which company should I profile?
Issue #132 (13 Jan) – jobs; small content tweaks; best coworking spaces & funded companies in 2024; Coffee with Bruna; Cost of Living; IBAN changes; salary data for Germany; where to work after 40.
Make sure to never miss another issue. Subscribe:
Programming note: Thanks to everyone who participated in my year-end survey. I read every single comment and will introduce additional changes very soon. You can see the obvious ones in this issue already. I published two articles: all funded companies from Berlin in 2024 and about top coworking spaces in Berlin.
🌟 Handpicked community
is a place where we meet, share projects and ideas and look for help.
Meet — handpicked events:
2025 Product Predictions | Thu, 16/01/18:30 | SumUp
Explore Berlin’s Deep Tech Scene | Fri, 17/01/13.45 | BAM
START Berlin is hosting the Road to START Summit — their flagship event bringing together students, founders, and investors for a night of innovation, discovery, and inspiration! - use HANDPICKEDC20 for 20% off | Thu, 23/01/15.30 | CIC*
🇩🇪 FutureTalk: Zwischen Reichweite & Regulation | Thu, 23/01/18.30 | Bettertrust
Marketing Meet & Mingle #3 | Thu, 30/01/19.00 | EvoGolf
Show cool stuff or Ask for something:
💡Considering a new CRM or want to improve your current one? Fstream.io is offering Handpicked Berlin subscribers a FREE workshop to explore your options. Contact them now to get one of the limited spots!*
If you are starting a business and need a loan, here is a good option from KfW.
Avant Now Accelerator is accepting applications from women founders working on societal and environmental challenges, offering equity-free funding, office space, and training. Applications are open until January 15, 2025, with the program starting March 1, 2025.
📨 Submit your input for the community here.
👀 Handpicked jobs
is a rotating selection of jobs from companies I’d check out.
5️⃣ from the rotation this week
The remaining jobs (also outside rotation) are in the Handpicked online database.
Are you looking for new colleagues or work in HR? Submit a job.
✨ Handpicked deals and experts
Handpicked Berlin experts: find the expert you need! Relocation, employment matters, insurance and career coaches.
Learn German at SmarterGerman—HANDPICKED11 for an 11% discount. Your purchase will help sustain this project.
☕️ Coffee with Bruna Silva
is where my guest contributes three links and I write a short bio.
Bruna is a founder of International Women in Berlin (IWB), which has now grown into Germany's largest immigrant women's network with 40k members across 100 nationalities. They also have a newsletter and do plenty of events in Berlin. Here is what she prepared for you:
Lobe Block & Canteen. I have a thing for brutalist architecture, and Lobe Block is a true hidden gem. Not only for its intimidating and unique architecture but also for the contrast with its warm and cosy interior. The food and cakes are delicious, and the space even has a garden with chickens (!) and a rooftop with a stunning view of Berlin. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a meal and disconnect from the world.
Latin American Music Playlists. In winter my playlists are my way of bringing energy and joy into these gray days. Whenever friends ask for recommendations to explore Brazilian and Latin American culture, I share them. Latin America has an incredibly rich musical culture, filled with rhythms that make you want to dance, move your body, and enjoy time with friends—no drugs, just high on happiness!
Community is Your Currency. I love this book! Daisy Morris talks about communities, marketing, and the creator economy in such a relatable and accessible way. She shares valuable insights, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in engagement, digital marketing, and community building.
🗞 Snippets
is a selection of links focused on Berlin/Germany, career, timeless content and business.
Berlin & Germany, career & timeless
I researched more than expected for this article on top coworking spaces in Berlin. Deals for you are coming soon. In addition, here are all the funded startups in 2024 in Berlin. Of course with career pages link.
I am looking for the best communities in Berlin. Please help me with submitting yours or the ones you like by commenting here.
I prepared a test company profile article. You have a say (for 3 days only):
Numbeo published the Cost of living index for 2025. Berlin is #95 in the cost of living worldwide (#8 in Germany), #105 in restaurants, #89 in rents, #132 in groceries and #92 in purchasing power. The top German city is Munich at #45, followed by Hamburg at #62, Frankfurt at #71, Cologne at #78, Dusseldorf at #85, Stuttgart at #89, and Nuremberg at #91. Meanwhile, Berlin is #13 on the top 25 regions with the highest HDI in 2022.
