First Day Founderin

Ok Founderin isn't the German word for women startup founders, but it sounds fun!

I recently joined a startup program for women entrepreneurs, and my first day was already full of interesting discussions. As a digital business founder, I made it clear that I’m intentionally staying away from AI in my model. This sparked a conversation with another member, a philosophy professor who recently moved from London. She mentioned how AI is becoming a major headache in academia because students are submitting low-quality, off-topic papers written by it.

This is something I’ve always believed: if you don’t already know something, AI won’t help you much. Even something as simple as getting it to write a three-sentence email in German can take me 20 minutes because it’s all over the place. If you don’t understand the language well, you might not even catch when it’s using the wrong concept. The same applies to students turning in AI-generated papers—they don’t realize how nonsensical they are because they haven’t done the work themselves.

My advice to academia? Instead of complaining about students using AI to produce garbage, fail them. If students realize AI-written papers will automatically result in a failing grade, they’ll stop doing it. Professors can set clear expectations from day one: AI-generated work is unacceptable and will receive a grade of zero. It’s that simple. If a student has a disability that requires AI assistance, there can be exceptions—but even then, they need to ensure the work meets high-quality standards.

That conversation led to another interesting question: is it easier to launch a startup in Germany or the U.S.? Many assume the U.S. would be the better option, but Germany offers a surprising amount of government support, particularly for women entrepreneurs. There’s an intentional effort to close the funding gap, and the infrastructure for women founders is much stronger. I’ve always felt a deep connection to German women—they are my tribe. Being here feels natural because German women are practical and focused, and the way they approach their work is something I deeply respect.

Little things like noses also make a difference. I have a sturdy German nose, and when I’m riding the train, I look around and see so many women with the same nose as mine. It’s a subtle but comforting reminder that I’m in a place where I fit in. There are no “cute little” noses like the ones I saw growing up, and I feel more at home here in so many ways.

I just received a newsletter from the Women Founders Monitor in Germany, citing the enormous statistical differences in funding for women-led startups. The numbers make it clear: Germany is putting real effort into changing the landscape, and as a founder, I can already see the benefits of being here.

Aside from AI, I also brought up a more pressing concern for digital businesses: cyberbullying and targeted harassment. As I work toward launching my Kickstarter, I need to prepare for a cyberbully who has already escalated from in-game harassment to contacting people in real life. The startup group was supportive, and one of the key takeaways was that I should start by reporting the issue to both German and UK authorities. Beyond that, I was encouraged to reach out to the local coding and hacker community for support.

While I’m not letting this issue take over my focus, I know that digital entrepreneurs—especially women—need to be proactive about cybersecurity. Just as academics need to set firm boundaries with AI, digital founders need strategies to handle cyber threats before they escalate. This is just the beginning of that conversation, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it leads.