Julia Steger: Meet the Woman Leading Europe's Biggest Edtech Startup Community

At the helm of EDUvation, an initiative by startups for startups in Germany, Julia Steger is orchestrating a seismic shift in Germany’s Edtech landscape, igniting innovation and forging connections that span borders throughout Europe.

As the linchpin of Germany's largest Edtech startup community, she showcases her unwavering commitment to nurturing collaboration, spearheading events and fostering emerging talent.

But Julia's influence extends far beyond borders. With unwavering resolve, she is all set to lead the monumental Edtech Next Summit, a European convergence of over 1,000 Edupreneurs and Innovators in Bielefeld, championed by the State of Northrhine-Westphalia, on the 12^th of September, next month.

Not confined to just events and initiatives, Julia plays a pivotal role as a founding member of the European EdTech Alliance, amplifying Germany's startup landscape on the global stage. Her journey, starting from an unexpected background in sociology and gender studies, has paved a remarkable path.

This week, Machinelab speaks with the young CEO about all things Edtech in Europe and more…

As the coordinator for the biggest Edtech startup community in Germany, what do you consider the most impactful contributions your organization has made to the national Edtech landscape?

Oh, that's a tough question! I think it's important that we try to give the startups a lot of visibility. Even if you can't reap all the fruits of this labour right away, because sometimes it takes longer, or something doesn't work out the way we wanted or imagined. But all in all, I think that we are constantly putting Edtech and startups on the agenda in many areas of the education sector and that we should not be undercut by the larger players in the market.

Could you elaborate on the various ways EDUvation supports Edtech startups, from events to business consulting and investments?

Absolutely. We work on many different levels. We started with business consulting and sharing our own experiences. We support startups, but also larger companies from Germany and abroad that want to or need to understand the German education market.

Events are another important part of our work. In addition to the Edtech Next Summit, our own major conference, we also organise Startup Areas at almost every German education event. Startups are represented by us everywhere. We are also out and about in the investment sector. We help both startups and investors find the right partners and often write expert reports. We also offer a subscription model where startups can get a range of services for a fixed annual price. These include help with public tenders, business angel dinners and discounts on consultancy and events.

The Edtech Next Summit sounds like a significant event. What motivated the creation of this summit, and what outcomes do you hope to achieve through it?

We gave a lot of thought to the concept after the Summit was commissioned and quickly came to the conclusion that our events hould not be a trade show. There are so many good trade shows out there that there was no need for another one.

Instead, we wanted to create an impact for the startups that was not (only) based on sales, but on networking, finding investors, understanding the market better, learning what makes a successful entrepreneur in the education sector - moving forward ourselves.‍

Given your involvement with the European EdTech Alliance, could you describe how this alliance helps facilitate collaboration and growth within the Edtech startup ecosystem at a pan-European level?

The European EdTech Alliance (EEA) has definitely beenone of our biggest achievements in recent years. The EEA allows Edtech providers to have a voice at a European level. We do a lot of policy work and participate in tenders to make a difference in the whole Edtech ecosystem. An added benefit, of course, is getting to know all the European partners and interacting closely - seeing what works better in other countries, where we can improve and share best practices.

What trends or innovations do you see shaping the future of Edtech, and how is EDUvation positioning itself to stay at the forefront of these developments?

Right now, of course, one topic is at the top of the list: how AI will change education. And I personally believe it will. We at EDUvation are officially keeping a low profile, but at this year's Summit there will be lots of super exciting sessions with real experts. Personally, I think AI can do a lot for personalised and individualised learning, and in the best case scenario, take some of the pressure off teachers.‍

With your experience, what advice would you give to aspiring Edupreneurs looking to launch their own Edtech startups?

My tip is always: check your business model with someone who knows the market. Far too often, I meet founders who get their knowledge of the market from their own school days or from their aunt who is a teacher. Going to school does not make you an expert on an education system, and too often we see good ideas fail because of this.

Can you share a memorable success story of an Edtech startup that EDUvation has supported, and how they've made a significant impact in the education space?

Oh yes, quite a few! I would say that we have supported almost all of the startups that are now occupying a larger space in the German Edtech sector to some extent. Some more intensively and some only one or two times in a Startup Area.

As a representative of the German Edtech startup scene on an international level, how do you see the German ecosystem differing from other European ecosystems, and what unique strengths does it bring to the table?

We spend a lot of time looking at the nooks and crannies where there is still room for improvement. But the German Edtech ecosystem also has many great sides. Everyone is very helpful and people work closely together - after all, we share a great vision.

Maybe it's even a bit of a glue that holds us together when there are so many structural hurdles - but we're also increasingly seeing the development of a pan-European ecosystem...and that's a good thing.

What's your one guiding principle in both life and work?

I don't think I have one. For me, impact is important, I want to feel that I am working on something big and pursuing goals that seem meaningful and good to me. That makes work more enjoyable and easier!

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Photos courtesy of: EDUvation