Episode 1 of our podcast with Dr. Daphne Hering - VISAGUARD Immigration Talk

At VisaGuard, we support people every day who come to Germany to work, start a business, or become self-employed. We hear many stories: of courage and ideas, but also of forms, waiting times, and misunderstandings with the authorities. We want to share these stories now. That's why we're launching our own podcast series: The VISAGUARD Immigration Talk .

Our first guest: Dr. Daphne Hering

We couldn't have wished for a more fitting guest for our first episode. Dr. Daphne Hering holds a doctorate in economics and wrote her dissertation on founders with a migration background. Her research question: How do people perceive business opportunities through their migration experience? She previously worked at McKinsey. Today, with her company Cyra Capital, she invests in tech startups founded by migrants. Her goal: to provide founders with access to networks and capital.

What we talked about

Migration breeds entrepreneurship. Anyone leaving their country already takes an enormous risk, says Daphne. This very ability can be used to build something of one's own. Entrepreneurship should therefore be taught as early as swimming – ideally starting in kindergarten.

• AI: Conflict or Peace? Daphne evaluates her investments in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 16: Peace. Whether AI exacerbates social tensions or helps to resolve them depends, in her view, on us – and on leadership that unites people instead of stoking fear.

• The Medici effect. People without their own migration experience recognize more business opportunities when they are surrounded by migrants. Where different experiences come together, innovation arises.

• From practice: the immigration office. Mirko from VisaGuard explains the most common reason applications fail: communication. The office cites a missing requirement, but the applicants don't understand exactly what that means. Daphne recalls a morning at 6 a.m. in the queue with her then au pair – an experience that profoundly shaped her as a German.

• A genuine culture of welcome. Germany is calling for skilled workers, but Daphne warns against repeating the mistakes of the recruitment years. She quotes Max Frisch: "We called for workers, and human beings came." Skills gaps can be calculated – but those who come are human beings and need to be welcomed.

“For me, the greatest challenge facing this country is: How do we open our minds and hearts to welcome immigrants? Because we know that this fosters innovation – the foundation for a truly thriving economy.” – Dr. Daphne Hering

Listen now

The full episode (in English, approx. 17 minutes) is available on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/VDTKXCnhdIY

In upcoming episodes, we'll be speaking with more guests who have firsthand experience with migration and entrepreneurship. Subscribe to the channel so you don't miss an episode.

Are you planning to start a business or work freelance in Germany and need support with visas, business plans, or communication with the authorities? Contact us.

You can find our VISAGUARD guide for freelancers here: https://www.visaguard.berlin/selbststaendigkeit