingen has received funding and support for their safe viral vector platform that enables the fast generation of vaccines. Find out why they chose to focus on Southeast Asia and their biggest learnings from this pandemic.

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August 6, 2020

Cultural Differences: Meetings & Presentation Style 101

Written by German Accelerator

How to Avoid Cultural Business Traps: How To Do International Business Like a Pro | Before heading into your next international business call or meeting, make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with each country’s cultural norms. Doing so maximizes your chances of success and helps foster strong business ties.

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July 30, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by German Accelerator

Florian Otto (Cedar) | Ignoring Assumptions – How Cedar Closed a $102M Series C During the Height of COVID-19 (Part 2) Florian Otto, Co-Founder & CEO of Cedar recently shared his journey from wanting to become a maxillofacial surgeon to founding a successful patient payment and engagement platform for hospitals and health systems in New York. In part two of this Coffee Session, Florian shared with Christian Busch, Program CEO of German Accelerator New York, insights about Cedar’s successful Series-C led by Andreessen Horowitz despite COVID-19, how to nourish investor relationships, the mentors alongside him, and his guiding principles as a leader.

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July 29, 2020

Why South Korea Should Be on the Radar of German Startups

Written by Mabel Fu

Find Out the Reasons Behind South Korea’s Vibrant Tech Ecosystem and Our Top Tips to Scale in South Korea | South Korea is considered as a ‘Land of Innovation’, ranking second only to Germany in Bloomberg’s 2020 Innovation Index. It has the biggest government backing of startups per capita in the world providing US$4 billion to startups in the country since 2015. With strong support from the government, South Korea is cultivating startups to be the new engines of economic growth and has become an increasingly attractive destination for foreign startups.

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July 28, 2020

Managing the Coronavirus’ Impact on Your Startup: A Founder & Investor’s Perspective

Written by Sheena Cheong

Key Tips on Fundraising, Building a Business Continuity Plan, and Identifying Positive Opportunities | With startups shifting to survival mode as the coronavirus uncertainty grows, German Accelerator mentor Dr. Sian Wee Tan addresses questions from our startups around fundraising, business continuity plans, and key risk mitigation strategies. Dr. Sian is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Finaxar (a Monk’s Hill Ventures portfolio company that is reinventing business financing for small-and-medium enterprises) and Operating Advisor at Monk’s Hill Ventures (a partnership of seasoned entrepreneurs who have built and backed global companies based both in Silicon Valley and Asia).

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July 23, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by German Accelerator

Florian Otto (Cedar) | Necessity is the Mother of Invention – A German Entrepreneur’s Journey From Curing One Patient at a Time to Healing an Entire Healthcare System in the U.S. (Part 1) How does someone go from becoming a maxillofacial surgeon in Freiburg to founding a successful patient payment and engagement platform for hospitals and health systems in New York City? In part one of this German Accelerator Coffee Session, Florian Otto, Co-Founder & CEO of Cedar, talks to Christian Busch, Program CEO of German Accelerator New York, about his entrepreneurial journey and how healing one patient at a time just wasn’t enough for him.

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July 21, 2020

How Are Things? A Virtual Chat with German Accelerator Alumnus, Buckle & Seam

Written by Judith Sterl

A Conversation About Leather Bags, COVID-19, The Importance of Sharing, Social Impact, Education in Pakistan, Crowdfunding, And Tips For Young Founders. We love to see our German Accelerator companies go far and grow fast. One of our alumni, Buckle & Seam from Berlin, doesn’t just offer personalized premium quality leather goods, they have a clear purpose for their brand and business – to inspire their customers to break boundaries, share their experiences, take action, and write their own success story.

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July 16, 2020

Current Pulse of Life Sciences Startup CEOs & Founders During COVID-19

Written by Edgar-John Vogt

After witnessing the wave of the pandemic and consequences in Germany, we were curious to find out how startups in the Life Sciences industry are managing through these times. Is expansion into other markets still on the table, or would these companies be forced to rethink their business model and pivot? How does the virus affect their daily business like running clinical trials and so on? Find out what our Life Sciences company scout Edgar learned in his conversations with German Life Sciences startups.

