Role Models Panel: Pitching to the Media

As Managing Director, Svenja Lassen is responsible for setting up the startup investor network primeCROWD in Germany, which brings investors together with selected startups and accompanies them throughout the entire investment process.

Hannah Schwär is a reporter at Business Insider, covering the German startup ecosystem with a special focus on mobility. Prior to that, she wrote for WELT, BILD and Rheinische Post.

She’s a Top 30 under 30 journalist (class 2017), one of the 33 startup reporters to watch (class 2020) and graduate of the Axel Springer Akademie, one of Germany’s most progressive journalism schools.

Miriam is Germany correspondent at Sifted.eu, a publication covering European startups and technology. She’s particularly interested in sustainability, the future of work, female entrepreneurship and the human side of tech. Miriam has been reporting from Berlin since 2018, and has written for publications such as Deutsche Welle, New Statesman, and Courier. She continues to write for independent art and design publications in Berlin and London.

Catherine Bischoff is the Chief Relationship Officer at Factory Berlin, a culture, community, and space driven by the power of connection. As the heart of the Berlin startup ecosystem, Factory Berlin provides the right tools and networks for startups to scale and flourish.

As the lead on strategic partnerships, she works with founders, investors, corporates, accelerators and academic institutions to develop dynamic programs for a fast-changing Germany and global impact. In her role Catherine launched the Stealth Mode mentorship program for female and non-binary founders in 2019, and works to support entrepreneurs and creators from underrepresented groups. She’s taken the stage in numerous public speaking engagements, leveraging her personal and professional experience to lead conversation on the ever-important issue of diversity in tech and leadership.