“You want to found a digital agency?” Today it's hard to imagine that we were ridiculed for our decision in 2003. Most of our fellow students wanted to work in television or newspapers. But Max, Niels and I didn't let that dissuade us. Studying at the FHM encouraged us, because entrepreneurial thinking as a whole was pushed and thinking in creative solutions was encouraged. We took advantage of many offers, such as Prof. Merk's course on setting up a business, and the varied projects and long practical phases helped us to be well-rounded. Today, with brandung, we have more than 130 permanent employees in Cologne and Berlin, and offer a full range of services in the areas of digital communication, e-commerce and online marketing. I can safely say that the FHM gave us the entrepreneurial gene.”
Degree program: Diploma in Media Business with a focus on conception and project management
Degree awarded: 2003
www.agentur-brandung.de
“After my trialed studies in craft management at the FHM with the training part in pastry, I bought a 150-year-old train station in Königswinter with my family and converted it into a pastry shop with a café. Since June, business has been booming and I am grateful to have had the opportunity of the trialed studies. Because to build my business, I learned an enormous amount in the business management part, which I would have lacked in the simple training. A pastry shop is about much more than cakes and tarts. Motivation and a great deal of passion are indispensable for this path!"
Degree program: B.A. Craft Management (trial)
Degree obtained: 2018
sarah@@dieschells..de
The course at the FHM Bielefeld effectively combined theory and practice and gave me a sense of security in setting up my own company. I also appreciated the small study groups and the direct line to the professors. I have fond memories of the good conversations and discussions with Prof. Bernd Seel, who at the time headed the Institute for Business Start-ups and Succession (IUG). He was always willing to listen to my business concerns and helped me to look at things from different perspectives. Today, I work with my start-up FoodTracks for medium-sized bakery companies and can apply the knowledge I acquired directly. At FoodTracks, our goal is to take bakery controlling to a new level with our software in order to make bakery companies more profitable and reduce food waste.”
Degree program: M.A. in SME Management
Degree obtained: 2017
www.foodtracks.de
“After my studies at the FHM Rostock, I founded my own company “HaNeP - Medienpädagogik UG” in October 2017. In collaboration with many creative minds, we are developing a new way of dealing with the topic of media education in a professional and private context. In this context, we have developed products such as children's books and a complete daycare center offering on the topic of “mindfulness with media”. I am particularly pleased that our new cardboard book “Superhannes - Mission Flight Mode” was published in July 2019. You can find more information at www.hannes-biene.de. Without studying at the FHM, none of this would have happened. The management part of the course really encouraged me to be independent.”
Degree program: B.A. Social Work & Management
Degree obtained: 2017
www.hannes-biene.de
“In 2009, I was working as a driving instructor and enrolled at FHM for the bachelor's degree in business administration. About halfway through my studies, I had a business idea that I couldn't get out of my head. I wanted to film the difficult spots for learner drivers from the 850 test locations in Germany (no-through streets, etc.) so that students could learn them via a smartphone app and be better prepared for the practical test. In the business start-up module, DriversCam was developed into a marketable business model and sold to a large company in 2015. In 2018, I completed the MBA Innovation & Leadership master's program at FHM. Along the way, an idea for a new start-up emerged.”
Degree program: B.A. Business Administration and MBA Innovation & Leadership
Degree obtained: 2012 and 2018
www.driverscam.de
“I knew quite early on that I wanted to be self-employed. So, two years after graduating, I opened my own physiotherapy practice. The practice got off to a good start in the first year. One unique selling point was definitely the Bachelor of Science degree that I completed at the FHM Bamberg, which brought me a little closer to the area of expertise of doctors. I have no regrets about my decision. I can act and treat patients independently in my practice. If you plan well, it's not like working on an assembly line in a large practice, but rather providing real, tailored help to patients. I would recommend every graduate to do the same as me, but you need to be able to cope with high levels of mental and physical stress."
Degree program: B.Sc. Physiotherapy
Degree obtained: 2015
www.physiotherapie-melville.de
“The FHM gave my fellow students and me the chance to organize an innovative event, the 'Starters Summit'. Through the Design Thinking Camp for East Westphalia, my course of studies was able to establish valuable contacts with medium-sized companies and experts from various industries. After the successful event, our entrepreneurial spirit was awakened. The 'Starters Summit' was the initial spark for our next project, for our rocket launch, for YOUSTN. The start-up YOUSTN is a communications agency made up of eight former students who work with design thinking and other creative methods. While we were still studying for our master's, we were able to set up our space station at the FHM premises and generate and process our first customer orders from there. The agency's goal is to find innovative communications and marketing solutions for medium-sized companies facing the challenges of digitalization.”
Degree program: M.A. Crossmedia & Communication Management
Degree obtained: 2019
“The concept and business plan for Prachtburschen were developed during our studies. Developing a business plan is a compulsory part of the business start-up module for all students, so why not just write your own concept? My business partner and I also attended a classic start-up consultation at the Chamber of Crafts. In addition, the intensive support provided by the FHM during this time helped me a lot to stay focused. In June 2017, we opened our 'Prachtburschen' grooming studio and are delighted that our beauty studio for men has been so well received by our customers. We also take part in start-up competitions and industry awards.”
Degree program: Distance learning B.A. Business Administration in combination with further training to become a state-certified business administrator at the Hansa-Berufskolleg Münster
Degree: 2016
www.prachtburschen.de