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July 14, 2020

Biotech Industry & Investments Trends in Germany and the U.S.

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

As part of the German Accelerator “Pass The Mic” Series, we hosted a virtual fireside chat with leaders of biotechnology industry organizations from Germany and Massachusetts to speak about the current trends and challenges from a global perspective. Horst Domdey (BioM) from Germany and John Hallinan (MassBio) from Massachusetts were joined by investor Mike Serrano-Wu (Sprout BioVentures) to comment on how the pandemic has lit a fire under the whole healthcare industry in terms of collaboration and virtual adoption. 

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July 7, 2020

Healthcare Innovation: Regulatory Trends in the Time of Covid-19 (Series 2 of 3)

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

As the race to fight COVID-19 is underway, the pandemic is profoundly impacting the FDA approval processes and ongoing clinical trials. In an effort to prioritize COVID-19 diagnostics and treatments, the FDA has allowed for changes to ongoing clinical trials and has introduced new procedures, such as Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP), to reduce approval waiting periods. 

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June 29, 2020

Ready. Set. Pitch! Impressions From Our Very First Joint & Fully Virtual New York & Silicon Valley German Startup Night

Written by German Accelerator

Our very first joint and fully virtual New York & Silicon Valley German Startup Night is in the books. German Startup Night features pitches from best-in-class German startups that have completed the German Accelerator U.S. program. Attendees were provided with the opportunity to listen to the pitches of thriving high-potential German startups.

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June 25, 2020

Healthcare Innovation: Promising Technologies & Funding Recommendations for Startups (Series 1 of 3)

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

In a very short time, COVID-19 has had a dramatic effect on all aspects of our lives, and this certainly extends to include new adoption of promising technologies and a more challenging fundraising environment. As the trend for remote monitoring and virtual care continues, the need for healthcare innovation is only going to increase and the lessons derived from the current crisis will make for a better “new normal”.

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June 23, 2020

Marketing During Tough Times

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

As part of German Accelerator’s “Pass The Mic” series, we hosted a virtual fireside chat to provide insight on how to optimize your digital marketing efforts in 2020 while keeping your brand relevant and your audiences engaged. #GAmentor Kevin Indig (VP SEO & Content, G2) share learnings and resources based on previous recessions and #GAalumni Nicolas Leonhardt (CEO & Co-Founder, Wagawin) provided practical observations based on his B2B company’s experiences. 

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June 18, 2020

The Secret Sauce to Successfully Go Global With Your Startup

Written by Franziska Rammel

Expanding a business to a new international market is a big challenge to tackle for any company. Depending on which market your startup wants to enter, you will not only face new business challenges but also cultural differences that can lead to further hurdles. The endeavor requires a lot of commitment and many dedicated resources. The good news is, that you’re not the first one starting this undertaking so you can benefit from the learnings, experiences, and best practices of companies that already expanded internationally.

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June 16, 2020

A Healthcare Corporate VC Perspective on COVID-19

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

For the most recent German Accelerator “Pass The Mic” series, we hosted a virtual fireside chat with a diverse group of investors to hear how the current health and economic crisis is impacting corporate venture capital’s (CVC) investment strategies. With a global perspective and different types of organizations represented, Meredith Fisher (Partner, Mass General Brigham), Rohan Ganesh (Principal, Venture Capital, Verily, an Alphabet company), and Joey Mason (Head of Life Sciences Fund, M Ventures) provided insight on the current corporate venture capital environment from multiple perspectives.

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June 10, 2020

Ioxp on Their Way to Global Success

Written by Franziska Rammel

Dr. Alexander Lemken, co-founder of ioxp, talks about the steep learning curve on their international expansion journey, and how the German Accelerator program in Silicon Valley has helped them accelerate their business development efforts, and get ready for U.S. success. Their lead mentor, Daniela Caserotto-Leibert, also shares how she experienced working with ioxp,  and what potential she sees for ioxp in the U.S. market.

