On International Women's Day, we would like to particularly recognize the inspiring women in the startup scene - an area in which female founders are still underrepresented. According to the Female Founders Monitor 2023, only 20% of startups in Germany are co-founded by women and only 8% of venture capital goes to teams with female leadership. These figures clearly show how important it is to support and make more women visible in the startup world. But despite these challenges, there are founders like Céleste Kleinjans who are paving the way for many others with their courage, vision and commitment. 🚀



Céleste Kleinjans is co-founder of MINDZEIT , an innovative digital platform dedicated to promoting mental health. With her startup, she wants to bring about a change in the way people access mindfulness and mental health promotion. Her goal: to enable broad access to scientifically based and individually tailored mental health services - for people from all social classes and walks of life. MINDZEIT is much more than just an app - it is a movement towards a healthier and more mindful approach to yourself and your own resources. 🧠



By developing MINDZEIT , Céleste is taking an important step to take the topic of mental health out of its niche and make it accessible to everyone. In a world that is becoming ever faster and more complex, it is crucial that everyone is given the right tools to better deal with everyday challenges and psychological stress. 💚



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TechBoost: Tell us briefly about your startup and what inspired you to found it.



Céleste: MINDZEIT® was born out of a very personal experience. When I was nine years old, my mother unexpectedly became a nursing case - and suddenly I had a responsibility that was actually far too great for a child. This time was extremely stressful, but a family friend taught me child-friendly mindfulness and meditation techniques. This helped me to consciously perceive my emotions and deal with the situation better.



This ability has accompanied me throughout my life. During my studies, the desire grew within me to make this knowledge about essential mental skills and how to learn them accessible to as many people as possible - and so MINDZEIT® was born .



In our increasingly complex and digitalized world, these skills have now become essential for society as a whole. Mental stress no longer only affects people who have suffered misfortune, trauma or extreme stress. Mental illnesses such as depression and chronic exhaustion continue to increase throughout society year after year. But most people still lack the necessary skills to be able to deal better with these challenges and changes.



This is where MINDZEIT® comes in: Our app combines scientifically based methods with innovative technology to promote mental health in a way that is accessible, personalized and suitable for everyday use for everyone. Our goal is to prevent mental overload by strengthening people's resilience in a preventative manner.



TechBoost: How did you experience your start in the startup world? What challenges did you face?



Céleste: My entry into the startup world was rather unusual: As a humanities graduate without a technical background, I wanted to develop a digital, scientifically based product - with maximum reach and positive impact for people. We consciously decided against investors for various reasons. However, this brought with it the challenge of being creative and effective with very limited resources, remaining extremely flexible in my role and having a high degree of mental stamina.

This is exactly where our own theme - mindfulness , self-reflection and resilience - helped us enormously. Founding a startup means enduring uncertainty, overcoming setbacks and dealing with continuous change. There are days when everything goes great - and the next you are faced with unexpected problems.



There is no set roadmap in the field of innovative technologies - it is an adventure with an uncertain outcome. You have to be prepared to constantly adapt, explore new paths and grow with each challenge without reaching your own limits.



TechBoost: What is your biggest learning so far?



Céleste: My biggest learning is that a good idea alone is not enough - what is crucial is consistent implementation and the ability to constantly adapt and deal productively with setbacks. Success does not happen overnight , but through continuous learning, perseverance and flexibility. In other words, starting a business is not a sprint , but a marathon .



Another key factor is the right network . The people you surround yourself with often make the difference – be it through knowledge, support or new perspectives.



Challenges are part of starting a business, and it helps to know that everyone is on the same page. Creativity and the courage to seize opportunities are crucial. And ultimately, if you don't ask, the answer is always no.



TechBoost: What is the next big goal you want to achieve with your startup?



Céleste: A lot is happening at MINDZEIT® right now - and I can already reveal this much: MINDZEIT is getting even more intelligent. We are working on innovative developments that will take the user experience to a whole new level. What exactly are we planning? That remains a little secret. But one thing is certain: we have big plans and will be presenting some exciting innovations in the coming months.

But that's just the beginning. We recently launched our new brand [aɪ]fluencer® . With [aɪ]fluencer® we are not only raising awareness of the responsible use of AI, but also enabling people to use AI as a tool to develop and sustainably strengthen essential future skills.

In an increasingly complex world, personal growth , mental strength and better decision-making are becoming more and more important – not only in business but also in private life.



Thanks for the interview!