Starting a business is not a path that looks the same for everyone. Some develop a business idea while still in Studies, while others look back on many years of entrepreneurial experience. Still others initially pursue their ideas alongside their day jobs and deliberately leave open the question of whether this will eventually lead to their own business.
These diverse perspectives were the focus of the Startup Talk held in the community room of the Start-up campus. On the panel , Daniel Birkicht, a product developer at Aalen University of Applied Sciences; Jonas Bareiß from CristobalPower; and Dr. Christoph Oestreicher, CEO of Oestreicher GmbH, discussed their personal journeys, how their ideas came about, and the challenges of entrepreneurship.
From the Initial Idea to a Business of One’s Own
The three speakers came from very different starting points. In addition to his work at the University of Applied Sciences, Daniel Birkicht is developing his own furniture system. It remains to be seen whether this development project will actually become an independent company. His example showed that starting a business doesn’t always begin with a concrete decision to become self-employed. Often, it starts with enthusiasm for an idea and the desire to develop something of one’s own.
Jonas Bareiß took this step while he was still a student. Through CristobalPower, he is working on electric propulsion systems for yachts and shared his journey from the initial business idea to founding the company. He focused in particular on the challenges associated with developing a physical product, securing funding, and building initial customer relationships.
Dr. Christoph Oestreicher shared the perspective of an entrepreneur with many years of experience. As managing director of Oestreicher GmbH, he provided insights into his entrepreneurial career, the development of his company, and the challenges that persist even after many years of self-employment.
The diverse stories made one thing clear: There is no set time or prescribed path to becoming a founder.
Starting a Business Amid Studies, Work, and Entrepreneurship
A central theme of the evening was the question of how one’s own business idea can be integrated into everyday life at all. Especially for students and working professionals, the path to starting a business often involves additional challenges.
How much time is left over from Studies or a full-time job to develop your own idea? When is it worth taking risks? And how do you figure out whether an idea can actually become a viable business model?
The speakers spoke candidly about their experiences taking the first steps, their doubts and setbacks, and the key insights they’ve gained along the way. It became clear that not every idea has to lead immediately to starting a business. Even the gradual development, testing, and refinement of a concept can be an important part of the startup process. “Just get started”—the speakers agreed on this point. After all, it is only through practical implementation that valuable experience is gained, from which insights can be drawn and necessary adjustments made. In this way, one’s own idea can be developed step by step.
Particularly valuable was the direct comparison of the different stages of life and entrepreneurship: from one’s first personal project, through the transition to self-employment, all the way to the responsibilities of an established entrepreneur.
What Makes a Startup Successful
In addition to personal stories, the discussion also addressed fundamental questions of entrepreneurship. How do you figure out if a business idea will work in the market? Should you plan as much as possible, or is it better to get started early? How important are initial customer contacts, and what role do teamwork and perseverance play?
During the discussion, it became clear that a good idea alone does not make for a successful business. What matters most is identifying a real problem, developing a suitable solution, and continuously refining it. This also requires the courage to try new approaches and the willingness to learn from mistakes.
The audience was also actively involved in the discussion. Students and those interested in starting a business were able to share their own perspectives and ask questions about the speakers’ personal experiences. This led to an open exchange about what holds people back from starting a business and what kind of support can be helpful on the path to self-employment.
Exchange, Inspiration, and New Connections
During the get-together that followed, the discussion continued in a relaxed atmosphere. Participants took the opportunity to talk with the speakers, discuss their own ideas, and network.
Above all, the Startup Talk demonstrated one thing: there is no single “right” path to starting your own business. Whether during Studies, alongside a full-time job, or based on years of professional experience—an entrepreneurial mindset can emerge at very different points in life.
The Start-up campus at Aalen University of Applied Sciences supports students, staff, and those interested in starting a business on this journey. Through events like the Startup Talk, it creates opportunities to learn from others’ experiences, further develop one’s own ideas, and make initial connections in the startup world.
Start-up campus at Aalen University of Applied Sciences
Aalen University of Applied Sciences – Technology, Business, and Health
Beethovenstr. 1 | 73430 Aalen | Germany
Rooms 256 and 257
Web: www.hs-aalen.de/gruendungscampus
Social Media: gruendungscampus_hsaalen
linktr.ee: linktr.ee/gruendercampus
Email: gruendungscampus@hs-aalen.de
