Every activity feels like a family reunion: a master's student’s program highlights

Embracing the ecosystem: Alex’s ESMT story

For Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) student Alexander Berner, Class of 2027, life at ESMT is all about possibility. As well as his master’s degree, he has enthusiastically embraced the wider ESMT ecosystem. In this blog interview, he tells us a little more about the extracurricular opportunities he is involved in, from booking speakers for TEDxESMT Berlin, to starting initiatives with the Vali Venture Club, ESMT's entrepreneurship student network.

Read on to hear more of Alex’s story and discover why he thinks that ESMT’s class sizes help the master’s cohorts feel like family.

Hi Alex, please introduce yourself

Hello everyone, my name is Alexander Berner, but everyone calls me Alex. I am a master's student in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ESMT in Berlin. I come from Munich in southern Germany, where I studied digital marketing as an undergraduate. During my studies, I discovered my passion for entrepreneurship and wanted to delve deeper into this topic. For this reason, I started a second degree in entrepreneurship and came into contact with the startup ecosystem. 

This network led me to many valuable experiences, including a global entrepreneurship summer school at Tongji University in Shanghai, and a visit to the USA to learn how Harvard and MIT support startups.  

I then decided to stay in Germany to work on my own startup projects and meet great people. This is what ultimately led me to ESMT. When I'm not at university or having coffee with friends, I like to go to the gym or play video games.

Why did you decide to go for your MSc?

“My goal for the next few years is to learn as much as possible so that I can ultimately support and enable other people.”

That's a really good question, and one that wasn't easy for me to answer. After completing my bachelor's degree, I was undecided as to whether I should do a master's degree or start working at a startup. However, I was certain that I wanted to work in the field of innovation, growth, or business development, and take on a variety of tasks. 

To give myself enough time to think, I took a gap year after completing my bachelor's degree. During this time, I immersed myself in Munich's start-up ecosystem, traveled to America, and talked to many different people. 

My goal for the next few years is to learn as much as possible so that I can ultimately support and enable other people. So, I asked myself, “Where can I get the steepest learning curve?” After some back and forth, many conversations, and sleepless nights, I came to the conclusion that a master's degree was the best option for me to achieve this steep learning curve.

Why did you choose ESMT?

After deciding to pursue a master's degree, I was faced with the next difficult question: “Which university?” Since I knew I wanted to go to an innovative location, I first looked at all the startup hotspots around the world and researched the universities there. That's how I came across ESMT Berlin. 

I realized that I wanted to stay in Europe, and ESMT was simply a good fit for that. After talking to alumni and the Faculty Lead, it became increasingly clear to me that ESMT was the right choice for me: the practical curriculum and the Summer Entrepreneurship Program convinced me, as I want to develop a business idea during my master's program and ultimately start a company.

Combined with its location in Berlin – a top start-up hub in Europe – my opinion was solidified that ESMT was the best university for me and my goals. 

What drew you to the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in particular?

As I mentioned earlier, I have been fascinated by startups throughout my career. My goal was and still is to work on my own business idea during my master's degree. 

The MIE program caught my eye with its intensive, practice-oriented curriculum and practical components (such as SEP, CIP, NEXT, etc.), making it a perfect fit for my goals. 

The people I would be studying with were also very important to me. I was convinced that this specific master's program would attract exactly the right people. And I was not disappointed. My fellow students are really amazing!

You just completed the first term of your Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. What has been your favorite memory so far?

“There are only about 30 students in the master's program, so every activity feels like a family reunion. That really adds a lot to the whole experience.”

That's a good but difficult question. I've had so many wonderful moments so far. It's important to note that there are only about 30 students in the master's program, so every activity feels like a family reunion. That really adds a lot to the whole experience. 

One clear highlight was a trip to Stockholm with my fellow students, where we explored the city as a small group and got to know each other better. In general, the entire first term at ESMT was marked by good memories. From ESMT parties to private celebrations, everything was there, as well as intense rounds of Settlers of Catan and a nice hotpot party.

The time I spent doing assignments with my study group was particularly enjoyable. Although it may not sound like it, that was actually one of the best times. 

Which future steps of the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship are you most looking forward to?

I am particularly looking forward to the Summer Entrepreneurship Program (SEP). This intensive three-month program is an essential part of the master's degree, during which you pursue your own start-up project and receive a lot of support from ESMT. I am fortunate to have already found a good friend to do the SEP with (greetings to Richard!). 

