Minimalist, modern, bold: Two female founders and their café

With enthusiasm, determination, and a clear concept, Christin Wemmel and Madleen Asaturoglu took the plunge into self-employment. They found financial support from Sparkasse Bielefeld and the NRW Guarantee Bank.

This article is part of the special feature GründerNavi – for founders and young companies

The aroma of coffee, lively chatter, and the gentle clinking of cups and spoons fill the high, bright room. Despite the gray and rainy spring day, almost all 40 seats at " Venue " are occupied. Before settling down for the interview with a slice of gluten-free cake, Christin Wemmel quickly clears a few cups from the next table and, as she passes by the window, asks the guests if everything is alright. The co-owner of Café Venue on Bielefeld's Klosterplatz is working the afternoon shift today. Together with Madleen Asaturoglu, the young entrepreneur opened the café in the spring of 2024 , and with its unique offerings and special atmosphere, it quickly became a—now not so secret—"insider tip."

" The aesthetics of the café were a big part of our concept from the very beginning ," explains Wemmel. "Our vision was to create a place in Bielefeld where people could meet friends, work, and simply feel comfortable."

From mood board to menu

The two founders invested a great deal of energy and research into developing their menu. The homemade cakes and sourdough breads topped with avocado or grilled cheese look at least as good in the café as they do in the enthusiastic Instagram posts of the "Venue's" nearly 9.000 followers. " We developed all the recipes for our dishes ourselves, including those for cakes, breads, and smoothies, " explains Wemmel. After completing her business studies and a master's degree in sustainability, the Bielefeld resident initially worked for a Berlin-based startup in the field of holistic nutrition. During a visit home, she met Asaturoglu, now 28, who had studied media communication and already had experience in the food service industry as a barista. They became friends and discovered that they both dreamed of being their own bosses. " That's how the idea for an urban breakfast and lunch café with a healthy food concept was born ," Wemmel reports.

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"With a focus on healthy eating, we've put together a menu of sugar-free, some vegan and gluten-free products that we can stand behind 100 percent," says Wemmel. "That's why we also completely avoid convenience foods and highly processed foods." The owners replace refined sugar with dates.

Lucky find: Real estate

Photo: © Sarah Jonek

The founders discovered the premises on Klosterplatz by chance during a spring stroll. "We saw how beautifully the sun shone through the windows into the shop and knew immediately: This is it!" recalls Wemmel. Coincidence or fate – the former heating business was available for rent . "We called the very next day and applied." When the landlord's acceptance came through, they were overjoyed.

Support through start-up consulting

The young women received tips and support for starting their business primarily from the Bielefeld Savings Bank 's Business Start-up Center . "Our consultant, Tanja Siepke, immediately made us feel taken seriously and supported," reports Wemmel. "As relative newcomers to the restaurant industry, we didn't have to pretend to be someone we weren't."

No special experience or prior knowledge is needed to take advantage of the consultation, confirms Siepke. "But you should come to us with more than just an idea." Just like the two café founders, who were very well prepared.

Guarantee bank as a partner

The innovative and sophisticated concept, new to Bielefeld, along with the promising location in the heart of the old town, proved convincing. This ultimately secured the trust of the guarantee bank, even though the founders had no equity capital. "That's not usually the case," says Siepke. In this instance, the landlord also covered a portion of the substantial renovation costs, effectively becoming an additional investor. "Only with this arrangement were we able to finance the startup in a challenging industry like the restaurant business," explains the financial expert.

Photo: © Guarantee Bank NRW

"The Café Venue shows that Good business ideas can be successfully implemented even in a challenging industry."when strategy, commitment and financing partners match."
Monika Westenberger, 
Corporate client advisor at Guarantee Bank NRW

Success thanks to a defined target group

Two years after opening, the young founders' success proves them right: "We now have many regular customers of all ages , so I often feel like I'm part of a big family here," says Wemmel. Things are running smoothly now, but the daily routine still demands energy. In the medium term, the two founders want to withdraw somewhat from day-to-day operations and delegate responsibilities. Hiring a service manager and a kitchen manager is on the agenda. "Despite all the stress, I enjoy having our own business here every day and no longer having any superiors," Christin Wemmel concludes. And with that, the conversation is over. She reaches for the empty cake plate and disappears behind the counter again – back to work.

Checklist: How a guarantee works:

Applicants should know:

✔️ Any founder, entrepreneur, or freelancer can apply for a default guarantee. It must be a small or medium-sized business.

✔️ You need appropriate personal, commercial and professional qualifications for your field of activity.

✔️ A business plan with an economic forecast is required, demonstrating that the business operations can generate enough revenue to cover debt service and provide a reasonable living wage.

✔️ Applications are usually processed through the bank. However, guarantees can also be applied for directly with the guarantee bank.

✔️ The maximum guarantee amount is 2 million euros.

✔️ Guarantees are available for almost any undertaking or project, provided the prospects are sound. Excluded are restructuring measures, debt reorganizations, and measures that are not eligible for state aid under EU competition rules.

✔️ If additional equity capital is required, the guarantee bank recommends the involvement of KBG NRW.

Further information on funding programs offered by the guarantee bank can be found at:
nrw.ermoeglicher.de

Conclusion

Financing: Before the project is founded, the financial requirements must be determined.

Strong partners: If the concept is right, the house bank and the guarantee bank work hand in hand.

Preparation: Thorough preparation increases the chances of being granted a guarantee. 

Business plan: With a business plan, the founder proves the profitability of the company.

Risk minimization: The guarantee minimizes the borrower's personal risk.

Improved conditions: Involving the guarantee bank is often associated with improved credit conditions.

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