# When You Are the Sole Attendee but Stay Committed
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The Unexpected Start
Picture this: you enroll in a startup incubator alongside thirty others, yet on your first day, you find yourself alone. It may seem unusual, but many experiences in a founder’s journey can be quite strange.
Let’s rewind to where it all began. I began my career as an innovation manager at a conventional corporation, acting as a bridge between the company and startups in Berlin. My familiarity with the Berlin startup ecosystem and understanding of corporate operations allowed me to facilitate interactions between startup enthusiasts and corporate stakeholders.
At that time, the primary focus for corporations was clear: they needed to embrace digitization and innovation, and startups were seen as the key to achieving that. The question on everyone’s mind was, "How can we partner with them?"
This was a golden era for corporate innovation managers in Berlin, and amidst the excitement, I received an incredible opportunity: to work for a corporate incubator that promised to help me transition into a founder within mere months. The offer was compelling, allowing me to shift from the corporate innovation realm to the startup landscape.
Everything was prepared, contracts signed, and I was eager to begin. I knew most of my peers would start a month earlier on September 1st, as I was still tied to another job, leading to my start date of October 1st. It seemed manageable.
Or so I thought.
When I arrived on my first day, I was the sole attendee. Initially, I wasn't too concerned. It was Monday, and with the German reunification holiday looming, many opted for an extended weekend. I interpreted the puzzled expressions from HR as a result of my presence on a day when most were celebrating a long weekend, or perhaps the corporate machine was just moving slowly and hadn’t yet registered that I was a new hire. By the end of that day, I felt prepared to dive in on Wednesday.
The Clash of Worlds
Wednesday arrived, and it was the moment when the corporate world collided with the startup environment. A significant announcement was made: a "strategic change." In corporate jargon, this typically signals layoffs. That day, the incubator faced just that—the program was canceled. Everyone received the notification, sent out automatically.
Except for me.
The memo had been dispatched to everyone on September 30th. Since I hadn’t yet started, I lacked an official email address and slipped through the cracks of the corporate structure. Suddenly, the confused looks from HR on Monday started to make sense.
It’s hard to envision such a scenario occurring in a startup. With only a small team, it’s unlikely that anyone would forget about a fellow team member (at least, that’s what I hope!).
A Silver Lining
Fortunately, despite being essentially laid off, my employer graciously offered a three-month grace period for us to develop our startup ideas. If any idea proved viable, we would still be eligible for funding at the conclusion of the period.
This time frame felt like a race; with the finish line approaching swiftly, the rules were few and far between. The reward: those with a compelling idea would attract the attention of the investment committee and secure funding.
For me, this experience culminated positively. After the initial shock wore off, I concentrated my efforts on one idea, assembled a team, and swiftly created a compelling business concept that ultimately secured funding and support from the committee. Three years later, that company continues to thrive. Looking back, the time pressure to identify a viable business idea turned out to be a hidden blessing.
Though it began chaotically, this chapter had a successful conclusion—something I’ve discovered is often the case in the life of a founder.
Jakob Muus is the creator of Tracks, a Berlin-based company dedicated to enhancing transparency and efficiency in the logistics sector. He has successfully launched two companies before Tracks and consistently seeks innovative ways to leverage technology for a sustainable future.