Frank Schmiechen began his journalistic career as a freelance sports reporter and music critic, then worked as head of production and editor-in-chief at Bild, and as deputy editor-in-chief of Welt Kompakt and Welt am Sonntag. We met him in Munich, and he was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.
Mr. Schmiechen, you have been editor-in-chief of Gründerszene since October 2014. What particularly fascinates you about the topic of startups?
The energy, the optimism, and the engagement with digitalization. Startups are the nucleus of the digital economy of the future. A wide, open field that is now being populated. Founders who have the courage and imagination now can compete at the top of the game in the future and grow extremely rapidly.
You sit with gruenderszene.de in Berlin, often referred to as the "startup capital." There's always a lot going on there. What are you seeing from Munich, the startup city?
Not enough. We like being in Munich. At Bits & Pretzels, for example. You meet a lot of Berliners there... But startups from Munich, such as Metaio or Prettysocial Media, are also a topic of discussion on the startup scene.
“Munich is catching up”
How do you rate Munich as a startup city?
I believe Munich has a good chance of becoming a special location for startups. Sure, Berlin is ahead in terms of numbers. But Munich is catching up. We shouldn't copy Berlin, but focus on our own regional strengths. Bavaria has always been a good location for technology. Berlin is a magnet for young people because everyday living costs are lower here than elsewhere. And it's becoming increasingly international. Munich is expensive and seems provincial from Berlin's perspective, but the city is located in an economically incredibly strong region. This should be exploited.
There's often talk of a certain rivalry between Munich and Berlin. Do you also see these two cities as competitors, or how would you describe the relationship?
Let me put it this way: Berliners have a, ahem, healthy self-confidence. I think Munich doesn't play a big role in the minds of young people living in the capital.
Two years ago, Axel Springer acquired the startup publishing house Vertical Media. Is this an indication that the startup scene has entered the mainstream?
I think this is more of a sign that Axel Springer has understood the signs of digitalization. They're betting on the startup scene as the business medium of the future.
That Berlin has a vibrant startup scene is undisputed. However, don't you see it as a concern that media attention is almost exclusively focused on the capital? Aren't there other hotspots, or at least emerging startup regions, in Germany that are still receiving too little media attention?
It's quite simple: The better idea and the better story win. I don't care where a startup is located. The main thing is that I find the idea compelling. Or the founders have a special story to tell. So, if you've founded a startup and have a special story to tell, share it. We need your stories.
“Bits & Pretzels was impressive”
You were at the Founders Festival in September 2015 Bits & Pretzels in Munich. How did you like the event? Did anything particularly impress you?
I was particularly struck by the professionalism. There are so many conferences on this topic. The selection of speakers and the entire process at Bits & Pretzels was impressive. And then as an encore the Oktoberfest What more could you want? A good mix that showcases what Munich has to offer. Is the trade fair the right location? Perhaps there's another idea.
What is your general opinion of Germany as a country for startups? Where do you see room for improvement? What's missing, and what's already going really well here?
Things are getting better and better in Germany. Universities, traditional businesses, and the media are adapting more and more to the startup scene. We need more technical founders. People with IT backgrounds. Perhaps that's a question of university education. Our startups are often founded by business people or consultants. Which isn't a bad thing. But in the US, many more programmers or techies are founding companies. And technical ideas, like WhatsApp, in particular, have the potential to become globally successful in a flash. And we need more money from investors in Germany. But you can never have enough of that.
Would you venture a prediction for the future of startups in Germany? How do you assess the future development of the startup landscape?
The startup landscape will grow organically with digitalization. I think we're only at the beginning. This also applies to my medium, Gründerszene. At some point, even the last manager in the traditional economy will understand that digitalization affects them too. And that's when startups come into play, which can respond more agilely to challenges. Either as competitors to established companies – or as their helpers on the path to the future.
Thank you for the interview!
