Munich Startup: Kira, what has been your career path so far?
Kira Schilling, founder of My Event Pass: After completing my business studies, I immediately started as a conference manager at Bits & Pretzels and immersed myself in the world of startups, event planning, sales, and marketing. This experience led me to start my own business. I help companies organize everything from large conferences to exclusive executive events and establish events as a powerful sales channel. Now, I'm co-founder of My Event Pass, making the experience easier and more accessible.
Munich Startup: What motivated you to start the company?
Kira Schilling: My passion for starting my own business was sparked during my studies when I took the very first entrepreneurship course at the University of Bayreuth. This experience was not only incredibly exciting, but also my first mental step into the startup world. Our team won the course pitch, and we were invited to Berlin by a VC. The companies, teams, and people I saw there were incredibly inspiring.
Kira Schilling wants to make experiencing culture easier
After graduating, I was drawn to Bits & Pretzels, a relatively small and locally known event for startups that itself operated like a startup: full of vision, but without fixed processes or budget. This time gave me deep insight into the world of entrepreneurship and strengthened my desire to one day start my own company. This dream became reality when I met my future co-founders Andreas and René. Both had already gained experience by founding a startup in the fitness sector that had implemented a subscription model similar to that of Urban Sports Club. I met Andreas through a mutual acquaintance, and it quickly became clear that we were a great fit. Our joint company, My Event Pass, a culture subscription for access to all of a city's cultural events, launched in Munich at the end of last year and currently offers access to over 2,200 events at more than 440 cultural venues.
Munich Startup: What would you have liked to have known before starting your first business?
Kira Schilling: COVID hit the cultural sector hard, which is why we didn't launch My Event Pass as planned. In a world where live events were no longer available and organizers were busy reversing payments, we had to put the brakes on. Looking back, I wish we had been a little more patient during this time. Nevertheless, we used the time to further develop our product and better understand our market. We've been live since the end of last year and are now even more confident about the industry.
Business angels with cultural interest sought
Munich Startup: How has your company been financed so far?
Kira Schilling: We are currently completely self-financed and are looking for business angels interested in supporting us with our upcoming marketing campaign and the development of additional cities. We would also be happy to include those with a cultural interest or connection.
Munich Startup: When and where do you get the best ideas?
Kira Schilling: My best ideas come to me when I'm moving. Be it while jogging somewhere in nature or taking a relaxing walk. Sometimes I also find inspiration in quiet moments, away from all digital distractions, with a cup of coffee on the couch.
Munich Startup: What are your 3 favorite work tools?
Kira Schilling: Three tools are absolutely essential in my daily work: 1. Google Docs and the entire Google ecosystem behind it: Since I work mostly remotely, the ability to share and edit documents in real time is essential. 2. Video conferencing tools (Meet, Zoom, Teams): The ability to hold efficient meetings without having to travel is crucial for me. This not only saves time but also increases flexibility. 3. ChatGPT: ChatGPT is a huge help for copywriting and content creation. It helps me with everything from emails to social media posts, as well as with structuring ideas. I also see great potential for using AI to offer our My Event Pass customers better, personalized cultural event recommendations. We have already launched an initial project in this area.
A pitch must always be targeted
Munich Startup: Your top tip on pitching?
Kira Schilling: What I've repeatedly noticed with startup teams, and am now experiencing myself, is that a pitch must always be targeted. It's essential to ask yourself who you're pitching to and how you can mutually benefit from each other. Authenticity and a clear understanding of what connects both sides are crucial. Ultimately, the right investor isn't just a provider of capital; they must also be a good fit for the team, both in terms of content and personality.
Munich Startup: Does this seem like a good time to start a business? Why?
Kira Schilling: I'm convinced that there's always the right time to implement a good idea. You shouldn't wait for the perfect opportunity; instead, you should take the initiative and go as far as possible with the resources you have. These days, I keep hearing that it's a tough time to get startup investment. We just entered the funding phase with My Event Pass a few weeks ago, and I'm currently very confident about us and our business model.
Kira Schilling: There is still plenty of room for innovation in the cultural sector
Munich Startup: Which technology or industry would you focus on for your next startup?
Kira Schilling: For me, the cultural sector is exactly the right area. At the moment, a lot of things are still analogue or not particularly user-friendly. Many processes are complicated, and the market is dominated by big players like Eventim. This leaves little room for smaller platforms, tools, events, and artists to develop. The coronavirus pandemic has clearly shown us how important it is to get out and experience things with friends and family. Just sitting on the couch watching Netflix doesn't satisfy us either. This experience has shown that there is still a lot of room for innovation and improvement in the cultural sector. I am convinced that a lot will happen in this sector and I am looking forward to being part of this development with My Event Pass.
Munich Startup: In your opinion, what could be improved at the Munich startup location?
Kira Schilling: A lot has happened in recent years, and Munich has already developed into a vibrant ecosystem for startups. When I started at Bits & Pretzels in 2015, things were just getting started. Now there's a lot on offer, which I think is great! What I think could be improved is more intensive collaboration between the various players to maximize synergies and create an even more connected community feeling.
Curiosity, vision and courage
Munich Startup: Which founder would you like to meet in person? And what would you ask them?
Kira Schilling: I was fortunate enough to meet many inspiring founders in person, including the minds behind Airbnb, Zendesk, Adyen, and Prezi, as well as German-speaking personalities like the founders of Runtastic, Food Panda, and Trivago. Their drive, openness, and curiosity impressed me. Despite their constant travel and high profile, they were surprisingly down-to-earth and approachable. I found their curiosity and openness to new ideas and projects, even from smaller players in the startup world and us as the team behind the conference, admirable.
Specifically, I also worked closely with experienced founders, including the three Bits & Pretzels founders and experienced entrepreneurs. Andreas Bruckschlögl, Felix Haas and Bernd Storm van's Gravesandethat showed me what is possible with curiosity, a big vision and the courage to implement it.
Today I'd like to meet Trevor Noah, entrepreneur and host of the podcast "Diary of a CEO." I admire his ability to conduct deep and meaningful conversations and would like to ask him about his top tips for a good interview.
