Succession is often overlooked as a form of start-up. However, taking over an existing company can be an innovative entrepreneurial project - regardless of whether it involves taking over a start-up or a family business.

At this year's WES Summit, five female entrepreneurs will therefore present their very personal paths to succession and show how diverse this career option can be. The stories range from taking over a school to a flower shop to standards management. The programme will be complemented by a keynote speech that will provide an understandable introduction to the topic of business succession and highlight the opportunities that can arise from it.

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One summit, many opportunities: Experiences from the past year

Dr Iris Kunadt is someone who knows how worthwhile a visit to the Summit is. She attended last year with the expectation of making new contacts, meeting exciting people and gaining new inspiration. What came out of it went beyond her expectations, changed her own perspective and thus also her role.

Dr Iris Kunadt has been involved with entrepreneurship for many years. She specialises in entrepreneurship ecosystems and the strategic development and design of networks. She herself comes from a scientific background. She brings this expertise to her own start-up projects as well as to the support of founders, especially in the development and strengthening of strategic networks.

She usually opens up new perspectives for others. At the WES Summit, she was able to gain new impetus and an unexpected perspective herself. The discussions with investors and experts from the WES network, which ultimately led her to the encourageventures e. V. investor network, were particularly formative for her. "The Capital Connect workshop at the Summit really triggered a change of perspective for me. Before, I wouldn't have seen myself in the role of an investor. Afterwards, I started to look more closely at the topic. encourageventures e. V. also offers a great programme for newcomers."

Special atmosphere

For Iris Kunadt, this experience shows the value that networks can have for women. Events such as the Women Entreprenuers in Science - WES for short (see info box) - create opportunities for exchange, inspiration and new perspectives. "At the WES Summit, you experience a special, informal atmosphere. It's very easy to get into dialogue with others and meet fantastic experts at the same time. This can accelerate developments enormously."

The aim is not to collect as many contacts as possible, but to look specifically for impulses and perspectives. "It's worth considering before an event which contacts or impulses could be helpful for the next development step. If you know your goal, you can utilise the opportunities of a network much more consciously," says Iris Kunadt.

She recommends that women in particular actively utilise the opportunities offered by such events. New contacts are often not the immediate goal, but a way to advance career plans: Iris Kunadt: "Many people go to a networking event and hope to go straight home with a concrete result. Networking helps above all to get to know the right people who can support you on your own path."

The choice of this year's focus topic of company succession is particularly fitting for Iris Kunadt: "Succession affects us enormously as a society. It is important that successful companies have a future. That's why I think it's great that the WES Summit is focussing on this topic."

Anyone who would like to make new contacts, meet inspiring women or experience a change of perspective for their own career path is cordially invited to the WES Summit 2026. "Sometimes an idea arises from a single conversation that you didn't even have on your radar before," say the organisers. Like Dr Iris Kunadt's idea to eventually become an investor herself.