Transcript

Manuel Koelman: It’s not something that is really smart to do. You better get into investment banking, consulting, or whatever. It’s a much smarter career choice.

Jamie Rogers: This is what I don’t get. Cologne, geographically, is in a much better spot than Berlin. The infrastructure to get here is incredible. There are so many good things, like the attitudes I think in the long run are healthier when it comes to start-ups and investment. But something is holding Cologne back. Why is Cologne not considered on the same stage internationally as London, Singapore, Berlin? There are so many good things happening. What is it?

Manuel Koelman: So, Berlin was always sexy, but poor. And I think that’s something, if entrepreneurship is not in the DNA of the city, really, then poor but sexy is quite a good breeding ground for entrepreneurship-I think. If there’s not that much opportunity, you create opportunity. And I think Cologne has a history of entrepreneurship, but with the generations, I think so after the war, etc. Now we are in a generation where things are quite comfortable. And why should I…

Jamie Rogers: Go through the pain of…

Manuel Koelman: It’s super weird, to start a start-up. If you look at it from a risk perspective. And if you look at it from a money-making perspective, it’s super hard, very likely that you will fail. And most start-ups will also not be unicorns. So, if you look at it that way, it’s actually not something that is really smart to do. You better get into investment banking, consulting, or whatever. It’s a much smarter career choice.