The Python and AI community is full of people who build tools, train models, and solve hard problems — but the leap from project to product often feels like a different world entirely. This panel closes that gap.

Four women from very different backgrounds — a former SAP SVP turned startup investor, a TU Darmstadt researcher turned Forbes 30 Under 30 founder, a venture capital managing partner, and an AI startup ecosystem builder — share what founding and funding a company actually looks like.

No polished success stories, no pitching. Just real talk about first steps, financing, team building, and the support systems that exist but few people know about.

Why this panel at PyCon DE & PyData? Because the people in this room are exactly who Germany's AI and open-source startup ecosystem needs. You understand the technology. You work with data. You build things that work.

What's often missing isn't the idea or the skill — it's the confidence, the network, and the knowledge of how to start. This panel provides all three.

We'll cover five themes: the spark that starts a founding journey, the reality behind startup clichés, what technical founders need beyond code, how to find the right networks and funding, and concrete first steps anyone can take.

The panel is especially aimed at developers considering turning a side project into a startup, researchers exploring the path from paper to product, and professionals in industry wondering whether the leap from a corporate career is right for them. We also want to actively encourage more women to see themselves as founders — which is why representation on this stage matters.

Whether you leave with a concrete next step, a new contact, or simply a more realistic picture of what founding looks like — this session is designed to make the startup world feel less like an exclusive club and more like a path that's open to you.