With “Startup in School”, the YFN and the association Gründungsmagnet are bringing entrepreneurship into German classrooms. The nationwide educational project launches at the official founding week 2025 from November 17 to 23. It aims to introduce students to practical economic thinking and the fundamentals of founding a business.
nnnnIn over a hundred schools across the country, volunteer founders and entrepreneurs design a double lesson around idea development, business models, and elevator pitches. The goal is to inspire young people about entrepreneurship and show them that founding a business is a real option alongside studying or apprenticeship.
nnnnSaskia Teufel, founder of the initiative and herself from the Munich startup scene, says:
nnnnnnnnn“We want to bring entrepreneurship to where curiosity begins: into the schools. Founding is not an elitist path, but an entrepreneurial mindset that benefits our country: identifying problems, taking responsibility, and creating solutions. That’s exactly what we want to show young people.”
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A nationwide network with Munich roots
nnnnThe project emerged from the environment of the YFN, which has been connecting young founders from the region for years. Together with Gründungsmagnet, the network has built a nationwide team of around 100 volunteer entrepreneurs. Participants include Daniel Schmitt-Haverkamp from Munich startup Everdrop, Darius Göttert (Göttert Ventures), Pheline Huber (Lyfe Ads), Lorenz Kopp (Next Step HR), and Leon Pelikan (Political X Change).
nnnn“Startup in School” is organized by a ten-person team that coordinates implementation, partner contacts, and quality assurance. In addition to classroom sessions, the project aims to create sustained exchange between founders, teachers, and students – an approach that is also being implemented in Munich.
nnnnPaul Funke, organizer of the project, is appealing to companies, foundations, and educational institutions for support:
nnnnnnnnn“We welcome partners who understand entrepreneurship as an educational mission and want to work with us to foster a new entrepreneurial culture in Germany.”
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Because every investment in founder education is an investment in future viability, according to Funke.
The project aims to contribute in the long term to establishing economic thinking and social responsibility at an early stage, thereby inspiring the next generation of founders.
Those who want to support the project can find more information here.
