On November 7, 2026, that will change—for one day. On that day, 1,500 young founders, investors, and entrepreneurs from all over Europe will gather in one place at the NLND in Berlin. The Young Founders Conference, or YFC for short.

Why We’re Doing This 

We are the Young Founders Network, a nonprofit community of over 2,000 people under the age of 25 who want to start a business, are currently starting one, or have already done so. For the rest of the year, we work in different settings: in local chapters, in discussion groups, and in programs. Once a year, we bring everyone together in one room. This isn’t just a matter of logistics. A community that never sees itself in its entirety remains, for each individual member, merely a concept. Only when everyone stands in the same room do all those individuals—who see themselves as isolated cases—become “us.” That is precisely the mission of the YFC. 

What Happens on Stage 

At the YFC, we hear from people who have a track record of building things, not just commenting on them. Founders who have built companies with hundreds of employees, and people who, three years ago, were standing right where the audience is today. We’re not interested in the rise to success, but in the part that’s rarely mentioned on LinkedIn. The years when nothing worked out. The decisions that, in hindsight, turned out to be wrong. What someone did when they ran out of money. Starting a business can look tough. Otherwise, no one will believe you, and the story won’t help anyone. 

What Happens Between the Talks 

Those are the memorable moments. They aren’t listed in the program. YFC isn’t organized for our members—it’s organized by them. The organizing team consists of members of the network, all under 25. Chapters and members shape parts of the day themselves and don’t just sit in the audience. The result is exactly what matters. You don’t talk to organizers there, but to people who have the same problem as you—only three months further along. These conversations are the reason people go home with projects that didn’t even exist that morning. 

It’s (y)our turn 

The motto of this year’s conference is “It’s (y)our turn.” This doesn’t mean that this generation’s turn will come someday. It means that it’s their turn now. All of Europe has been talking about the next generation of founders for years and waiting for them, while they’ve long since been building. In ten years, the companies shaping this continent will be led by people who were sitting in this room today. We just don’t know who they’ll be yet. If you don’t want to wait until it’s your turn, come to Berlin. 

Young Founders Conference 2026 · November 7 · NLND, Berlin

We at Gründungsmagnet will be there, too!

As an Ecosystem Partner, we’re excited to support the YFC and bring together initiatives from all over Germany on the day of the event. Because together we’re stronger—through networking, exchange, and mutual support.