Young Founders Network

What Young Founders Network does

Young Founders Network (YFN) is a Germany-based nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein, Vereinsregister VR 40949 B) founded in 2020 to support founders and aspiring entrepreneurs under the age of 25 across the DACH region. Its core offering is a free community platform (member.youngfounders.network) backed by 14 self-organized regional chapters in Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Dresden, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Münster, Würzburg, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, and Mittelsachsen) and Switzerland (Zürich), supplemented by WhatsApp exchange groups and an application-based onboarding process. The community serves a long-tail of 1,950+ young founders with an average age of 21.5.

YFN's product portfolio spans five functional areas: networking events (Young Founders Conference with 1,000+ attendees, twice-yearly YFN Events for 120+ founders, Female Entrepreneurship Summit for 300+ women, and an EU Hackathon at Bits and Pretzels), education (8-week Incubator with 50 teams per cohort and 10,000+ EUR in prize money, YFN Roadmap, Crashkurs Bürokratie for German bureaucracy, YFN Schools, and Startup in School reaching 30+ schools in 16 states), mentorship (volunteer mentor matching via an advisory board drawn from Project A, Young Founders Fund, The Delta, CODE University, and Osborne Clarke), research and advocacy (Young Founders Monitor co-published with Bertelsmann Stiftung), and member benefits (Qonto business banking, Langdock AI legal tools, Hetzner hosting, Jimdo websites). The technology stack is a relatively lightweight web platform hosted on Vercel, with no disclosed AI/ML components or proprietary IP; the heavy lift is human-mediated community operations rather than software.

The business model is explicitly nonprofit: YFN charges no membership fees, runs on donations and foundation grants (with Bertelsmann Stiftung as the named premium institutional partner), and supplements operating capacity through event sponsorships and brand-benefit partnerships. The organization is volunteer-driven with minimal paid staff, structured into departments covering Partnerships, Marketing, Channel Operations, PR & Identity, Events/YFC, Community, Operations, Finance & Legal, People & Culture, Tech, and Education. Its GTM motion is community-led and event-driven: flagship conferences and chapter meetups drive top-of-funnel acquisition, while the application and onboarding process filters for fit. The addressable market is structurally limited to the German-speaking under-25 founder cohort, but the model has scaled membership roughly tenfold in five years, suggesting durable demand for a curated, peer-driven alternative to generalist founder communities.

Name

Young Founders Network

Legal name

Young Founders Network e.V.

Website

https://youngfounders.network

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Young Founders Network is a German nonprofit association (e.V.) providing a free community platform, 14 regional chapters, mentorship, educational programs, and events (including the Young Founders Conference) for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs under 25 across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Entrepreneurship Community & Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship community
• Founder network
• Startup education
• Youth entrepreneurship
• Nonprofit association

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Foundation Funding: As a nonprofit registered association (e.V.), YFN operates primarily through donations and foundation support. The organization explicitly states it does not generate revenue from membership fees or services. Donations are accepted via platforms like bcause.com for the YFN Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Young Founders Network is a Germany-based nonprofit association (e.V.) that operates a free community-driven ecosystem for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs under 25. Its offerings include an online member platform, 14 regional chapters across Germany and Switzerland, flagship events (Young Founders Conference, Female Entrepreneurship Summit, YFN Events, EU Hackathon), educational programs (8-week Incubator with up to €10,000 in prize money, YFN Schools, Startup in School, Crashkurs Bürokratie), a mentoring program, and content resources (YFN Roadmap, Roots to Disrupt podcast).

Product overview

Young Founders Network is a community-driven non-profit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for young entrepreneurs under 25. The core offering consists of the online member platform (member.youngfounders.network) complemented by educational programs (Incubator, YFN Roadmap, Crashkurs Bürokratie, YFN Schools, Startup in School), networking events (Young Founders Conference, YFN Events, Chapters), knowledge sharing (Roots 2 Disrupt Podcast, Young Founders Monitor), and the Mentoring Program. These products work together to provide a comprehensive ecosystem supporting founders from ideation through company formation and growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Founders Conference (YFC): Annual flagship event with over 1,000 guests, 30+ speakers, pitch competition, and networking opportunities for founders.
• Female Entrepreneurship Summit (FES)
• YFN Incubator
• YFN Schools
• YFN Roadmap
• Startup in School
• EU Hackathon
• YFN Event
• Roots 2 Disrupt
• Crashkurs Bürokratie

Products and services

• Young Founders Conference (YFC)
• YFN Events
• Incubator Program
• Mentoring Program
• YFN Roadmap
• Crashkurs Bürokratie
• Roots 2 Disrupt Podcast
• YFN Schools
• Startup in School
• Female Entrepreneurship Summit (FES)
• EU Hackathon

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 regional chapters connecting founders across Germany
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered premium, core and minor.

