That’s what it’s all about

At Finance Friday, we discuss various financing options for startups. Five female experts will share insights on working with investors, bootstrapping, equity financing, and other funding options for your entrepreneurial journey.

What to expect

Four sessions with five female experts:

• Heidrun Twesten, CEO of Impacct GmbH
  Investments from the perspective of a business angel/investor, with insights into cap tables and more
  Heidrun provides an overview of financing options, including tips and tricks for young companies/start-ups, as well as insights into the topic of business angel investing.

• Louisa Wiethold, Founder of Equalista
  Let’s bootstrap – how we achieve it through our own efforts
  Louisa from Equalista demonstrates how bootstrapping—with smart resource utilization, cost efficiency, and creative strategies—can empower a startup even with limited capital. With practical examples and valuable insights, you’ll explore whether bootstrapping is the right path for you

• Helene Nietert und Jennifer Lorenzen, GLS Bank
  Financing options – forging your own financing path
  
  Each form of financing comes with different expectations from funders. But what kind of support do you need, and how much autonomy are you willing to relinquish? Helene and Jennifer will empower you to forge your own path—with clarity, honesty, and genuine relationships.

• Martina Krämer, Bürgschaftsbank Hamburg
  Overview of financing and guarantee schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises
  
  Guarantees replace missing collateral. Martina Krämer explains how the Hamburg Guarantee Bank GmbH assumes risks on behalf of banks in Hamburg that they cannot bear alone—thus supporting startups in obtaining loans. She also describes under which conditions their affiliate, MBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, provides equity capital to Hamburg’s medium-sized enterprises.

Our five experts

Heidrun Twesten
Heidrun is an entrepreneur – CEO Impacct GmbH since 2002, has been active in the startup ecosystem for years and consulted numerous teams in their IPOs. As a board member, she was instrumental in scaling one of today’s leading German investor relations boutiques. She is an executive advisor for SMEs, scale-ups and corporates for transformation processes and capital market transactions, speaker, business angel and LP as well as co-host of the podcast EQUALIZER by/for female founders. 

Louisa Wiethold
Louisa is the co-founder of Equalista, a learning app for gender equality. With the support of an EXIST scholarship, she developed the app together with her sister. Today, Equalista focuses on the concept of “relational equality,” which refers to relationship skills training. She founded her first company for sustainable tennis clothing while still a student. In addition to Equalista, she completed her master’s degree in digital business management and has been active in local politics since 2023.

Helene Nietert
Helene is the host at GLS Bank’s WerkRaum – a space for innovation, cooperation, and implementation. She has been supporting impact startups there for several years.

Jennifer Lorenzen
Jennifer works in the credit department at GLS Bank, where she ensures that customers’ loans are financed on a daily basis. She also brings her own start-up experience to the table.

Martina Krämer
Martina Krämer, banking specialist and corporate customer advisor for over 29 years with a focus on new business at Bürgschaftsbank Hamburg GmbH and investment manager at MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Hamburg mbH.

Target group
Finance Friday is part of Female Entrepreneurship Week and is aimed exclusivly at female FEW participants.

Language
English

Location
betahaus hamburg | coworking & events
Eifflerstraße 43, 22769 Hamburg

barrier-free
Yes

Eventdatum: Freitag, 21. November 2025 09:00 – 13:30

Eventort: Hamburg

That’s what it’s all about

Resilience is the superpower of many female founders – it shapes how we navigate uncertainty, pressure, and challenges. But inner strength is not only built through discipline, it also thrives on self-awareness and creativity. In this impulse workshop, we combine both: artistic methods as a key to more clarity, trust, and empowerment in everyday entrepreneurial life. Together, we will explore concrete methods and practices that female founders can use in their daily lifes to stay grounded and resilient throughout their entrepreneurial journey. In a group of max. 15 women, participants will have the opportunity for deep exchange and connection in a safe space.What to expect?

Part 1 – Introduction to the Seven Pillars of Resilience

Solution OrientationAsking: What can I do right now?

Leaving the Victim RoleFrom “Why does this always happen to me?” to “What can I actively shape?”

OptimismBelieving in opportunities instead of focusing only on risks.

Taking ResponsibilityOwning one’s actions and decisions.

AcceptanceAcknowledging what cannot be changed, instead of wasting energy on resistance.

Building NetworksActively nurturing relationships and seeking support.

Future PlanningDeveloping visions and setting concrete goals.

