"Over 70 percent of new companies in Germany are founded by men," reports Prof. Dr. Julia Künkele, who heads the InnoSÜD sub-project at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences. "The career aspiration 'founder' is hardly ever present among women - they prefer professional and financial security." However, the specialist for leadership understanding would like to show that reasons can also be an opportunity, especially for women, with the mentoring of start-ups. And she has come across a group that is even less likely to found a company: Migrant women.
In addition to the challenges that most female founders* face, there are other hurdles they face - primarily language. This is why the Institut für Bildung und Sprachen GmbH is a partner in the project, offering language and integration courses at eight locations in the region. The project participants attend such courses there; some of them have only been in Germany for a few months and are still learning the language. "We are the first point of contact for women here in the country," explains founder and managing director Meltem Madenci. She also understands from her own experience what is on the minds of the participants: "I set up my own business with the Institute for Education and Languages 15 years ago and know how difficult it is. But we need the potential that lies dormant in women.
The women are not lacking in business ideas, as the round of introductions reveals. Restaurant, IT consulting firm, beauty salon or intercultural café: some of the project participants already come to the kick-off event with concrete start-up plans. They bring many questions with them: What do I have to consider when setting up a business? Do I need a permit for my business idea? Is there financial support?
These questions should be clarified in the course of the project. The team is therefore supported by management consultant Hildegard Kuch-Kuthe and business coach Manuela Orlowitsch, who advise women on how to start a business. At the kick-off workshop, they gave the participants the most important questions that need to be clarified in order to set up a company - above all the question: "Why do you want to set up a company?
The answers are many and varied: A course participant from Hungary wants to work as an IT consultant in a flexible and self-determined way and not be bound to a boss. A participant from Afghanistan wants to use a restaurant to refute the prejudice that is widespread in her home country that women cannot run a business on their own. A third participant comes from the Ukraine and is actually a consultant, but wants to turn her hobby into a profession with a nail studio.
One wish unites all participants: To establish a new, independent existence here in Germany. The foreign language, culture and bureaucracy are an obstacle in this process - but many also hope that they will be offered opportunities here in Germany that they did not have before. Meltem Madenci also observes this hope: "Among other things, the women express the desire for independence. I see a change in the way people think, for example with regard to the roles of men and women - it's no longer just men who are becoming self-employed. I was not aware of this thinking 15 years ago.
In order to take advantage of this opportunity and to put their plans into practice, the women will be supported in the coming months with further seminars and individual mentoring; experts* will provide input and help with all aspects of starting a business. And: The participants are integrated into a network of women who support each other.
The project is initially planned for 2 years. "If it is successful, it could possibly be extended to other integration courses," says Prof. Dr. Künkele.
Text: Dorothee Barsch, InnoSÜD-Science Communication
Note: The photo was taken at an event in Ulm in September in compliance with the corona regulations of the state of Baden-Württemberg valid at that time.
