Your biggest advantage in the next 12 months won’t be your product — it will be your Mindstate.
We help startups and their founders not only build structure and secure funding — but develop the Future-Ready Mindstate that defines lasting success: curiosity, radical optimism, experimentation, and openness.
The Challenge
Over 65% of startups fail — not because of bad timing, lack of capital, or weak products, but because of people problems: unresolved conflict, slow decisions, or a loss of trust under pressure.
When the pressure rises, founders face critical questions:
Can we stay curious when things get tough?
Can we speak openly, even when it’s uncomfortable?
Can we hold on to optimism after a setback?
These are the moments that decide whether a startup reaches its next milestone — or gets stuck in chaos.
That’s exactly where Zukunftsgeist begins.
Our Approach – The Zukunftsgeist Program
The Zukunftsgeist Training equips founders and startup teams with a Future-Ready Mindstate — a co-active learning experience that blends science, creativity, and reflection.
Together, we activate the four essential future qualities:
Radical Optimism — seeing possibility in uncertainty
Curiosity — asking bold questions and staying open
Experimentation — testing, learning, adapting fast
Openness — leading with empathy and collaboration
Startups already have energy, vision, and ideas.
We help you build the inner foundation to make all of that last.
Why Frederik
Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt was Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist for over 12 years.
He has coached founders through Google for Startups, supported 50 outlier startups in the Sequoia ARC program,
and helped organizations like Mercedes-Benz, Faber-Castell, the UN, and the German Football Association (DFB)
create cultures where people and ideas grow beyond expectations.
Frederik’s work has inspired over 500 founders globally — helping them not just build companies, but shape futures.
“Frederik combines Swabian pragmatism with Silicon Valley optimism.”
– Rafael Laguna, SPRIND“An electrifying wake-up call for every sleeping innovator.”
– Oliver Bierhoff“Turns dreamers into bold future-makers.”
– Daniel H. Pink
A Message from Frederik – For Founders Shaping the Future
Frederik has worked with hundreds of founders around the world — from early-stage teams to global innovators.
In this short message, he shares what makes working with startups so powerful —
and what it really means to build with a Future-Ready Mindstate.
How We Work with Startups
Every startup is different — but all face uncertainty, fast growth, and constant change.
We help founders and teams build clarity, resilience, and creative energy through tailored formats such as:
Keynote + Interactive Workshop – ignite your team with reflection and real action
Future Rituals for Teams – strengthen connection, trust, and shared purpose
1:1 Future Coaching – personalized sessions to align leadership and vision
Flexible, scalable, and designed for your unique journey as a startup.
Why Now
According to the German Startup Monitor 2025, more than 45% of startups build their products with AI at the core —
but technology alone doesn’t guarantee success.
Founders need the mental flexibility and resilience to navigate constant change,
especially as teams stay lean and pressure grows.
With over 23,000 startups in Germany and competition for talent and attention rising,
the real differentiator is Mindstate, not mechanics.
Outcomes
After Zukunftsgeist Training, founders report:
- More clarity and confidence in decision-making
- Stronger team cohesion and communication
- A renewed sense of purpose and creative energy
It’s not about fixing problems — it’s about shaping futures.
Join the Future-Ready Movement
If you’re building a startup and want to strengthen your team’s Mindstate for what’s ahead
—
let’s connect and create your Future-Ready journey together.