He scaled N26 from 300 to 1,500 people. He wrote the guidebook every founder wishes they had. He’s now on a mission to launch a deep tech renaissance across Europe.
In this episode, we unbox the systems, the mindsets, and the missed opportunities keeping Europe from reaching escape velocity.
Our guest, Martin Schilling, author, investor, and scale-up wizard, doesn’t hold back. From calling out Germany’s “crisis of ambition” to inviting Europe’s wealthiest to stop collecting horses and start funding hydrogen, Martin is building a new kind of movement. One that reconnects with our legacy of world-changing innovation, and dares to imagine a bold, sovereign future for Europe.
This episode is part of the season, 5-episode series, in partnership with Startup Berlin and Berlin Partner, where we are Unboxing The Future of Berlin's Startup Ecosystem answering one main question:
[00:00 – 03:31]
Martin shares how scaling N26 from 300 to 1,500 people inspired him to write The Builder’s Guide to the Tech Galaxy—a practical playbook for building unicorns.
[03:32 – 09:21]
Learn the critical lessons Martin outlines: the importance of a clear North Star, building a Triple-A team, and securing sufficient growth capital.
[12:11 – 14:57]
Martin unpacks what makes a startup “deep tech,” highlighting long development cycles, high technical risk, and high societal impact potential—like fusion energy or space tech.
[15:14 – 17:47]
Why does Europe struggle to compete with the U.S. and China in tech innovation? Martin discusses mindset challenges, modesty in pitching, and cultural barriers to bold ambition.
[19:09 – 25:19]
From Berlin to Paris to London, Martin calls for more pan-European collaboration—highlighting Deep Tech Momentum as a key initiative driving density, talent, and funding.
[20:14 – 22:01]
Despite its global appeal, Berlin lacks a world-class tech university and streamlined access to capital. Martin proposes solutions from university incentive shifts to public-private co-funding models.
[29:50 – 30:36]
A direct call to Europe’s wealthy families: stop collecting Rolls Royces and start backing Europe’s tech future. Martin urges a €100B injection into the ecosystem.
[54:19 – 1:00:10]
Martin details the painful experience of founding a company in Germany, proposing a "Startup Protection Zone" with simplified regulation during the early years.
[24:09 – 25:19]
Martin envisions a modern-day Medici network, blending art, science, capital, and courage to usher in a European deep tech renaissance.
[1:17:01 – 1:20:15]
Martin opens up about his deeper motivations—from preventing future wars to keeping medical excellence in Europe for his children’s generation.
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