Ex-N26 COO: What’s Really Holding Back European Innovation | Martin Schilling

What does it really take to build and scale a high-growth startup in Germany’s competitive tech scene?

In this episode of the Guten Tag Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Martin Schilling – former COO of N26, tech investor, and deep tech advocate.

From his own startup story to scaling one of Germany’s leading fintechs, Martin shares powerful lessons on entrepreneurship, failure, and what Europe needs to unlock its full potential.

We explore the realities of raising venture capital, the future of deep tech, and what it means to build a startup in Germany — especially in hubs like Berlin, often called Europe’s Gründerszene.

Whether you’re dreaming up your next business idea, navigating Berlin’s startup hub, or looking for insight from a real tech investor, this conversation is packed with clarity, courage, and practical wisdom.

🔑 In This Episode:
– Martin Schilling’s motivation for writing his book
– Behind the scenes of scaling N26
– Why failure is essential for founders
– What investors really look for
– The role of deep tech in Europe’s future
– Comparing startups in Europe vs the U.S.
– How to build and lead high-performance teams
– Mental health, leadership, and the entrepreneur mindset