• Bertelsmann StiftungpremiumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Long-term partnership through the 'Young People & Economy' project. Co-published the Young Founders Monitor study and supported the Crashkurs Bürokratie. Bertelsmann Stiftung provides funding, research collaboration, and credibility. Marek Wallenfels (Director) serves on the YFN Advisory Board.
• QontopremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerAll-in-one business banking platform for SMEs and startups. Offers YFN members benefits including free account access and discounts on business banking services. Provides visibility at YFN events and in member communications.
• CODE UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE University of Applied Sciences provides educational partnership. Thomas Bachem (Founder) serves on YFN Advisory Board. YFN registered office is at CODE Education GmbH in Berlin. Collaboration on entrepreneurship education and talent development.
• JUGEND GRÜNDETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation ensuring competition participants have pathway to YFN community. YFN's Bürokratie Crashkurs integrated into JUGEND GRÜNDET's official support offerings. Franziska Metzbaur (Project Lead) serves on YFN Advisory Board.
• Osborne ClarkecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational law firm providing legal workshops for YFN events and programs. Fabian Mimberg (Partner) serves on YFN Advisory Board. Supports with venture terms, term sheet negotiations, and startup legal workshops.
• Delta CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-working and startup campus. Julian Teicke (Co-Founder & Executive Chairman) serves on YFN Advisory Board. Provides event space and ecosystem collaboration.
• Gründung in SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation initiative bringing entrepreneurship to schools. Partners with YFN Schools program for curriculum and execution.
• Start GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal startup and entrepreneurship network. Collaboration on international startup programs and cross-border founder connections.
• Enkelfähigkeit - Akademie und Eco SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused entrepreneurship platform. Guido Happe provides quote emphasizing intergenerational entrepreneurship. Collaboration on sustainable startup education.
• The DeltaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup company. Julian Teicke (Co-Founder) serves on YFN Advisory Board and supports as speaker at events.
• Wirtschaftsjunioren DeutschlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman association of young executives and entrepreneurs. Partnership for networking and policy advocacy for young founders.
• Die Jungen Unternehmer (BJU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman association for young entrepreneurs. Advocacy partnership for founder-friendly policies and entrepreneurial culture.
• femellaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's entrepreneurship initiative. Co-supporter of Female Entrepreneurship Summit, bringing female founders together.
• SheLeadsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's leadership network. Co-supporter of Female Entrepreneurship Summit.
• WIB Women in Business e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's business network. Co-supporter of Female Entrepreneurship Summit.
• Thomas Bachem (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of CODE University. Provides strategic guidance on education and entrepreneurship. YFN's registered office is at CODE Education GmbH.
• Thomas Sattelberger (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Parliamentary State Secretary. Patron of Startup in School initiative. Provides political network and advocacy for young founders.
• Franziska Metzbaur (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Lead at JUGEND GRÜNDET. Bridges competition participants to YFN community. Key educational program partner.
• Julian Teicke (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder & Executive Chairman of The Delta. Provides operational startup experience and ecosystem connections.
• Claire Siegert (Advisory Board)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder of Businettes. Provides female founder perspective. Speaker at FES and mentoring program participant.
• Fabian Mimberg (Advisory Board)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner at Osborne Clarke. Provides legal expertise and workshop support for YFN events.
• Mahdi Srour (Advisory Board)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneur. Provides operational startup experience and mentorship to YFN community.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JUGEND GRÜNDET: Federal German student entrepreneurship competition with strong school integration. Directly comparable as YFN is an integrated pathway partner — JUGEND GRÜNDET competitions funnel into the YFN community post-competition. Both target German youth entrepreneurship.
• Startup Teens: German nonprofit platform targeting young people interested in startups and entrepreneurship; runs the largest youth startup competition in Germany and provides direct mentorship and networking. Directly comparable to YFN's youth entrepreneurship mission, though more focused on competition format vs. ongoing community.

Broad incumbents

• Startup Verband: Germany's leading startup industry association representing the broader German startup ecosystem to policymakers. Comparable in policy advocacy role and ecosystem convening function, but operates at industry level rather than youth-specific niche.
• Junior Achievement Germany (JA Germany): German arm of global Junior Achievement, providing youth entrepreneurship education programs in schools. Comparable in school-based entrepreneurship education (e.g., YFN Schools, Startup in School), but operates as a larger established international nonprofit.
• Ashoka Germany: German arm of Ashoka, the global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs. Comparable as established nonprofit championing entrepreneurship and changemaker education, but focused on social impact and scaling existing ventures rather than youth founder community.

Others

• Wirtschaftsjunioren Deutschland: German association of young business leaders and entrepreneurs under 40. Listed as YFN partner for networking and policy advocacy; comparable in young-entrepreneur policy advocacy and chapter-based local networking structure, though targets an older demographic.
• Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND): National network supporting social entrepreneurs in Germany. Comparable in nonprofit/association structure and ecosystem advocacy for founders, but focused on social/impact entrepreneurship rather than youth-specific community.
• Für Gründer: German online platform providing comprehensive information, tools and guides for startup founders in Germany. Comparable in providing founder education content (overlaps with YFN Roadmap), but as a commercial information portal rather than a community.

Regional players

• Enactus Germany: German chapter of global Enactus network empowering student leaders through social entrepreneurship projects at universities. Comparable in youth entrepreneurship education at universities, but more academic and project-based than YFN's founder-community approach.

Emerging players

• Founders Foundation: Bielefeld-based founder education and accelerator program offering intensive pre-seed support. Comparable in running founder education programs and incubation, but with older founder demographic and paid tuition model vs. YFN's free under-25 model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL_VFHg0vaqwEQOpNmeKR-wU60KfEpru7L
• Instagraminstagram.com/youngfoundersnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youngfoundersnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Young Founders Network