SMP LeaderTalks

#118 | High-speed living with the right values

SMP LeaderTalks

5. November 2025

Georgiy Michailov meets Janna Ensthaler

On winning mentality, incompetence in politics, and polarization.

0 h 28 Min

"The market has become drier and tougher – raising capital is becoming increasingly difficult."

What does it take to grow a business? How do you remain capable of acting amid economic crises, capital shortages, and social polarization? And what can the German start-up scene learn from competitive sports? Janna Ensthaler is a founder, investor, and entrepreneur with a clear entrepreneurial mindset. 

"Stagnation can be more dangerous than progress, even if you don't agree with everything."

In conversation with Georgiy Michailov, she talks about personal responsibility, entrepreneurial courage, and the ability to remain undeterred even in difficult times. As co-founder of Glossybox and Event Inc. and managing partner of a specialized VC fund in the GreenTech and FoodTech sector, Janna Ensthaler brings both economic expertise and clear socio-political observations to the table. She answers the following questions: Where does Germany stand as a business location? What developments are currently taking place in the US? And are more and more qualified people leaving Germany as a business location?

*Video only in German

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