Review: Zukunftsschnack - "Foundation meets migration" 

Founding means shaping - and migration brings prospects. 

On a sunny autumn day, a full room and a moving topic: people who think entrepreneurship and migration history together came together at the Zukunftsschnack "Gründung trifft Migration" on 23 September 2025 at Frölichs in the Volkshochschule Bremen. The event offered space for dialogue, perspectives and honest discussions about the opportunities and challenges of migrant start-ups. 

The Zukunftsschnack - exchange at eye level 

Zukunftsschnack is more than just a classic panel discussion. It is a stage, a meeting place and a think tank all in one. In an open and lively atmosphere, personal experiences met professional expertise - and the audience was right in the middle of it instead of just being there. 

Experts from science, business and administration joined founders, committed individuals and interested parties to discuss topics that move our society. The direct participation of the audience made it particularly lively: voices and impulses came spontaneously from the room - honest, diverse and enriching. This turned listening into co-creation. 

Visionskultur provides the largest community of founders and people with start-up ideas with low-threshold and multilingual access to advice, coaching, infrastructure and space at the Creative Hub Bremen start-up centre. Migrant start-ups have always played a major role here.  

The evening at a glance 

After a welcome by Hachem GharbiManaging Director of Visionskultur, himself a migrant founder and moderator of the evening, the discussion began at 6.15 pm. Also present: 

• Prof Dr Mayank Kumar Golpelwar, Bremen University of Applied Sciences 

• Nadezhda Milanova, Migration and Integration Officer of the State of Bremen 

• Augusto Capece, Serial Entrepreneur 

• Rezi Chikviladze, Managing Director Syniotec 

• Mariya Staykova, tax consultant and board member of KLUB DIALOG e.V. 

Challenges and opportunities for migrant start-ups 

The guests shed light on the topic from different perspectives and emphasised how complex the reality of migrant founders is. 

• Risk-taking as a strength: Prof Dr Golpelwar emphasised that people with a history of migration often have a greater willingness to take risks - a valuable characteristic in the start-up context. 

• Political participation: Augusto Capece spoke in favour of actively involving migrant founders in economic policy working groups. 

• Understanding the system is key: Mariya Staykova emphasised how important it is to understand the structures of the German system and to actively integrate. 

• Thinking about migration: Nadezhda Milanova emphasised that we must always consider the topic of migration in all subject areas - also in order to increase opportunities and remove existing barriers. 

• Bureaucratic stumbling blocks: Rezi Chikviladze reported on bureaucratic hurdles that can lead to mistakes, especially in the initial phase, and make the start-up process more difficult. 

What motivates migrant founders 

Key challenges were openly addressed: 

• Systemic hurdles and bureaucratic processes 

• Complex tax requirements 

• Language barriers when dealing with authorities 

An impulse from the audience suggested considering the introduction of a second official language - English, for example - to facilitate access. 

The topic of funding was also critically analysed. While there is a perception that it is more difficult for migrants to obtain funding or loans, it was also emphasised that there are many offers in Germany - but that these need to be made more low-threshold and accessible in order to have a real impact. 

Why the topic matters 

A start-up is more than just a business plan. It is an expression of self-determination, creativity and social participation. People with a history of migration not only bring ideas with them, but also new perspectives, networks and experiences. 

The Zukunftsschnack showed that the path to founding a company is not equally easy for everyone - but together we can recognise hurdles and develop solutions.

Conclusion with conversations and new contacts 

After the official part, the evening continued from 7.30 pm with snacks and drinks - informal, personal and with many new contacts. A successful conclusion to an evening full of inspiration, dialogue and perspectives - and a strong signal for a diverse start-up culture. 

Many thanks to the panellists for their valuable perspectives, to all those interested in the audience for their committed contributions, to the team at Frölichs for their hospitality - and to everyone who helps to think, shape and make migrant entrepreneurship visible. 

Special thanks go to the Senator for Economics, Ports and Transformation and the sponsors: the Harald Christ Foundation, the Schütting Foundation, the THERA Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth via Demokratie Leben! and Partnerschaft für Demokratie.