Claudia Höhne
Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z is known for its technological competence, innovative spirit, and determination. Having grown up in the digital age, this generation has an intuitive understanding of new technologies and a profound grasp of our digital world — ideal conditions for developing innovative ideas for the future.
Despite their skills and ideas, many young people face a paradoxical situation: although they have innovative visions, they often lack the opportunities to present them to society, let alone put them into practice. This is particularly noticeable in the startup world.
How can young founders shape society and the economy despite these barriers? And how can they break out of the role of unheard innovators? Anastasia Barner from FeMentor and Neil Heinisch from PlayTheHype discussed these questions with moderator Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako.
Startup profiles at a glance
In 2019, at just 20 years old, Anastasia Barner founded FeMentor, Europe’s first reverse mentoring platform. The startup brings together young talent and experienced executives to promote exchange across generations and support companies on topics such as Generation Z, social media, and talent acquisition. With FeMentor, Barner established herself as one of Germany’s best-known young founders and an important voice of Generation Z.
Neil Heinisch is co-founder and CEO of PlayTheHype, a Gen Z-led consulting and creative agency based in Hamburg and Berlin. Together with his team, he helps companies better understand young target groups and develop products, campaigns, and communication strategies that resonate with Generation Z. To do so, PlayTheHype works with large Gen Z communities and provides direct insights into the realities of young people’s lives.
Impressions
Anastasia Barner, FeMentor Claudia Höhne 
Neil Heinisch, PlayTheHype Claudia Höhne 
Moderatorin Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako Claudia Höhne 
Was brauchen junge Startups? Claudia Höhne