{"id":66756,"date":"2020-11-20T11:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T10:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/?p=66756"},"modified":"2022-05-10T14:48:05","modified_gmt":"2022-05-10T12:48:05","slug":"one-mission-and-female-investors-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.munich-startup.net\/en\/66756\/one-mission-and-female-investors-network\/","title":{"rendered":"One Mission and the Female Investors Network"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The One Mission initiative was launched in December 2019. Less than a year later, the founders have built a large network and connected many contacts within it. In addition, there are various formats for implementing the planned measures. One Mission sees itself as a link between the various initiatives in Munich, Bavaria, and Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To facilitate access to investment for female founders, One Mission has partnered with the venture capital firm Primecrowd. Svenja Lassen, Managing Director at Primecrowd, has created a 'Female Investors Network' dedicated to precisely this topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke with one of the initiators of One Mission, Maike Wursthorn, startup manager at Werk1, and with Svenja Lassen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Startups: Less than 16 % are female founders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup: <\/em>Please introduce yourselves briefly! What does One Mission do and who are you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maike Wursthorn: <\/em>One Mission is fighting for more gender diversity in the German startup ecosystem. According to the German Startup Monitor 2020<\/a> The proportion of female startup founders is only 15.9%. We want to change that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maike Wursthorn is one of the initiators of One Mission.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One Mission was initiated by my two Werk1 colleagues, Vanessa Provenzano and Marlene Eder, and me, Maike Wursthorn. By embedding it in the Plant1<\/a> We rely on first-class startup know-how, excellent contacts and an existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup:<\/em><\/strong> Why do you think it is important that more women start businesses in Germany?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maike Wursthorn:<\/em> Because so much potential is lost! Women and men are roughly equally represented in the German population, but the proportion of female founders in the startup ecosystem is only 15.9%? That doesn't add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More innovative through different perspectives and opinions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup:<\/em><\/strong> Does your initiative also have a concrete impact on Werk1 as a business incubator?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maike Wursthorn:<\/em> Our goal is to increase the gender diversity of the startup teams at Werk1 to 35. With Werk1 as a pioneer, we want to advance gender diversity in startup teams regionally and nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup:<\/em><\/strong> How do startups benefit from diverse teams?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maike Wursthorn:<\/em> Diverse teams are more innovative and efficient thanks to different experiences, perspectives, and opinions. By adopting a diverse approach from the outset and, for example, developing a product with a diverse team, you automatically appeal to a larger customer base\u2014which increases your chances of success. At the same time, your company's image is positively strengthened and tolerance is promoted in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The One Mission Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup:<\/em><\/strong> You've identified five challenges and derived several measures from them. Please briefly outline them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maike Wursthorn:<\/em> In our kick-off workshop in December 2019, we and our 30 participants identified five key challenges for female entrepreneurs: network, mindset, family and career, gender stereotypes, and financing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it was particularly important to us to focus on concrete measures. For each challenge, we formulated measures that we are implementing as part of One Mission. A strong community, excellent infrastructure, and appropriate visibility play a key role in this. We implemented these measures in various formats with various partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to financing options is particularly important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Munich Startup:<\/em><\/strong> And which of these is the most urgent, Maike?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maike Wursthorn:<\/em> Every challenge brings with it pressure and relevance, but access to financing is especially important in the startup ecosystem. There is a significant gap between male and female founders. We are therefore all the more pleased about the fantastic collaboration with Primecrowd's Female Investor Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n