2025 Retrospective and the 2026 Game Plan

Crowdfunding a Dream: Building a Business That Brings People Together

What happens when a bold business idea meets the messy reality of the real world? In this episode, Elena and Kerstin talk to Nick, founder of Mash Paddle Brewery in London, about building a business that lets people brew their own beer. From the original idea to crowdfunding, finding the right space, hiring a team, and rethinking the business model along the way, this conversation is a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to turn vision into reality. It is also about much more than beer: about entrepreneurship, physical spaces, community, and the challenge of creating something meaningful in a world that so often happens behind screens. #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #Crowdfunding #CommunityBuilding #SmallBusiness #HospitalityBusiness #CraftBeer Nick’s Mash Paddle Brewery: https://www.mashpaddlebrewery.com/ [https://www.mashpaddlebrewery.com/] LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

Disruptive Ideas Need the Biggest Cheer Squad: On Pitch Decks and More

In this episode, Elena and Kerstin talk about pitch decks, storytelling and why even the best scientific ideas need to be communicated clearly. They discuss how to distill complex messages, build a stronger narrative and use structure, visuals and simple language to make ideas easier to grasp. From investor decks to scientific communication, the episode explores why good data rarely speaks for itself and why disruptive innovation often needs an especially strong “cheer squad” to get the right people on board. #PitchDecks #ScientificCommunication #HealthTech #BiotechStartups #VisualStorytelling #FemaleFounders #StartupCommunication LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

Tracking Hype: Are We Measuring What Matters?

Can health data actually change behavior, or are we just getting better at measuring? In this episode, Elena and Kerstin explore the world of health tracking technologies, sharing insights from their personal experiments with devices like Fitbit, Oura Ring, and continuous glucose monitors. They discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and future possibilities of health data, with a particular focus on behavior change, data integration, and what it would take for tracking to truly improve health outcomes. LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

Working Smarter Not Harder: Lessons from a Business Strategist

In this episode, hosts Kerstin and Elena welcome Merel Brouwer, a business coach specializing in productivity and scaling businesses. Merel shares her transformative journey from the corporate world to establishing her own consulting and coaching practice. She emphasizes the importance of building scalable systems through a structured methodology, ensuring both quality and growth. Merel advocates for a scientific approach to business, focusing on data-driven decision-making and key metrics. Throughout the conversation, Merel provides valuable insights into balancing entrepreneurship with family life, ultimately creating a business that supports one's ideal lifestyle. #BusinessScaling #SystemsThinking #DataDriven #Productivity #WorkLifeIntegration #FounderGrowth LinkedIn Merel Brouwer (Dutch): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brouwermerel/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brouwermerel/] Homepage De productieve ondernemer (Dutch): https://deproductieveondernemer.nl/ [https://deproductieveondernemer.nl/] LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

From Science to Startup: Founding Ovo Labs

In this episode, Elena and Kerstin welcome Melina and Agata, co-founders of Ovo Labs, a startup focused on improving egg quality and fertility treatments. They discuss their backgrounds, the journey of founding Ovo Labs, the science behind egg aging, and the emotional impact of infertility. The conversation highlights the importance of innovative solutions in reproductive health and the challenges faced by startups in the biotech industry. #FemTech #FertilityTech #ReproductiveHealth #EggQuality #BiotechStartups #WomenInSTEM Homepage Ovo Labs: https://www.ovo-labs.com/ [https://www.ovo-labs.com/] LinkedIn Agata Zielinska: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-zielinska-18a97494/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-zielinska-18a97494/] LinkedIn Melina Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melina-schuh-841894311/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melina-schuh-841894311/] LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]