Zwischen Talentmagnet, Kapitalbooster und Bürokratie-Bremsen – mit Gülsah Wilke

·27 min·2 clips

Germany ranks 50th out of 53 countries in an international survey of where experts want to work.

The episode begins with host Carsten Puschmann introducing the 'Choose Germany' podcast and its focus on reinventing Germany as a business location. Guest Gülsah Wilke, a venture capitalist at DN Capital and former COO of Ada Health, joins to discuss key barriers. She opens by citing the Expert Insider survey, which ranks Germany 50th out of 53 countries for talent attractiveness, attributing this to language barriers and bureaucracy. Wilke emphasizes the need for positive communication abroad and safe spaces like the Two Hearts network for migrants. She notes that nearly every second child in Germany has a migration background, stressing integration and language access as critical. On capital, Wilke explains that early-stage funding is available, but growth capital is scarce, leading companies like Biontech to seek IPOs in the US. She calls for more institutional investment and a shift in mindset toward tech growth. The conversation turns to bureaucracy, where Wilke shares her experience at Ada Health: a year-long certification process in Germany versus hours in the US, prompting the company to move operations. She recommends quick wins like faster certification for low-risk industries, digitalizing processes (citing Estonia and Turkey as models), and introducing English as an administrative language. Wilke also discusses the need for a 'new social contract' to improve welcome culture, given demographic shifts. In a hypothetical minister role, she prioritizes attractive capital markets, positive branding, and reduced certification processes. The episode concludes with a summary of talent, bureaucracy, capital, and integrity themes.

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