Tech Sphere's Star: Verena Pausder

Verena Pausder Advocates for a Creative Digital Education and a Vibrant Startup Landscape in Germany

Verena Pausder, a seasoned entrepreneur and chair of the Federal Association of German Founders' Associations, is a driving force in shaping Germany's startup landscape and digital education. With over 15 years of experience in the startup scene, Pausder has made significant contributions to the German tech industry.

Pausder, who studied business administration and initially worked in the insurance industry, founded Fox & Sheep in 2012 with a vision to introduce children to digital education in a playful way. The company's mission is to empower children to participate creatively in the digital world, rather than just consume.

Pausder's journey in the startup world has not been without challenges. She experienced a difficult moment when she had to liquidate her first startup after 12 months due to financial difficulties. However, she acknowledges that failure is a part of the startup process and encourages persistence, learning, and development.

In her current role, Pausder is looking forward to fully advancing the startup landscape in Germany. She emphasizes the importance of providing greater support for spin-offs from universities to foster innovation. She also believes that modern immigration laws are essential for addressing the skilled worker shortage in Germany.

Pausder suggests establishing English as an official language in administration to make Germany more attractive for global talent. She also values team, topic, and timing as the most important criteria for investing in startups, and as a business angel, she has been instrumental in supporting various startups.

Pausder is a strong advocate for balancing technology with human elements in education. She thinks that digital literacy, adaptability, and creativity are crucial skills for future success in the job market. She believes that AI is expected to revolutionize education by offering personalized learning paths and adaptive teaching methods.

Last fall, Pausder and the Startup Association published an innovation agenda focusing on improving financing options for startups in Germany. The 2021 innovation agenda includes measures such as improving access to venture capital, establishing better startup-friendly regulatory frameworks, enhancing digital infrastructure, fostering international networking and collaboration, and supporting long-term innovation projects to keep German startups competitive globally.

Pausder's next goals and projects involve making Germany a true startup nation where innovations can thrive. She was inspired by the Conversations with Matthias Schranner on the art of negotiation and believes that crises can bring about the best innovations and that it's never a perfect time to start a business.

In conclusion, Verena Pausder is a dynamic and visionary leader in the German startup scene. Her commitment to fostering a creative digital education and a vibrant startup landscape in Germany is commendable. Her work at the Startup Association is paving the way for a more innovative and competitive Germany in the global tech industry.