In today’s fast-paced innovation landscape, Ewa Geresz stands out as a connector, community builder, and champion of collaboration. With a career that has taken her from India to Japan, and from the Netherlands to Germany, Ewa brings a uniquely international perspective to the startup world. Her work spans diplomacy, marketing, and ecosystem development — always with a focus on creating meaningful impact. 

As the Interim Director of Venture Café Berlin, she plays a key role in uniting diverse voices to spark new ideas and foster lasting partnerships within Berlin’s dynamic startup ecosystem. In this interview, Ewa shares her insights on what makes entrepreneurship so powerful and the lessons she believes every founder should keep close. Keep on reading!

1. Hi Ewa, thank you for agreeing to do the interview. Please tell us a bit about your background and how you got connected to the startup world.

Of course, thank you for having me! My background is diverse, but there’s always been a clear thread — a passion for innovation, international collaboration, and meaningful impact. I hold two degrees from the University of Economics in International Relations and Marketing & Management, and am a graduate of the European Academy of Diplomacy, but what truly shaped me was working across ecosystems from Warsaw and Tokyo to Amsterdam and Berlin.

Right after university, I spent 7 months in Chennai, India, working at a company that develops special economic zones for global companies entering the Indian market. That experience made me fall in love with global expansion projects and cross-border collaboration. Since then, I’ve worked in advertising and public relations within the tech and innovation sector, supporting founders with visibility and global reach. I later collaborated with a Japanese company, co-organizing the Japan Business Expo in Warsaw and Prague and promoting Takasaki city in Europe by connecting Japanese, Polish, and Czech entrepreneurs. I also worked with WorldStartup in the Netherlands, selecting high-potential impact startups for programs and helping international companies soft-land into the Dutch ecosystem. 

My journey into the startup world grew organically from international innovation and ecosystem-building projects. Today, I’m serving as Interim Director of Venture Café Berlin, part of the global Venture Café network based within the CIC Innovation Campus and I am also involved in Venture Café global expansion. I continue to work at the intersection of innovation and global connectivity – and I absolutely love it.

2. As the Interim Director at Venture Café Berlin, you connect innovators to make things happen. Could you tell us more about your mission?

We are building a global community of innovators because we believe that true innovation happens at the intersection of different sectors, perspectives, and lived experiences. We bring together founders, investors, scientists, artists, serial entrepreneurs, creatives, and policymakers to create a space where people who might never otherwise meet can connect, exchange ideas, and maybe even build something meaningful together. Isolation is the enemy of innovation – so we do everything to break silos and connect diverse communities across the ecosystem.

We do this through our flagship program called Thursday Gathering, which takes place every Thursday in 15 cities around the world (including Berlin, of course). It’s open, free, and designed to help innovators accelerate their ventures and lives. In Berlin, it happens at CIC Innovation Campus Berlin from 5 to 8 PM.

Beyond the weekly gatherings, we also curate international delegations, thematic programs, and innovation experiences that bring together unlikely allies – and often lead to very real and unexpected results!

3. What is it about entrepreneurship that particularly attracts you? How do you feel you’re contributing to the startup ecosystem in Berlin?

I would say the real impact and the freedom to act fast on things that matter, without waiting for someone’s permission. And the human side of entrepreneurship – the mindset and courage to challenge the status quo, the resilience to keep going when things get tough, and the creativity to build something out of nothing to change people’s lives positively. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about building companies, but building new ways of thinking, working, and living.

I love creating opportunities for others and seeing how they grow thanks to those environments. And this is also my contribution to the startup ecosystem in Berlin – creating and curating the community that supports each other, bringing in international perspectives, meaningful partnerships, helping founders access new markets and design spaces and programs that help people grow. I’ve heard many times that someone stepped out of their comfort zone because they got involved with what we do. For me, that’s what it’s all about – empowering people to take the next step, whatever stage they’re at!

4. Could you share the top 3 lessons for founders you would like to share with our readers?

• Find your people and find the environment to grow. This is connected with what I deeply believe in – the power of community. There is a theory that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and your environment shapes your good or bad habits. As James Clear writes in Atomic Habits, our surroundings often determine our success. So find a community where you feel uplifted and inspired. It might be Venture Café – you’re more than welcome, Founders Running Club, which I’m also part of, or any other! There are plenty of great communities in Berlin – just make sure you’re surrounded by people who share your values and bring you up. 

• Build relationships before you need them. The best opportunities in the startup world come from trust, not cold intros. Ecosystems are built on long-term, authentic connections. Be generous. Be curious. Nurture relationships consistently, not just when you need something. It’s like storing credits in someone’s mental bank. When you’re in real need (you need an intro to someone or other favour), you can make a withdrawal – but only if you’ve already made deposits.

• And don’t burn out on the way. Protect your energy – be more selective (especially in a city like Berlin). Burnout is real. The most powerful founders I know are the ones who learn how to manage their energy, not just their time.

5. What’s going well in the startup ecosystem in Berlin at the moment? Which challenges is the ecosystem facing? What are your predictions for the near future?

Berlin’s startup ecosystem is really unique. It’s Germany’s top startup hub, with around 500 new companies founded each year, and it ranks among Europe’s top three ecosystems – alongside London and Paris. The city has become a global magnet for talent and innovation, especially in deep tech, creative industries and impact-driven startups.

However, like many ecosystems, Berlin can still feel fragmented. There are incredible people, organizations, and communities building amazing things – but often in parallel, without enough collaboration. One of the things we’re focused on is breaking down those silos by building one platform where they can meet and collaborate – across backgrounds, industries and borders. Another ongoing challenge is bureaucracy. Founders continue to face heavy administrative hurdles and rigid labor laws, which can slow down scaling and hiring, and even push promising startups to relocate abroad.

I feel that the Berlin startup ecosystem is going through a kind of rebirth. For years, it was one of the most vibrant hubs in Europe. Then the pandemic slowed everything down, followed by a broader contraction in the investment market. But now, it feels like we’re entering a new chapter – a fresh game with new rules, new players, and renewed energy. I’ve heard from several people deeply rooted in the ecosystem that “it feels like a 2016 vibe again.” There’s a real momentum right now around AI, climate tech, and longevity, and Berlin is well-positioned to lead in those areas. Let’s keep working to make things happen!

Thank you for sharing your story and insights, Ewa. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours.

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