Mind Echo: Stories of Entrepreneurs & Innovators in Germany and Beyond

Building Virtual Reality Content Faster and Easier Than Ever | David Lähner | Episode #9

In this episode of the Mind Echo Podcast, I speak with David Lähner, founder & CEO of MindPort — the company behind VR Builder, a no-code toolkit that makes building VR content faster and easier. David shares his vision for VR’s potential beyond gaming, from medicine to enterprise training. But this conversation also explores how management can be different — including salary transparency, remote-first culture, and giving employees voting rights inside a startup. We cover: * The untapped potential of VR in medicine, training & enterprise * The case of VR helping burn victims reduce pain * How VR Builder enables co-creation between experts & developers * The role of AI in immersive 3D experiences * Fairness, transparency & voting rights as part of MindPort’s DNA * Startup fundraising challenges after the metaverse hype If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, immersive tech, or modern management, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. If you want to learn more about MindPort, visit www.mindport.co [https://www.mindport.co/]

Helping Travelers Explore At Their Own Pace | Melanie Hagen | Episode #8

Helping Travelers Explore At Their Own Pace | Melanie Hagen | Episode #8 In this episode of the Mind Echo Podcast, I speak with Melanie Hagen, co-founder of Roadstory Audio — a GPS-based audio guide designed to give travelers freedom to explore without endless research or rigid group tours. Melanie shares her journey from a 16-year career at SAP into startup life, and how a single road trip inspired her to bring hands-free travel storytelling to Europe. We discuss the courage it takes to say “do it now or never,” the early validation that proved Roadstory could work, and the balance between AI and human creativity in building cultural content. This conversation covers: * Melanie’s path from SAP leadership to entrepreneurship * Why variety and curiosity drove her choices early on * The inspiration that sparked Roadstory * Early wins, accelerators, and customer validation * The most unexpected challenge of being “master of your own agenda” * Roadstory’s first launch and vision for the future If you’re curious about entrepreneurship, travel, or creative technology, this episode offers both inspiration and practical takeaways. Learn more about Roadstory on: www.roadstory-audio.com

Why Buy When You Can Rent? | Vincent Schulz | Episode #7

Why Buy When You Can Rent? In this episode of the Mind Echo Podcast, I speak with Vincent Schulz, co-founder of Miezekater — a peer-to-peer rental platform helping people rent and lend everyday items locally, from camping gear to power tools, without always having to buy them. Vincent shares his journey from a creative, tech-savvy teenager teaching himself animation and game development, to launching a startup in under four months while still at university. We explore how he and his co-founder Simon are testing their platform in Aachen before scaling, why they split equity 50/50, and how AI helped them move from idea to app at impressive speed. This conversation covers: * Vincent’s entrepreneurial path and early creative projects * Why he believes building a startup is less risky than ever * The role of co-founder alignment and trust * Lessons from building a marketplace and testing locally * Why sustainability matters but isn’t enough as a value proposition * Bootstrapping, growth focus, and avoiding early funding distractions * Using AI as a speed and efficiency enabler If you’re curious about entrepreneurship, the sharing economy, or lean startup building, this episode offers both inspiration and practical takeaways. If you are interested in learning more about Mietzekater, go to www.mietzekater.de

Digitalizing Career Fairs With Vision and Purpose | Christian Weber | Episode #6

Digitalizing Career Fairs With Vision and Purpose | Christian Weber | Episode #6 In this episode of the Mind Echo Podcast, we talk to visionary entrepreneur Chris Weber, co-founder and CTO of FairUp — a startup transforming the outdated world of career fairs and job fairs with a purpose driven approach. Chris shares his personal journey from corporate IT to building a startup focused on people, impact, and growth. We explore how his entrepreneur mindset helped him leave behind stability and pursue something that could create real value for job seekers, event organizers, and companies. This conversation dives into the motivation behind FairUp, the problems with today’s job matching systems, and what it takes to build a visionary product rooted in empathy and innovation. If you're into entrepreneur motivation, purpose driven leadership, or enjoy listening to a good entrepreneur podcast that blends real stories with strategy — this one's for you.

Simplifying Your Move to Germany | Jenna Davis | Episode #5

In this episode of the Mind Echo Podcast, we sit down with Jenna Davis, founder of Life in Germany and Life in Düsseldorf, to explore how she turned her personal expat struggles into thriving online communities that help thousands navigate life in Germany. Jenna has built a step-by-step relocation program, a massive social media following, and is now expanding her impact with a series of children's books designed to help expat families integrate smoothly. We discuss:  ✅ Jenna’s background growing up in Canada and how she ended up in Germany  ✅ The experience of adapting to a new culture and overcoming expat struggles  ✅ The biggest challenges expats face when moving to Germany  ✅ How Jenna built a community of 150,000+ expats across platforms  ✅ The process of monetizing content and turning passion into profit  ✅ Why niching down is key to growing an online audience  ✅ The role of AI in content creation and business efficiency  ✅ How she balances entrepreneurship with family life  ✅ The importance of authenticity in social media and personal branding  ✅ What’s next for Jenna, including her new book series for expat kids About Jenna: Originally from Canada, Jenna moved to Germany in 2016 and struggled to navigate the relocation process. She has a background in sport management, content creation, and brand strategy. What started as a personal blog evolved into a leading platform that supports expats through expert insights, courses, and online communities. Now, she’s on a mission to make integration easier for families with her upcoming children's book series. 🎧 Listen now and discover how Jenna turned her expat journey into a business that changes lives.