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June 9, 2020

Love Thy Customer: Selling, Client Retention, and Upselling for B2B in 2020

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

As part of German Accelerator’s “Pass The Mic” series, we hosted a webinar to address how to manage sales and keep customers for B2B companies during tough times. #GAmentors Joshua Amrani (CEO, The Amrani Group and one of our #GAalumni) and Brandon Atkinson (CEO & Principal Consultant, 46 Summits Consulting) provided actionable insights on how companies can navigate the COVID-19 environment.

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June 4, 2020

Fundraising in 2020: What to Focus on in a Changing World

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

As part of our “Pass the Mic” series, we recently hosted a virtual fireside chat to update startups on how COVID-19 is impacting the 2020 investment landscape and highlighted what these changes could mean for young German companies seeking to raise money in the U.S. Angel Investor and our Program CEO Christian Busch and #GAmentors Charlie Cameron (HUB Angels) and Morgan Lai (Foundation Capital) shared their insights on the current investment dynamics. 

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June 2, 2020

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity

Written by German Accelerator

For entrepreneurs, the coronavirus pandemic is not the time to stay still. Here are the 23 German startups who are taking the bold step forward and preparing for international expansion with German Accelerator’s virtual programs.

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May 26, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by German Accelerator

In this edition of our Coffee Sessions, Andreas Hofmann, Program CEO German Accelerator Silicon Valley, interviewed Chinese born German founder Han Jin, who launched Lucid, the world’s first AI-powered 3D vision platform, without a cent in his pocket. Read the full interview with Han – who is also one of our dedicated Mentors – to find out how Judo and Chinese war strategies helped him succeed, and much more!

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May 14, 2020

Startup Stereo Episode #03 – Life Sciences Companies In the Fight against COVID-19 – With Dr. Daniel Mark and Dr. Oliver Uecke

Written by German Accelerator

In the third episode of “Startup Stereo”, Dr. Oliver Uecke of Lipotype and Daniel Mark of Spindiag share how their companies are involved in tackling the #coronacrisis, the impact of the situation on their business, and how they both perceive the “gold rush” in life sciences field at the moment. #ProudSupporter

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May 14, 2020

Tackling Your Startup’s International Expansion in Light of Coronavirus

Written by Sheena Cheong

Why Startups Should Still Think About Internationalization and How to Best to Make Use of the Current Situation | Given the current crisis, should startups still internationalize or focus on existing markets? Are there ways startups can make the most out of this situation? We post these questions to our #GAmentors, Jordi Castello (Letgo), Dr. Bert Grobben (Budding Innovations), Samer Hamadeh (Zeel), and David Segura (Angel Investor and Serial Entrepreneur) to get their insights.

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May 7, 2020

With a Passion for German Culture, Investor Anula Jayasuriya Is Hard at Work Promoting Female Entrepreneurs & Investing in Women’s Health

Written by Lauren Desrosiers

#GAmentor Anula Jayasuriya shares her insights from personal experience in the pharmaceutical industry and venture capital world. We sat down with her to speak about the barriers of entry into the VC world for women, the importance of organizations which support female entrepreneurs, and her investments in women’s health.

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April 28, 2020

Beim German Accelerator geht es trotz Corona-Krise weiter voran! 

Written by German Accelerator

Munich Startup hat nachgefragt, wie der German Accelerator und betroffene Startups mit der aktuellen Situation umgehen. Das Ziel des German Accelerator bleibt auch in der Corona-Krise gleich: Startups bestmöglich bei ihrer internationalen Expansion zu unterstützen.

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April 22, 2020

Yes, You Can do This! – How to Digital Detox and Meet Yourself

Written by Franziska Rammel

Not only in times of the coronavirus crisis but in general we feel the urge to be available for anyone, anywhere, at any time. We asked Natalie Sennes, business woman, founder, and mindfulness coach, for her advice on how we can cope with the pressure, her essential tips on how to reduce screen time, and how she personally manages to detach.

