2022 Look-back at Factory Berlin and Factory Hammerbrooklyn

Supporting Close Communities

The beginning of 2022 has shown that in most critical times, our community, its support, and resources are needed like never before. Following our mission of giving every creator an empowering network, we offered 150 x 6 months of free Network + Campus membership to those impacted by the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Meet Anna, Polina, and Daria, and find out how the Factory Berlin network was able to support them in these difficult times.

We continue to collect useful resources for those impacted by the war in Ukraine and you can always get involved and share an initiative by filling out this form.

Circles Coming to Factory Hammerbrooklyn

Just in time for the one-year anniversary of Factory Hammerbrooklyn’s opening, our Circles Program was introduced in Hamburg and picked up by the local community. Our Mobility & Logistics Circle made a strong come-back later in July, with their first event taking place in Factory Hammerbrooklyn. If you’re into this topic, make sure to check out the upcoming panel discussion ‘Dark Side of Mobility’ where we’ll bring together the biggest players in the industry to discuss progress towards sustainable development goals.

The Future of Work Circle made a big entry in Hamburg too, and is currently working on its next key event ‘Investing in Startup Founders’ Mental Health’ aimed to raise discussion on the silent struggle of founders with mental strains under the limelight, and how investors can help solve it.

Looking back at 2022, we’ve had a lot of exciting Circle activations and have seen our sub-communities grow, explore, and collaborate even more than before. Just to name a few of the highlights: ‘Women in Web3.0’, organized by the Womxn Circle, brought together women leaders to present their innovative work in the metaverse, Web3.0, and crypto industries. ‘EdTech after Pandemic’, hosted by the EdTech Circle, raised the question of how the pandemic changed the way that we learn and teach, and what were the biggest challenges it brought along.

New Event Formats Across Our Campuses

This year we also hosted our first ever Investment Summit, a new event format where our best in-house startups pitch their companies to a panel of top investors from our network. Get a sneak peek of the great evening of networking and feedback here.

In March 2022, we introduced Happy Hour, our newest monthly format in Berlin, designed for casual networking. Each month we roll out a special theme and give our members an opportunity to exchange and hang out around relevant topics. Community Breakfast made a come-back in Berlin early in 2022, and its sibling in Factory Hammerbrooklyn also joined the fold – Big Table Brunch. A monthly networking event in Hamburg, Big Table Brunch is open to both our members and general public and is a great way to share experiences, exchange ideas, and connect over inspiring topics which drive our community.

Return to Old Favorites

After two and a half years of the pandemic, we were able to bring the once most favorite events back to Factory Berlin. We hosted Blockchain Brunch in July where we talked about decentralized autonomous organizations. In December, our winter Meet & Pitch brought some of the most exciting startups, corporate teams, and partners from our community together onstage to pitch their story to their fellow members.

One of the jewels in the Factory Berlin crown, Berlin Tech Halloween made a return in October. And it just goes to show that whilst startups in our community know how to work hard, grow fast, and make impact, they also (predictably) know how to kick-back and have a seriously spooky party. Revisit the night’s highlights in our aftermovie.

Startup Stories

This year we got to know a few of our brightest in-house startups a little better. Their impact reaches far and wide, and they’re making waves in emerging or underestimated industries. And they all call Factory Berlin home. Discover startup stories from our community and join our dynamic ecosystem.

Welcome to the Network!

This year we welcomed several new partners to the Factory Berlin network, including Mastercard, The Impact Company, Black Brown Berlin, D&AD Shift, and Founderland. Discover a full list of our partners that empower our community and share our passion for innovation and collaboration.

Moments to Remember

2022 was full of events, and there will be more to come in 2023.We’re all about sharing knowledge and giving access to the resources you need to make your project or business come to life. So whilst members get access to exclusive content, networking events, and our locations, we also offer public events where you can come to find inspiration, or learn something new. And if you ever miss an event, it’s worth checking out Factory Berlin TV where we share event recordings of our favorite panels, masterclasses and expert talks. Check out Factory Berlin TV on Youtube and watch the best panel discussions, masterclasses, and expert talks from the comfort of your home. Here are our team’s top picks from 2022:

Digital Health Gold Rush Panel