Part 2  – Creativity

Three sessions of 30 minutes each (with breaks/transitions in between)

SLOT 1 – “Foundation & Flow” – Discovering inner strength
Introduction to the topic of resilience, initial creative activation, building trust

• Short impulse: “What does resilience mean as a founder?”
• Mini exercise: Visual mapping
• Mini-sharing in groups of two

Materials: Thick paper, pens, markers, watercolors

SLOT 2 – “Shake it Off” – From Pressure to Expression
Dealing with resistance, stress, or doubts – letting go creatively & reinterpreting

• Short tutorial: Introduction to “automatic painting”
• Exercise: Transforming stress
• Reflection: “Let it flow. Trust in you.” “What problems have recently resolved themselves, simply through trust?” (short discussion)

Materials: Marbling technique, acrylic in water bath

SLOT 3 – “Anchor & Action” – Making the essence visible
Anchor insights & create a personal symbol as an anchor for everyday life

• Impulse: “What carries you through highs and lows?”
• Exercise: Design a resilience talisman
• Handing over the portraits and gallery walk

Materials: pens, stamps, collage, DINA 5 picture frames

Our experts

Christine Tiedemann
Head of Startup Port. As a successful entrepreneur, she knows what it takes to stay healthy under pressure. For many years, she has supported individuals and teams in challenging situations with passion and heart.

Miriam Bundel
Serial founder and artist. As a UX/UI expert, she helps companies shape their online presence. Her creative mindset is inspiring, and her enthusiasm for artistic processes is truly contagious.

Location
AI.STARTUP.HUB im Digital Hub Logistics
Am Sandtorkai 32, 20457 Hamburg

Eventdatum: Donnerstag, 20. November 2025 10:00 – 15:00

Eventort: Hamburg

Darum geht’s

Du willst die Bedürfnisse deiner potentiellen Kund*innen besser verstehen, um ein passgenaues Geschäftsmodell zu entwickeln? Und dein Know-How in der Durchführung von Kund*innen-Interviews auffrischen oder vertiefen? Dann bist du hier richtig.

Was erwartet dich? In unserem Workshop “Customer Development” zeigen wir dir, wie du Interviews effektiv nutzen kannst, um wertvolle Einblicke in die Bedürfnisse deiner potenziellen Kund*innen zu bekommen. Wir vermitteln praxisnahe Methoden, mit denen du Geschäftsmodelle entwickeln kannst, die sich stark an den Bedürfnissen deiner Zielgruppe orientieren. Du hast Interesse eine konkrete Zielgruppen-Fragestellung / Hypothese mitzubringen? Lass es uns wissen – wir freuen uns über eine kurze Beschreibung deiner Fragestellung / Hypothese und planen sie ein.Zielgruppe

Die Gründungstoolbox richtet sich an Gründungsinteressierte mit und ohne eigene Geschäftsidee aus dem Hochschulumfeld in der Metropolregion Hamburg.

Sprache
Deutsch

Barrierefrei
Nein

Standort
Universität Hamburg | Transferagentur
Rothenbaumchaussee 19, 20148 Hamburg

Eventdatum: Mittwoch, 05. November 2025 15:00 – 17:00

Eventort: Hamburg

That’s what the event is about

Learn from experienced founders and entrepreneurs. What has proven successful when starting a business? What are the biggest pitfalls? Is there a blueprint for the founding process? During a shared lunch, you’ll gain insights into successful startups, practical tips and the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and like-minded individuals – concise, practical, and full of valuable impulses to advance your own project.

Description – What can you expect?

In this session, Lukas Gaats will talk about how he founded his startup mo:re, the hurdles he encountered and how his team overcame them. You will have the opportunity to discuss your own challenges with him and gain valuable tips for your own startup project from his experiences.

More information about our experienced founder

Our special guest is Lukas Gaats, CEO and co-founder of the Hamburg-based biotech start-up mo:re. From the initial idea during his research stay at Queensland University of Technology to the founding of the company at Hamburg University of Technology and the €2.3 million seed round, Lukas has achieved many milestones in the startup process – and gained a wealth of experience that he is now keen to share with young (pre-)startup teams.

Target group
founders and people interested in starting a business in the life science industry

Location
Life Science Nord Management GmbHSteinhöft 5, 20459 Hamburg

Language
English

Barrier-free
One step at the entrance

Eventdatum: Montag, 06. Oktober 2025 12:00 – 14:00

Eventort: Hamburg