Changes to your IBAN in 2025: The EU is mandating all EU banks to handle instant payments, requiring them to accept such transfers by January 9 and provide them by October 9, 2025, with fees not exceeding standard transfer costs. The aim is to compete with US payment providers while lowering fees. Many German banks already offer it, some for free. (TS, 🇩🇪) Bad for PayPal and for your future IBAN typos, but otherwise great news.
The 25 best restaurants in Berlin according to the Infatuation. Something for everyone.
Compared to November, unemployment in Germany increased by 0.1% to 6% in December. Meanwhile, StepStone released 1M+ salary data points (Jan 2022 - Nov 2024). Large (5k+) companies pay much better than small (<50) ones (€57,750 vs €40,500). Salaries are the best in Hamburg and the gender pay gap is sadly doing well (€48k men vs €42,1k women). Tech, healthcare and sustainability sectors are expected to see continued growth but unfortunately, 1/3 of 800 surveyed companies are planning staff reductions.
Tagesspiegel (€, 🇩🇪) Some pessimists forecast 25-30% more bankruptcies in 2025 (HB), but never forget that “there are two kinds of forecasters: Those who don't know – and those who don't know they don't know.” (J.K. Galbraith)
Career: Where to work after 40? Some very good tips in the discussion.
Career: A great post about the secrets of PR when it comes to fake startup traction.
Career: Unfortunate things about performance reviews. “First, realize that there's very little direct connection between the quality (and quantity, for that matter) of work done, and what happens in a performance review at these places. It's more about your attitude and how good you make your masters feel about you and that attitude.” So true.
Timeless: I was previously tricked by a podcast bro and even put an interview with a “No.1 PhD toxicologist” in this newsletter (#127). Here is some context (BBC) to serve as a reminder to always ask yourself “Is this true?” instead of “Can I believe it?” especially when the interviewer doesn’t really challenge their guest. This of course should also be the case with BBC.
Briefly
Bad news: Wayfair is leaving Berlin and Germany (730, -3%); Element (insurtech, Berlin) is filing for bankruptcy.
Stats: 90% of households in Germany pay their cleaners without an official invoice (= Schwarz). At least 5.4% (or 3.3M people) have also worked illegally 2024. (IWF)
Berlin's average inflation dropped to 1.6% in 2024 from 6.2% in 2023, driven by falling energy prices (-8%) and slower food price increases (2% vs 12.2% in 2023). (St.BB)
Miles struggles in Belgium, facing fraud, vandalism and low adoption rates, and plans to restructure. (GS, €, 🇩🇪)
Solaris: SBI (Japanese investment firm) wants to take an 80% stake through €100M funding round. Restructuring is pending approvals. (MM)
Meta made the headlines with their Trump gamble. They changed their chief lobbyist to a Republican, dropped the fact checking in favour of community notes and rolled back their DEI initiatives.
Trade Republic’s co-founder Christian Hecker told FT that they’ll stay private and want to expand in France, Italy and other EU markets. 8M users, $5.4B valuation (2022) and €100B in client assets with no intention to raise. (FT)
Wefox is close to a €170M funding deal with Searchlight Capital Partners, including €80-100M equity raise and debt refinancing. (Sky)
Weekly social
Good German restaurants in Berlin. Comment: Trio, Clärchens, Renger-Patszch, Zum Hax'nwirt, Oderquelle, Joseph-Roth-Diele. (Reddit)
There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. (X)
Paying for bathrooms in Germany. (Reddit)
💸 Funded in Berlin & Germany
is a list of companies that received funding over €1M.
Sunfire | Dresden | Industrial hydrogen electrolysis technology | €200M debt | Careers.
😅 Meanwhile
it’s time to open that email
*sponsored
It probably won’t help much, but you can go into the future already today and add this email to your contacts. (vCard link)
Handpicked footer with a treat:
You like what you read? You can drop a rating on Google or send a testimonial.
CV writing guide in Germany: insights from 6 tech recruiters
How to learn German and get over “Genau” and “mit Karte, bitte”?
Football in Berlin: where to play, watch and how to get involved?
Berlin Salary Trends Reports: How do you compare?