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April 7, 2020

Startup Stereo Episode #01 – Why Receiving Feedback Can Feel Like Going to the Dentist – With Jenny von Podewils

Written by German Accelerator

The very first episode of German Accelerator’s podcast “Startup Stereo” is live! In episode #01, Jenny von Podewils, Co-Founder of Leapsome, a platform for people enablement, shares her insights on the importance of feedback and how meaningful reviews can serve as rocket fuel for both learning and a healthy company culture.

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April 2, 2020

Subservience, Meekness, Invisibility – an Investor’s Take on Female Founders Working With the Cultural Stereotypes and on Raising Funds in Asia

Written by Lydia Koh

It’s 2020, and the “old boys’ club” in venture capital should be a thing of the past. Only that it isn’t, especially in Asia. Monthida McCoole, Investor and German Accelerator Mentor, shares her experience on what it’s like to be (at most times) the only woman in the room and raising funds in Asia.

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March 25, 2020

Survival Tips for Your Startup in an Uncertain Economy

Written by Sheena Cheong

Navigating the Repercussions Caused by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak. Nicolas Keravec, Managing Director of Asia Pacific Internet Holding Group & #GAmentor, shares his experiences and advice to help startups navigate through the current economic uncertainty due to the widespread impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19). Here are his top five risk mitigation strategies for startups around the globe to consider.

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March 19, 2020

How a Woman From Stuttgart Built a Global Community For Female Entrepreneurs: Meet Anne Cocquyt, Founder of The GUILD and #GAmentor

Written by German Accelerator

“The entrepreneurial journey is an exciting journey. It’s a rollercoaster with many ups and downs – be prepared, stay excited, and enjoy the ride.” Anne Cocquyt, serial entrepreneur and German Accelerator mentor, shares what it’s like to work in a male-dominated world and how she founded the GUILD, a global networking platform for female innovators and entrepreneurs.

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March 12, 2020

More Talent, Less Gender

Written by Judith Sterl

A Male Feminist and Executive Search Consultant on Glass Ceilings and Gender Disparities
Harald Fortmann is a digital expert, executive search consultant, entrepreneur, and author who chooses to support and write about female leaders and new work topics. This interview gives us a male perspective on gender bias and concrete tips on how men can support women in business.

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March 11, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions with Sophie Chung

Written by German Accelerator

Sophie Chung, MD (Qunomedical) | Democratizing access to high-quality healthcare (Part 2) “The time to start a company has never been better for female founders.” In part 2, Qunomedical founder Sophie Chung talks about managing the challenges of a multicultural team, getting away with 3-4 hours of sleep and what pattern recognition and intuition have to do with fundraising.

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March 9, 2020

Exploring Female Entrepreneurship From a Scientific Perspective

Written by Judith Sterl, Franziska Rammel

There is lots of research and studies analyzing female entrepreneurship, women in business, and the gender gap in today’s working world. We asked Nadine Chochoiek, Doctoral Candidate & Head of Teaching at Max Planck und LMU EC, about the potential reasons and the scientific perspective on this topic.

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March 8, 2020

Celebrating Women

Written by Marie Klemme-Lacus, Judith Sterl

Strong, innovative, purposeful. The women in our current German Accelerator classes around the globe are on a mission to scale their business internationally. Here’s what they have to say:

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March 4, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions with Sophie Chung

Written by German Accelerator

Sophie Chung, MD (Qunomedical) | Democratizing Access to High-Quality Healthcare (Part 1) What happens when an ambitious medical doctor and stem cell researcher quits her job, goes into management consulting and then works for a digital health startup? This #GAcoffeesession tells the founder story of Sophie Chung and her mission: Qunomedical.

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February 27, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by German Accelerator

Felix Plog (foodpanda) | Scaling to 40 Markets in Two Years (Part 2) In part two of this #GAcoffeesession interview, foodpanda co-founder and angel investor Felix Plog spills his secrets around fundraising and shares an insider take on the non-profit mentality in the U.S.

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February 20, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by German Accelerator

Felix Plog (foodpanda) | Scaling to 40 Markets in Two Years (Part 1). “We embarked on a crazy expansion that took us to 40 markets in two years”. In round two of our #GACoffeesessions, foodpanda co-founder Felix Plog talks to German Accelerator about scaling like no tomorrow.

