thinc!

Insights into Practice with Aliru GmbH!👀 Last month, we had the incredible opportunity to dive into the world of #AI and #marketing with Julian Kissel, founder and CEO of Aliru GmbH🤩 After an insightful introduction to the company by Julian, we dove into an interactive case study about Sally, Aliru's new AI tool. In small groups, we collaborated to develop marketing strategies, explored potential advertising channels, and presented our ideas. The workshop ended with an engaging Q&A with Julian and his team member, offering a behind-the-scenes look into their work and #vision. Thank you Aliru GmbH for this inspiring and hands-on experience! #entrepreneurship #startup #workshop #innovation #marketing #founder

Unlocking the Power of Communication🗣️ Two weeks ago, we hosted ReThinc! Rhetoric, a billingual #workshop (both English and German) designed to equip students with essential rhetorical and communicational #skills for their future career🌟 A huge thank you to the Mannheim International Toastmasters Club and their inspiring speakers, including Craig Curtis, and Zair Dominguez Trinidad, for sharing their #expertise🤩 And, of course, thanks to innocent drinks for keeping everyone refreshed and energized through our workshop!🍓🧃 Our goal was to strike the perfect balance between theory and practice, and it truly paid off. From engaging discussions to impromptu speeches (table topics), participants stepped out of their comfort zones and onto the stage, showcasing remarkable #growth and enthusiasm💡 The overwhelmingly positive feedback has us thinking… could Round 2 be next? Stay tuned!👀 #rhetoric #workshop #innovation #entrepreneurship #thinc! #communication #development

thinctern - Big Dreams, Fast Moves, thinc! Forward💡 As the year draws to a close, we’re looking back at the amazing experiences our team members had during their summer #internships. This final chapter of the thinctern series celebrates the incredible impact and learning #journeys of thinc’s members across various industries🚀 Liam, responsible for our workshops, interned at Mateo as a Business Development Representative. His role focused on identifying #growth opportunities and guiding potential clients toward adopting Mateo’s innovative WhatsApp API. This tool empowers SMEs to enhance customer communication while staying GDPR-compliant. Liam also worked alongside Mateo’s dynamic team to strengthen client relationships and support business growth💬🦾 Cleo, leading our new projects team, joined Procuros where she worked with the founding team to refine the company’s go-to-market strategy. She identified new customer segments and implemented high-impact growth initiatives that contributed to Procuros’ mission of simplifying #B2B transactions. Cleo’s strategic insights played a key role in supporting the company’s #expansion🔗📈 Levin, our head of mentoring, spent his summer at advastore SE, a leader in #fulfillment technology. As a Business Development Intern, he worked closely with C-level executives on key projects, including investor reports, competitor analysis, and stakeholder management. Levin also gained hands-on experience in warehouse operations, helping to optimize processes and drive strategic growth📊🏗️ Finn, head regional expansion, gained extensive experience at getvoila, a premium #food start-up. Focusing on the company’s newly launched B2B model, Finn developed #sales frameworks, acquired new clients, and managed logistics across Germany. His efforts supported process optimization and positioned getvoila as a valued partner in the food & beverage industry🍽️🚛 This summer’s internships highlighted the incredible potential of our team members to adapt, lead, and contribute meaningfully across industries. While the thinctern series comes to an end, we’re looking ahead to exciting new formats and opportunities that will continue to showcase the talent and impact of our community. Stay tuned!💙 #thinctern #internship #innovation #entrepreneurship #summer #startup

Last Monday we had the pleasure to have Alex Gessner conduct our Female Entrepreneurship Workshop! 🚀 The session was all about building executive presence, developing your personal brand, and stepping into the #business world with courage. Through fun and interactive activities, we gained practical insights and tools to help us grow!⭐️ We wrapped up with a great Q&A where Alex shared some of her best advice: “Don’t hold yourself back. Find your niche, respect your boundaries, and stay focused on what matters most—both in and out of the workplace.” 💡  She also highlighted the importance of practicing executive presence, building a strong network, and keeping your eyes on your goals. A huge thank you to Alex for leading such an impactful workshop - we truly learned so much! 💙 #femaleentrepreneurship #leadership #womeninbusiness #workshop #development #innovation

From zero to Europe’s leading automotive platform - how did Christian Bertermann do it? 🚀 We closed this semester’s foundertalk series with none other than Christian Bertermann, CEO and co-founder of AUTO1 Group - Europe’s leading digital #automotive platform. From start-up dream to industry giant, Christian’s journey is a masterclass in building a high-impact business in an ever-evolving market. Christian’s story is not just about success - it is a powerful reminder of what’s possible with a bold vision, strategic decisions, and relentless determination. His talk was the perfect way to wrap up this semester’s foundertalk series. A big thank you to Christian for sharing his invaluable insights and to everyone who joined us for this inspiring talk! 🚗✨ #innovation #entrepreneurship #Auto1Group #startup #thinc! #foundertalk

Highlights from our thinc! x VR Bank Workshop 🚀 On November 4th, we had a fantastic day with VR Bank Rhein-Neckar eG and our Sven Birkner, diving into the world of #banking decisions. Throughout the session, we explored key questions like "How do banks think?" and "How do they assess credit decisions?" - especially when it comes to start-ups and new businesses💡 We covered essential topics like creditworthiness checks, #business metrics, and the impact of "soft" factors like founder personality and vision. #Sustainability (ESG factors) was also a major focus, as it's becoming a key element in bank evaluations. Understanding the different financing paths for start-ups versus established businesses was truly an eye-opener!🚀 After an insightful workshop, we enjoyed the opportunity to deepen our conversations with Sven over a networking dinner😋 Many thanks to VR Bank Rhein-Neckar eG and Sven Birkner for the invaluable #insights and inspiring discussions! 💙🤝 Check out our after-movie for highlights from this great day!🌟 #entrepreneurship #startup #sustainability #financing #innovation #workshop #leadership