Another thing I am excited about further down the line is the international exchange in term 5. I am already researching potential partner universities that align with my goals, where I can experience a different culture, expand my network, and have a great time – for example, Fudan University in China, the National University of Singapore (NUS), Vlerick Business School in Belgium, Aalto University in Finland, and The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) in Sweden.

I am also, of course, looking forward to more fun events with my fellow students!

Let us talk about on-campus initiatives. What are you currently working on with Vali Berlin and what has the experience been like?

Shortly after I started at ESMT, I had the idea of organizing a regular meeting to discuss startup ideas and relevant news, a kind of roundtable. The concept is simple: you can present your (early-stage) idea in a very informal setting and get feedback. This helps overcome the first hurdle of a business idea, which is talking about the idea! 

After discussing it with my fellow students, many of them were convinced. So, I talked to Baris (Head of Vali) about the idea. He supported me and referred me to the Vali Venture Club (VVC). VVC is ESMT's entrepreneurship student network. There, I received a lot of support from the president.

I am currently responsible for the project as the lead, with a small team. We are trying out a lot of things and learning as we go. We are getting a lot of positive feedback and support, both from VVC, the participants, and from VALI Berlin.

You have joined the team behind TEDxESMTBerlin. What does that involve?

When I found out that ESMT was organizing its own TEDx event, I was highly motivated to help!

I was accepted into the speaker team. That meant I was responsible for contacting potential guest speakers. 2026's theme is Unseen currents: Stories that shape us, and I was responsible for speakers from the fields of German government and entertainment/influencers.

In the end, it was more difficult than I thought, but it was also kind of fun. For example, I never thought I would one day write to Angela Merkel or Philipp Klöckner. We are still in the middle of the organization process, but the team has now found speakers for all areas. I am looking forward to the event and am excited to see what impact the speakers will have.

You have become an enthusiastic participant in ESMT Berlin’s wider ecosystem too. What was your motivation behind this decision?

“I would encourage everyone to step outside their current network and broaden their horizons! There is so much to learn from other people!”

It was clear to me from the outset that, having chosen ESMT, I also wanted to step outside the ESMT “high-performance bubble” and network with the local ecosystem.

Since ESMT focuses on business, I was keen to talk to people with a technical/scientific background. That's why I got involved in events at Merantix, CiC Venture Coffee, and Science and Startups early on. I would encourage everyone to step outside their current network and broaden their horizons! There is so much to learn from other people!

You’re also part of off-campus initiatives like START Berlin. How did you get involved and what has that experience been like?

I already knew about the START Network through friends in Munich and was motivated to join START Berlin as soon as I moved to Berlin. START is one of the largest student start-up networks worldwide. The ESMT network ultimately helped me get to know people in advance, which made the application process a little easier. 

I am currently organizing various activities as part of the event team. The nice thing is that good friends from ESMT have also been accepted into the network, so you are back in a familiar environment. Through START, I have had the opportunity to meet VCs and other founders and ask them questions. I am looking forward to everything the year at START has to offer!

Do you have any tips for someone thinking about applying to ESMT?

“Everyone, including the staff, professors, and students, has the drive to change the world. I have never seen this to such an extent anywhere else, and it is incredibly motivating.”

Berlin has a lot to offer and is a great city for students. And ESMT is very dynamic. You get the feeling that the students and their experiences are the focus of attention. A lot is done for the students and there are numerous activities, like events, student clubs, parties, and much more. 

Since it is a fairly small university, the classes feel like a family. This is ideal for founders, networkers, and future leaders. And that applies not only internally, but also across the board. I have many good friends from other degree programs. 

Although it is a young university, it is already the best business university in Germany and plays in the top league. Everyone, including the staff, professors, and students, has the drive to change the world. I have never seen this to such an extent anywhere else, and it is incredibly motivating.

If you want to apply to ESMT, familiarize yourself with the entire curriculum and talk to other students – or to me! Ultimately, they are the ones who can best tell you whether ESMT is the best fit for you. What helped me a lot, and may be relevant for you as well, was talking to the faculty lead. It was a very constructive conversation that ultimately solidified my decision. To sum up, check out the ESMT website and contacts to make an informed decision. For me, ESMT was exactly the right decision, and I hope everyone else feels the same way I do.

Thank you, Alex!

Do you have questions for Alex about ESMT or about making the most of master’s opportunities? You can connect with him on LinkedIn for more insights.