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January 30, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by Christian Busch

Philippe von Borries (Refinery29) | From German Exchange Student to Media Entrepreneur (Part 2). “I do things that push me out of my comfort zone all the time.” In Part 2, Philippe von Borries shares the advice he would give his 20-year-old self and a sneak peek into what’s next for Refinery29.

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January 22, 2020

German Accelerator Coffee Sessions

Written by Christian Busch

Philippe von Borries (Refinery29) | From German Exchange Student to Media Entrepreneur (Part 1). German Accelerator talked to Philippe von Borries, Co-Founder of Refinery29, about how he and his team built and sold one of the fastest-growing media brands in the U.S.

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20190824_174059
January 8, 2020

“Drink lots of water and warm up your voice!”

Written by German Accelerator

Johanna Joch of Speechagain participated in our New York program and wrapped it up by winning the Best Pitch Award during German Startup Night. Back then, the trained speech therapist spent several hours working with one of our pitch coaches. End of 2019, she became a coach herself and we and picked her brain about her top workshop takeaways.

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German Accel Oct1-98
October 22, 2019

From Expanding Your Business To Expanding Yourself

Written by German Accelerator

At the beginning of October, twelve young companies arrived from Germany in the United States to start their expansion journey with the help of German Accelerator. What have they been up to during their first few weeks in the program?

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October 17, 2019

Understanding Asian Business Culture – Chapter 1

Written by German Accelerator

We’ve compiled some helpful tips to learn more about Asian (business) culture from a German perspective that will also benefit your communication skills at home. The tips are split into three academy articles.

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October 2, 2019

Go Far, Grow Fast – Wie deutsche Startups erfolgreich expandieren

Written by German Accelerator

Startups gibt es viele. Die Zahl der Neugründungen in Deutschland lag, je nach Definition, 2017 bei 60.000. Die meisten Startups planen, auch international zu expandieren – und das nicht nur innerhalb der EU (95%), sondern auch darüber hinaus. Mit knapp 39% ist Nordamerika hier das am häufigsten genannte Ziel, gefolgt von Asien mit ca. 25%2.

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FuerGruender_TOP50_2019_News
March 19, 2019

Für Gründer Top 50 – Two German Accelerator Companies

Written by German Accelerator

The “Für Gründer” magazine ranked our alumni companies COMPREDICT GmbH and Toposens as one of the top 50 Startups of 2018. We also want to congratulate Celonis and Hydrogenious Technologies. They are part of the former Top 50 startup ranking.

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the100_GermanStartups_News
March 19, 2019

The Hundert – Nine German Accelerator Companies

Written by German Accelerator

The Hundert, a startup print magazine, rewarded the best 100 German startups. We are proud that nine of our alumni made the cut. Congrats to i2x, KINEXON, Mesaic, Mitte water, Opinary, Replex, Silexica, SMACC, and Stoyo!

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StartupGuide_2
March 5, 2019

German Accelerator Success Story: Startup Guide

Written by German Accelerator

Startup Guide, the lonely planet for entrepreneurs, is a series of city-focused entrepreneurial guides on the local startup ecosystem. Each book is packed with useful information and tips, exciting founder stories and insightful interviews with local experts.

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CEOs of AMBOSS – Photo by Fabian Rasmus Quast
January 31, 2019

German Accelerator Success Story: AMBOSS

Written by German Accelerator

AMBOSS empowers healthcare professionals around the world to perform to the highest evidence-based medical standards. The company’s knowledge engine is built on the latest medical research and cutting-edge technology. A group of young physicians launched AMBOSS in 2012 as a one-stop medical education platform that promotes best-in-class outcomes.

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n26-team-during-standup
December 14, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: N26

Written by German Accelerator

With a full European banking license, state-of-the-art technology, and no branch network, N26 is redesigning banking for the 21st century. N26 is launching its banking app in the U.S. in 2019.

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Scopis_Story
November 6, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: Scopis

Written by German Accelerator

Scopis is a medical device company that was founded in July 2010 out of Charité and Fraunhofer in Berlin. The company designs surgical navigation systems that use augmented reality (AR) technology, where real-world imaging data from the surgical environment is enhanced by integrating computer-generated imaging data.

