25 years of the WHU Founders’ Conference: Building bridges for founders!

25 years of the WHU Founders’ Conference: Building bridges for founders!

The IdeaLab! conference took place on September 25th and 26th, 2025 at the Vallendar Campus of the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management. – WHU Founders’ Conference. The event celebrated its 25th anniversary under the motto “Connecting Minds, Building Bridges”. More than 400 students as well as over 45 start-ups, 25 investors and 95 professionals came together to exchange ideas about innovations and entrepreneurial strategies. 60 sponsors and 40 speakers also enriched the conference with their knowledge and experience. The event has been organized since 2000 by a student initiative whose mission is to network and support aspiring entrepreneurs and start-up experts.

The conference program included a variety of formats such as keynotes, panels, pitch sessions, workshops and even a hackathon. Particularly noteworthy are the parts of the event format in which start-ups were able to pitch to an audience of investors. As part of the so-called IdeaTank, all participating start-ups had the opportunity to present their business model. A pitch battle also took place in which selected teams received feedback on their project ideas.

Prominent speakers and committed investors

The speakers included prominent personalities from the start-up scene such as Benjamin Bauer, co-founder and CCO of Jokr, and Fabian Brandt from Oliver Wyman. Nicole Büttner, founder and CEO of Merantix Momentum, and Annika von Mutius, co-founder of Empion and board member of the KI Federal Association, brought their expertise into the discourses and inspired the participants with their knowledge. Investors and company representatives from Enpal, FUTRUE, 4P Capital and askLio who were also present ensured that the event offered the start-ups an optimal platform for networking.

The importance of such events becomes clear in the context of the entire German start-up ecosystem. According to a 2023 analysis that considered 1,825 records from founders and senior executives, factors such as networking, economic policy support and access to talent and capital play a crucial role in the success of start-ups in Germany. The positive ratings from those surveyed show that the proximity to universities (75.6%) and the network to other start-up founders (70.5%) are perceived as particularly advantageous.

Challenges in the start-up ecosystem

However, despite these positive aspects, there are also challenges. Only 33% of respondents rated access to capital and investments as positive, indicating a low volume of venture capital compared to other countries. The availability of affordable office properties should also be viewed critically at 42.1%. High rental prices, especially in large cities such as Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, represent an obstacle for many start-ups. In addition, the availability of qualified personnel (50.1%) is seen as problematic, as a shortage of skilled workers can hinder the growth of companies.

In conclusion, the WHU Founders' Conference was not only a meeting place for innovative minds, but also an important part of the dynamic start-up ecosystem in Germany. whu.edu highlights the role of such events, while idealab.io and xpert.digital provide important contextual information about the current conditions for founders and investors. Continuous improvement of the café, contact points and resources will be crucial for the future of the German start-up market.