Post by Beatrice Aretz

“Startup is living with one foot on a yacht and the other in bankruptcy.” ⛵️💸 Magdalena Muttenthaler said that at the Young Founders Conference in Munich last week and honestly, I couldn’t stop laughing. Because it’s true. Founding is equal parts thrill and chaos. I was there for the Female Founders Panel on “Finding the perfect co-founder,” together with Martina Ponath and Claire Siegert, beautifully moderated by Jasmin Oestreich, MBA. We talked about trust, equality, and what makes a partnership truly work. For me, co-founding is like having a child together. You share the same responsibility. That’s why 50/50 matters. It shows trust, creates balance, and sets the tone for how you build together. Even if one person has been in the project longer, you can always build fairness through vesting periods, ESOPs, and transparency. Equality builds trust and trust builds strong companies. And yes… I might have dropped a little teaser on stage: 👉 I’ve found my perfect co-founder. Official announcement coming soon. 🤍 What made the day so special: 💬 Deep, honest talks: not just about startups, but about self-worth and how sharing knowledge can be mistaken for showing off, even when it comes from wanting to help. 🛶 A spontaneous rowing lesson (already tested at the gym). 👋 An unexpected reunion with a former Microsoft colleague Ragnar Heil and meeting his brilliant entrepreneurial kids. 💃 And of course, running into Maren Raab at the afterparty after our dinner plans fell through. A day full of learning, laughter, and connection. It just made me proud to be part of this ecosystem. Big thanks to Ben Erler for the invite, to Darius Göttert 🇪🇺 and the Young Founders Network e.V. team for an outstanding event, and for launching the Young Founders Fund. You’re building real opportunities for the next generation of founders. That’s just f*ing awesome! And to all the people who turned those days into something truly special. You are absolute rockstars ✨  Leon Kaufmann-Ludwig Marina Scholz David Weiner David Hamala Jana Hollmann Alexander Sporenberg If this is the energy shaping the future, I am all in. 💪