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Movilizer
October 30, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: Movilizer

Written by German Accelerator

Founded in 2006 and based in Mannheim, Germany, Movilizer empowers enterprises to connect and orchestrate their field operations. In March 2016, Movilizer was acquired by American Fortune 100 industrial giant Honeywell.

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October 29, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: iNDTact

Written by German Accelerator

iNDTact’s precision sensor systems in the IoT field saw traction in the Singapore market in under 5 months. Despite the longer sales cycle for B2B businesses, iNDTact secured key clients and partners in Singapore in the areas of smart buildings and railways.

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Protembis_Team_small
October 29, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: Protembis

Written by German Accelerator

Protembis is an Aachen, Germany based medical device startup. It develops a novel catheter-based filter device for use during cardiac interventions. The device is designed to minimize the risk of stroke and other neurological injuries during these interventions – particularly during catheter-based heart valve implantations.

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visa1
October 29, 2018

The Best Visa Options for German Entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Written by Jason Finkelman

For foreign nationals seeking to live and work in the United States, obtaining a visa is one of the most challenging barriers to overcome for a successful entry into the country. Generally speaking, there are limited visa options for German entrepreneurs.

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tax3
October 29, 2018

The Basics of U.S. Business Taxes

Written by Paul Venokur (EA, Principal at Tarlow & Co. )

Before starting your international expansion in the U.S., it is crucial to have a basic understanding of your businesses’ U.S. tax obligations. Your tax compliance requirements will depend on the type of entity you form. This is the essential first step when planning operations in the U.S.

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Streets of New York City
October 29, 2018

Getting Around in New York City

Written by Eric Erli

New York City is no stranger to visitors. There are multiple ways to get around in the greater New York City area, and plenty of resources available to ensure that commuters know what to expect. We have briefly detailed some of the most popular and convenient ways to get around in the world’s fastest-growing tech hotspot.

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pitch2
October 29, 2018

Engineer like a German but Pitch like an American

Written by German Accelerator

“If you want to make it in the States, you need to have an inspiring vision. Germans are just too honest, too realistic, too modest. When we tell Americans about our big vision, most likely they will tell us that it is not big enough.”

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tax2
October 29, 2018

The Basics of Transfer Pricing and the IRS

Written by Rita Chung (International Tax Partner at Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP)

Transfer pricing has become a key area of focus for tax authorities around the world.  Maintaining appropriate documentation to support a company’s transfer pricing policies mitigates the risk of a potential tax adjustment during a transfer pricing audit and eliminates the risk of potentially substantial penalties.

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legal1
October 29, 2018

Everything You Need to Know About Startup Boards

Written by Samer Hamadeh, Adam Dinow

Every company has a board of directors – but few founders and entrepreneurs give the matter of board composition much thought. This piece is aimed at U.S.-based startups who are, or are intending to incorporate, as C-Corp companies.

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visa2
October 29, 2018

Traveling to the U.S. as a Temporary Worker – The 101 on ESTA and Visas

Written by Sarah Ames (Partner Quarles & Brady LLP)

When planning to come to the U.S., a foreign national will have to either register online for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) in order to travel to the U.S. under the visa waiver program (without a visa) or apply for a visa. This article will give an overview of the necessary steps to either register for ESTA or obtain a non-immigrant work visa.

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Markus_PS
October 29, 2018

PlagScan CEO Markus Goldbach on How His Passion for Fairness Changed His Career

Written by Geoff Baum (German Accelerator Mentor in Silicon Valley)

PlagScan is a Cologne-based plagiarism detection service for academic institutions and businesses. The company participated in German Accelerator as part of the Class of Fall 2014 in Silicon Valley. In this interview CEO and co-founder Markus Goldbach, who was trained as a neuroscientist, recounts Plagscan’s founding story and how what started as a hobby turned into a fast-growing technology company.

