We Create Future Stage #3: Brain over Capital, with Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin

Written by

On 18 June 2026, We Create Future Stage #3 brought founders, students and researchers together at Venture Café Berlin in CIC Berlin. The theme: A Different Way of Entrepreneurship: Brain over Capital, Purpose over Profit.

Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin on stage: “Brain over Capital”

Brain over Capital: Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin

The first conversation of the evening belonged to Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin, founder of the Stiftung Entrepreneurship and of the Teekampagne, in conversation with Holger Holland. His thesis: the concept, not capital, is the real starting point of a venture. Faltin’s approach “Kopf schlägt Kapital” has been part of teaching at BCBT from the start, and a classroom at BCBT bears his name.

Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin speaking at Venture Café Berlin — Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin

Holger Holland opening the evening: “Both put something above the money” — Holger Holland: “Both put something above the money”

Purpose over Profit

In the second conversation, Maria Ida Palmieri, Director of Growth & Operations at Zukunft.Gründen, asked what a venture is really for. Moderation: Dr. Valdrin Dervishaj.

Startup Mentor Stage

Three teams pitched in the Hot Seat: Melina Vanessa Mann (Harvested Berlin), Maloth Surender Naik and Samanth Kumar (Open Certification Platform) and Hack Lab (Travelling U). Their certificates were signed by Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin, Dr. Valdrin Dervishaj and Hon.-Prof. Holger Holland.