πŸ“― Preface

In 2003, we set out to support promising students on their entrepreneurial journey. To create a community in which talented and driven individuals are empowered to reach their full potential and where we thrive together. Where we help each other along our journeys. Where we understand that in order to create the most value for everyone, giving is as important as taking.

This handbook is an overview of our guiding principles. As we grow as a community and as individuals, we hope that these principles will serve you on your way.

Although these principles are important, what is even more crucial to START Munich is your contribution to the network - your ideas, knowledge, and energy. We rely on you to ensure that START continues to be the community in which incredibly talented and driven students are supported on their entrepreneurial journey.

Felix Haas (Founder of START Munich) receiving his START Hoodie from Csaba KrΓΌmmer (Former MD Finance) at Bits & Pretzels 2019

Felix Haas (Founder of START Munich) receiving his START Hoodie from Csaba KrΓΌmmer (Former MD Finance) at Bits & Pretzels 2019

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/5bcd8aff-5d67-4083-a94a-a8b6c282e22e/START_Emblem.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/5bcd8aff-5d67-4083-a94a-a8b6c282e22e/START_Emblem.png" width="40px" /> Thanks for being here - let's make sure we all thrive together!

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❓ How to Use This Handbook

The book serves to help new members to understand the culture and principles of START Munich. And it also helps our veterans to refresh their knowledge of the principles and reflect on them. It also helps you to decide in how far you want to contribute to our START Family - it is about the choices you're going to be making and how to think about them.

πŸ‘‹ Welcome to the START Family

πŸ“Œ Where we come from

Our community START Munich was founded in 2003. Since our earliest days, our number one priority is to bring together entrepreneurial students from diverse backgrounds and support them on their journey to create value through technology and entrepreneurship. We provide our members with the network, insights, skills, and resources they need to found a startup - from finding ideas and co-founders to getting mentoring and financing.

Mago Abdulaev (Vice President 2019/20) and Felix Haas (Founder  START Munich) hug each other when they meet at Oktoberfest 2019

Mago Abdulaev (Vice President 2019/20) and Felix Haas (Founder START Munich) hug each other when they meet at Oktoberfest 2019

We are more than a group of entrepreneurs. We are a diversified community of individuals that contribute towards making the entrepreneurial ecosystem a better place. This comes in different shapes and forms. It is not just the entrepreneurs themselves who contribute to this but also the many other stakeholders of the ecosystem: mentors, investors, co-founders, accelerators, and so on. We recognize this in everything we do.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/cb6f65d6-def9-436c-b15e-43204f70c9a8/START_Emblem.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/cb6f65d6-def9-436c-b15e-43204f70c9a8/START_Emblem.png" width="40px" /> START is more than Munich. We are part of the START Network, a syndicate of 9 chapters from all over Europe that all share the same mission. The network comprises over 300 members, spans 6 different countries and was founded in St. Gallen in 1996.

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<aside> πŸ•ΆοΈ Vision:

Our vision is to provide the most compelling initiative for entrepreneurially passionate students to foster Munich's transformation into a global start-up hotspot.

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<aside> πŸš€ Mission:

Our mission is to support driven students to kickstart and nurture their entrepreneurial careers; by integrating them into a thriving community, generating an environment for personal development and providing access to all necessary resources.

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πŸ’‘ Our Four Principles

🌍 We create a positive impact

πŸ‘« We trust and tell the truth

We are servant leaders. We put others first. We are moderators searching for the truth, not dictators. We lead by example. We strive to impact others positively. We behave sustainably.

We tell the truth, because it creates trust and accelerates growth. We welcome truth, because it helps to improve. We bestow trust right away. Nobody has to earn trust, but everybody has to work on keeping it.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/45f18e3a-f9e8-4f14-86f7-b5b1efba8e41/START_Emblem.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/45f18e3a-f9e8-4f14-86f7-b5b1efba8e41/START_Emblem.png" width="40px" /> Ask yourself Am I creating value for others, or just for myself?

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<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/c6a3cb79-da34-4e1e-89e9-27e132175604/START_Emblem.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/c6a3cb79-da34-4e1e-89e9-27e132175604/START_Emblem.png" width="40px" /> Ask yourself Am I assuming positive intent from the other person?

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πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ We are players

πŸ’ͺ We know growth is a process