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architectural-design-architecture-ceiling-380768
October 29, 2018

How to Obtain a U.S. Office and Business Address

Written by Eric Erli

Establishing a U.S. office is a crucial initial step when expanding your business to the U.S. This is because an American business address is needed for many tasks that require documentation. Having a U.S. office address is a good way to show that your company is on the ground and committed.

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buildingteam1
October 29, 2018

Recruiting for Startup Jobs – Where to Post Vacancies

Written by Eric Erli

In the U.S., finding someone to fill a vacancy is easy, but finding the right person to fill a vacancy is hard. Having a strong team can determine the success or failure of a company. The most common way to find talent is to post open positions on online job boards.

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Article_19_ProGlove-at-CES
October 29, 2018

ProGlove Finds Their Fit in NYC

Written by German Accelerator

The Munich-based startup, ProGlove, develops smart gloves that enable manufacturing and logistics staff to work faster, safer, and easier. Last January they joined German Accelerator New York Class of Spring 2018. Munich Startup reached out to German Accelerator and sat down with founder and COO Jonas Girardet to get an update on how things have fared for ProGlove in the U.S. market.

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01_Philipp Zimmermann
October 29, 2018

Robotics Startup Franka Emika Is Silicon Valley-Bound

Written by Sally Schönack

Franka Emika entered the German Accelerator program in Silicon Valley. Munich Startup interviewed founder and CEO Philipp Zimmermann on his expectations about the program, the company’s first steps in the U.S., and the biggest challenges they are facing as a robotics business.

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Seo B2b
October 29, 2018

Creating a B2B SEO Strategy for Startups That Drives Leads

Written by Kevin Indig

Roughly 8 years ago, B2B marketing changed at its core. What was handled by eager salespeople got replaced by the Internet? In the enterprise segment, Salespeople are still necessary to close deals. But nowadays, customers have become very allergic to cold outreach and would rather do research by themselves.

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Article_25_Credit_Card
October 29, 2018

European Challenger Bank N26 Moving Swiftly to Launch Its Mobile App in the U.S.

Written by German Accelerator

As one of Europe’s fastest growing retail banks, N26 already has more than 850,000 customers across 17 European markets. Nicolas Kopp, U.S. CEO of N26, recently sat down with Samer Hamadeh, CEO of on-demand mobile wellness startup Zeel and German Accelerator mentor, to talk about plans for introducing N26 to the U.S. market

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Celonis
October 17, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: Celonis

Written by German Accelerator

Celonis, a spin-off from the Technical University Munich, was founded in 2011 and joined German Accelerator Silicon Valley in 2013. The signs that Celonis would stand out among other startups were there right from the start: Profitable from its very beginning and in 2011, it was ranked as Germany’s fastest-growing technology company in 2015.

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lapfolder_management2017-1024×551
October 17, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: labfolder

Written by German Accelerator

Labfolder offers a well-designed productivity and collaboration platform for research teams, supporting scientists in their quest to make groundbreaking discoveries. The software as a service makes it easier to record, retrieve, share, discuss, and validate research data as a team, helping researchers save time and to make analysis more effective.

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Article_16_ProGlove_FounderTeam
October 17, 2018

German Accelerator Success Story: ProGlove

Written by German Accelerator

By developing industrial wearables and analysis tools, ProGlove connects the human workforce with the Industry 4.0. The Munich-based company was founded in December 2014 by Thomas Kirchner, Jonas Girardet, Paul Günther, Manuel Bönisch and Alexander Grots after winning the Intel “Make it Wearable” Challenge in Silicon Valley.

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Article_16_ProGlove_FounderTeam
January 10, 2018

ProGlove Prepares for New York City

Written by German Accelerator

In October 2017, the Munich-based Startup, ProGlove was selected to participate in German Accelerator New York program. Munich Startup interviewed the founders.

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buildingteam2
January 9, 2018

Hiring Interns in the U.S. as a German Company

Written by Klaus-Peter Statz (German Accelerator Mentor in New York)

Hiring interns is a great way to ease a startup’s workload while giving a young talent the chance to experience an exciting work environment. However, the onboarding can become challenging for German companies in the U.S. if they are not yet incorporated.

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