🌟 Empowering Women in Tech: Our Day at fem{IT} 2024 in Mannheim! 🌟 On November 9, our Female Entrepreneurship team had the incredible opportunity to attend fem{IT} 2024 in Mannheim - an inspiring event uniting women in #tech and #startups. Alongside our thincubator by thinc! and expansion teams, we immersed ourselves in a day filled with new ideas, strong connections, and powerful stories from women who are reshaping the tech landscape🚀 We’re truly grateful for the insights we gained, the great conversations, and the connections we made. Seeing so many innovative ideas and meeting incredible women who are driving change in tech and startups was energizing. The event was a perfect chance for us to grow our network, learn from other successful founders, and get new ideas to bring back to our work at thinc!💡👩💻 A huge thank you to mannheim.ai for generously providing us with tickets to this inspiring event. Your support for #innovation and #entrepreneurship is a real gift to the whole region🙏 And special thanks to Birka Wolff from GIG7 Kompetenzzentrum FeMale Business! Not only did she do a fantastic job as a speaker at fem{IT}, but she also played a key role in helping us organize and attend the event. GIG7 is doing great work to support women founders and entrepreneurs, offering both networking and practical support for early-stage startups🌟 It was an unforgettable day that left us more motivated than ever to help build a successful and equal future for women founders! 🚀✨ #FemaleEntrepreneurship #femit2024 #WomenInTech #Networking #Innovation #Mannheim #StartupCommunity #WomenFounders

🚀 Behind the Scenes of VC Investment: This years VC Academy with HTGF’s Max! Over the past month, we had the privilege of hosting Max from HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds in Mannheim for an in-depth, hands-on #workshop series 🎓 HTGF stands as Germany’s most active early-stage #investor, with investments in over 750 start-ups, 180+ successful exits, and €2+ billion in assets under management. Here’s what we covered with Max👇 1️⃣ Screening – Understanding what it takes to stand out as a start-up in the competitive landscape. From market potential to team #dynamics, we dove into what VC investors are really looking for in early-stage ventures. 2️⃣ Due Diligence – Max guided us through a real-world, practical approach to due diligence, exploring how to scrutinize financials, assess #technology, and evaluate teams to ensure the investment aligns with both risk and return goals. 3️⃣ Financials & Term Sheets – This session broke down the essential financial structures and strategies of a successful deal. We learned how to navigate term sheets, valuation methods, and the subtle art of negotiation to align investor and founder interests. 4️⃣ Closing & Post-Investment – The final session centered on the closing process and life after #investment, focusing on strategies to support start-ups as they grow and scale. This “all-in” view gave us a well-rounded understanding of the VC-investor relationship. 🎉 Career Insights: In the last session last week, we had a bonus session with Dan, HTGF’s current intern and a Mannheim #alumni, who joined us to talk about breaking into venture capital. His journey shed light on the path to #VC and the critical skills needed to succeed. A huge thank you to Max, Dan, and HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds for making this series so interactive and practical! It’s partnerships like this that give our members the insights and confidence to pursue their entrepreneurial and venture capital ambitions💡 💼 Interested in a career with HTGF? They’re hiring! Take a look at their career opportunities in the comments and see how you can be part of Germany’s most active early-stage investment team.

Is it possible for a plant-based product to take on traditional favorites?🍦 Our recent foundertalk gave us an inspiring look into the entrepreneurial journey of NOMOO’s founder - Rebecca Göckel. From university halls to redefining the ice cream industry with a bold, #vegan twist, her story is one of #innovation, resilience, and creativity that keeps her business thriving even in winter ❄️ Her journey started with an internship at CHRONEXT, where she fell in love with building from the ground up. With a background in #agricultural science, she spotted a gap in the market: vegan ice cream that could truly compete with traditional dairy. She created Nomoo, now known for its rich flavors and a brand message that evolved from “Vegan Ice Cream” to the daring “Surprisingly Intense.”💡 Key lessons she shared: 👉 Brand evolution: Changing perceptions by moving beyond typical vegan branding 👉 Smart growth strategies: To counter seasonality, Nomoo expanded to warmer markets like Dubai, turning ice cream into a year-round indulgence. 👉The drive for more: She described her motivation with, “I need a new rocket to launch every day.”🚀 Her advice to future founders? “Don’t overthink it—everything will work out in the end.” Thank you to everyone who attended the foundertalk and helped make it such a great event! And a special thank you to our speaker Rebecca for sharing her journey and showing that passion, paired with bold ideas, can truly change an industry💙 #entrepreneurship #innovation #sustainability #foundertalk #vegan #icecream #startup

Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful food business? Christoph Schramm has the secret recipe! 🌟 Recently no, we had the privilege of hosting an inspiring founder talk with Christoph Schramm, the mind behind Gustavo Gusto🍕 He shared insights on launching and managing a successful start-up 🚀 The key takeaways? Embrace an international mindset, partner with the right people, and dare to think outside the box! During the Q&A, Christoph shared his journey to creating Germany’s luxury pizza brand, highlighting how internationalization has been central to his #strategy—even reflected in the brand's name. He also stressed the significance of collaboration and #sustainability in today’s market💡 A big thank you to Christoph Schramm for sharing his valuable experiences! Don’t miss our foundertalk next week—exciting insights await! 💙 #innovation #startup #thinc #entrepreneurship