As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders in Hamburg, Germany, shared advice and insights that demonstrate the role that community, courage, and support play in building a company.
Alexander Hamlescher, founder of nuvoca, an intelligent telephone answering service that automatically receives, understands, answers, and forwards incoming calls, weighed in.
"Start with one customer. It's most important to find someone who actually wants to buy [your product]," he said.
Watch: Global Entrepreneurship Week Insights and Advice from Alexander Hamlescher
Miena Barekzai, president of START Hamburg, a student-led initiative dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among young talent, encouraged new entrepreneurs to surround themselves with the right people.
"Those who believe in you and give you honest feedback are super valuable and worth more than any investment in the early days," she said. "Especially when you are building something from scratch....you need people who remind you why you started when it gets tough."
Watch: Global Entrepreneurship Week Insights and Advice from Miena Barekzai
Ted Bischoff, managing director of the marketing department at START Hamburg, advised those with big ideas to just get started.
"Perfection is an illusion. You have to start, fail fast, learn, and grow every step of the way until you achieve your goals."
Watch: Global Entrepreneurship Week Insights and Advice from Ted Bischoff
Have your own advice or message to aspiring entrepreneurs with big ideas and bold dreams? Share it to social media using #GEW2025 and #TogetherWeBuild. The global entrepreneurship community is also invited to submit stories to the GEN newsroom here.
To learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week and to get involved, visit www.gew.co.