Entrepreneurship

What is entrepreneurship about?

It is generally about realising an innovative entrepreneurial project. This can take the form of a start-up. For these young companies, which first have to assert themselves on the market, this means that in the early phases it must first be clarified which problem is to be solved and for whom it is to be solved. In a later phase, it is then a question of which business model to enter the market with, what the associated measures should look like, which communication measures should be used, where to find the target group and how to obtain the necessary capital.

Entrepreneurship can also take place in existing companies as so-called intrapreneurship. Entrepreneurship drives innovation and social change and shapes the future.

Are there modules that specifically prepare you for entrepreneurship?

I offer the module "Entrepreneurship - Methods and Instruments". This teaches the most important tools needed to successfully drive forward an entrepreneurial endeavour. There is also "Entrepreneurship in practice". In this lecture series, only practitioners have their say, startup entrepreneurs, but also representatives from SMEs and innovation managers from large companies.

What do you learn there?

In addition to the methodological tools, experiencing the diverse personalities and their backgrounds enriches your own horizon of experience. Students also benefit from this in particular with regard to their own expectations and goals.

How can students prepare for starting a business while they are still studying?

I work closely with the FH Aachen Startup Center, which provides support to anyone who is interested in the topic and has their own business idea. We also match business administration students with existing start-up projects so that interdisciplinary teams are formed wherever possible.

What qualifications and skills are necessary to be successful as an entrepreneur? Are there any specific soft skills that are particularly important?

Above all, the ability to tackle things, to just go for it, to not let things get you down despite possible low points, to find unconventional solutions and, of course, the ability to work in a team - these are elementary qualities that are no longer "only" good in the start-up environment.

What does the path look like after graduation? Do you start directly as an entrepreneur?

You can join a startup and enrich the team with business expertise. Aachen has a very strong start-up scene. I also support graduates who are pursuing their own projects, which can ideally be prepared with their Bachelor's thesis. Established companies are also looking for employees to identify new business areas or strengthen collaboration with start-ups. So there is a wide range of opportunities here. The Entrepreneurship specialisation can also be excellently combined with almost all other specialisations.

What are the current chances for founders to be successful?

They are quite good, because there are a wide range of funding opportunities and support programmes.

How long does it usually take from the idea to realisation?

That absolutely depends on the idea. There are ideas that take years, for example in medical technology. But there are also ideas that can be launched quite quickly.

What about income?

That also depends and cannot be answered in general terms. It's often less as a regular salary than if you were employed, but you can make a considerable fortune in the event of a successful exit.

How has the start-up scene changed in recent years and what are the current developments?

The topic of founding and start-ups is being viewed more and more positively. Experience in the start-up scene is highly sought after by almost all employers. I hope that the start-up scene will continue to prosper and contribute to overcoming the current challenges with technologies and innovative approaches.

What excites you so much about entrepreneurship?

I love the diversity of the topics and the interaction with young, inspiring people. I always enjoy looking at innovative business models and seeing why they work. What also fascinates me about entrepreneurship is that not only does the solution have to be tailored precisely to the market, the company behind it also has to be designed. And this is where all the functions of business administration come into play. I find this conceptual, generalist, interdisciplinary approach extremely exciting in the field of entrepreneurship.