Democratising the Technology Education
Transforming Research into Reality
In this interview, we meet Anna Hülemeier, a PhD student in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Münster who’s motivated by free education ideal. Inspired by her a desire to empower others, Anna co-founded TechLabs, a non-profit dedicated to democratising digital skills education.
Could you describe the process of transitioning from your research topic into a startup? What moved you?
I co-founded TechLabs, a non-profit coding organisation, during my Master’s. Interestingly, my path took me from the startup world back into academia. Experiencing the dynamic energy and the drive to create real change in the startup environment, I realised I needed to enhance my skill set further. The PhD provided the chance to work on my projects with this start-up vibe, but at the same time providing the educational resources and scientific demand you can solely learn in academia. The combination of both is invaluable – being able to flexibly adapt to ever-changing environments with an entrepreneurial spirit while keeping an eye on the details, the profound goal, and the confidence to solve challenges through knowledge.
What is the primary mission behind your work? Why did you choose the Tech Labs project?
At TechLabs, our mission is to empower digital shapers to tackle contemporary challenges with a digital and entrepreneurial mindset. We address the digital skills gap and related inequalities by offering free access to digital education. We, therefore, offer free access to digital education to everyone. Our learning journey includes personalized curricula to acquire the necessary coding skills to work on a group project, personal mentor, events, socials, and corporations with well-known partners from industry and science. Founding TechLabs was a unique opportunity to realise my ideal of free education within a strong community. Alongside that founding process, I grew tremendously as I experienced what entrepreneurship means.
Reflecting on your journey as a sciencepreneur, what have been the main advantages and disadvantages you have encountered? What challenges have you faced, and how have you navigated them?
Founding TechLabs was beyond amazing. The advantages are barely countable – acquiring new and improving current skills, working on something unique, having a true impact on the personal journey of our participants, building a broad network, and meeting inspiring people. As with anything in life, growing tremendously also implies a high commitment to constantly invest resources. It was a challenge to simultaneously work on my other projects from another student club, pursue my master’s degree, prepare for the next steps in my career, and have time for my personal goals and social network. Setting priorities, reassessing strategies, and maintaining a realistic schedule were crucial to meeting diverse demands.
What skills have you developed throughout your entrepreneurial journey? Could you share some key professional and personal insights you’ve gained?
I’ve improved my project and time management skills and applied my psychology knowledge to TechLabs. Of course, working in a tech non-profit organization also helped me to enhance my coding skills and learn about entrepreneurship, including strategy development, scalability, and attracting the right people.
How has participating in the Young Entrepreneurs in Science workshop impacted your career trajectory? What key takeaways have stuck with you?
The YES workshop clearly demonstrated that science and entrepreneurship perfectly benefit from each other. It broadened my perspective and showed that entrepreneurial skills are equally valuable in scientific contexts.
For aspiring founders with an academic background, what advice would you offer based on your own experiences?
Stay open-minded, flexible to adjust to unforeseen circumstances but keep a clear purpose/vision/strategy, and always be committed to your project. Invest the necessary resources and surround yourself with inspiring and skilled people.
What happens next?
Check out our event calendar for upcoming workshops. Stay tuned for more updates, opportunities, and success stories!
Curious for more? Connect with Anna via LinkedIn or check out TechLabs.
Interviewer & Editor: Dilara Ekinci
Illustration: Bengt Xylander
Design & Art Direction: Bianca Cramer
