Article by Angelica Sivieri— Let’s set the scene. You just got off your plane at Brandenburg airport and stepped outside: New beginnings. Exciting!
The days that follow are a whirlwind: You’re looking for an apartment, getting your paperwork done, discovering all the cool places. Eventually (usually after you’ve moved into the apartment you fought tooth and nail for in Berlin’s cursed housing market), you take a deep breath: You feel settled.
From Alone To Aligned. The social roadmap For New Solopreneurs In Berlin.
1. Now what?
Not all of us land in Berlin as freelancers: A lot of us moved here thanks to a job we found. However, whether you were already a freelancer to begin with, or it took you a while to build up to this life-decision, the question remains the same: Where do you begin?
Especially if you’ve spent your adult life being employed by someone else, the shift to the solopreneurship mindset can be daunting. Even more so if you’re in a place where:
—You don’t speak the native language.
—You’re not familiar with the bureaucracy (people still send faxes?)
—You’ve moved here on your own: No family, no connections.
If you’ve chosen this path, I’ll take a guess that you actually love the feeling of the open road in front of you, with everything yet to be discovered. That said, the line between enjoying the adventure and feeling completely lost is very thin. So, here’s a few things that will help you find your place and people as a solopreneur in Berlin.
2. Where And How Do I Make Friends?
A lot of content has been written about how hard it is to make friends as adults. The reasons usually given are that grown-ups are busier, much more precious with their time, and often have other people in their care (partners, children), and therefore less time for new entries in the friend circle.
My counter take is that making friends as adults is actually much easier than as kids…. if you know where to look for them. Think about it: When you were a kid, most of your friends were “proximity friends”: They happened to be your classmates or live right down your street. Becoming friends would have been a no-brainer, but how much did you actually have in common with them? Possibly not very much.
As an adult, you get to choose your own friends. As a solopreneur who’s new in town, I would prioritise those places where you get to meet other people who dream of doing more with their lives than working for a company: In other words, fellow freelancers, solopreneurs, founders.
And where do you find these people? At co-working spaces. Most people can work from home, but just because they can, it doesn’t necessarily mean they want to be by themselves all the time. Berlin has over 200 co-working spaces where freelancers go every day to work on their business and exchange ideas with like-minded people, aka: you!
3. Make The Right Connections
Your peers
This goes hand in hand with the previous point. It’s especially key for someone who’s new to independent work, to the scene, or both. Surrounding yourself with people who are on the same boat as you is one of the greatest blessings you can dream of at this stage.
Berlin gets a bad rep as a city where the residents are grumpy (ever heard of the Berliner Schnauze?), but that is not entirely true. In fact, the more you’ll be making connections inside the vast international community, the more you’ll realise that most people are happy to help you out. Some will share their experience with you; some will answer your questions about taxes; some, who are also starting out, might be willing to share their skills with you in exchange for yours.
And let’s not underestimate the emotional importance of having people around you who are on a similar path. If most of your friends and acquaintances work as employees, they will likely not be able to fully sympathise with your freelancing challenges: for starters, they likely never had to come up with an effective book-keeping system for various revenue streams. They never left their 10th networking event that month with a crushing feeling of “Why am I struggling so much to sell my own services?”. But your new solopreneur buddies will.
—Where to find them?
At networking events aimed specifically at freelancers, solopreneurs, and founders. Berlin has so many of these events that you might even need to make a selection of where to go. How do you look for these events? Easy: you can use platforms such as Eventbrite, Luma, and Meetup. Co-working spaces also often host them, so keep an eye out on their socials!
Your potential target
Whether you’ve already done your user research or you’re still refining your offer, being around the people you want to sell your services to is a smart choice. At worst, you’ll identify the weaknesses of your approach and offer, and at best, you might get new clients!
—Where to find them?
Industry-specific events! Here’s how you find them: A lot of industry-specific events, from company parties to workshops, to full-on 2-day events, are often advertised on the platforms we already mentioned: Eventbrite, Luma, and Meetup.
This way is a bit more convoluted, but it can be effective. First, make a list of the companies in the area you’re interested in. Then, go on their LinkedIn page and find out if they have an “Employee Experience Manager” or people in similar roles. If they do, then check out their posts: If they are organising a public event, they will likely be posting about it.
Your mentors
These are people who are further along the path: If your peers can support you, your mentors can help you get to the next level. You will likely run into them at events and co-working spaces and a 5-minute chat will open up your world.
If you’re struggling to find mentors, consider: Maybe a couple of sessions with a coach who’s an expert could help. Of course, these are not free, but especially if you’re starting out and you’re noticing something that’s not working (be it your business strategy, your sales, your branding), it might be worth investing in a professional.
The golden rule is still: Ask around. Do your solopreneur friends have any recommendations? If they don’t: Look for coaches on LinkedIn and see what type of content they post. Does it resonate with you? Also: Most experts and coaches will offer a first, free “Get to know me” call. Use that to ask questions, get a vibe of the person, and understand if it makes sense for you to work with them or not.
4. Don’t Underestimate LinkedIn
If you’re coming from the corporate world, there’s a good chance that the mention of LinkedIn has made your eyes roll all the way back into your skull. Understandable! However, unless your business revolves around another social entirely (e.g.: you’re a TikToker, a Youtuber, etc), LinkedIn is a great (virtual) place to:
a) Make connections.
b) Make yourself and your offer known.
A few tips:
—The search bar and the filters are your friends: Use them to find the right people for you and your business.
—Don’t immediately start cold-messaging people about your service(s). Take the time to get to know them: send them a connection request, like and comment on their posts, let them see what you post.
—Be consistent with your posting, that is: Don’t post once and then never again for months! Find a balance that works for you.
5. Finding Your Footing In Berlin Takes Time, AND People
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my solopreneur journey thus far and from what everyone else I’ve spoken with, is that it’s a journey that feels lighter if you have people around you.
—Coworking spaces and events will give you peers who understand what you’re going through.
—Industry gatherings will put you in the same room as potential clients.
—Mentors and coaches can help you cut months off your learning curve.
—LinkedIn can help you make connections, andalso keep those real-life connections alive long after you’ve left the room.
Yes, Berlin can feel overwhelming at first: The city is huge, there’s a language barrier, and the bureaucracy is no joke. However, it also offers a vibrant, international, endlessly curious community that is ready to welcome you… if you step forward and show up!
Conclusion
If you’re new here, start small: Pick one coworking space, say hi to at least one new person at your next event, send one message to someone you admire on LinkedIn.
From there, momentum builds. Your circle will grow, opportunities will appear, and slowly you’ll start feeling like part of the city’s fabric.
Solopreneurship is an adventure. And in Berlin, it’s an adventure best lived together.
Author: Angelica Sivieri —Angelica brings 7+ years of workshop experience in tech and education, combined with a creative edge from theatre and Tarot. Her sessions mix structure with storytelling, helping teams and individuals cut through overwhelm and leave with clarity, focus, and energy. See her on the Marketplace.
Share this post using: