I just moved back to Berlin after two years in Southern Spain.

As a Russian-born founder, here’s what I learned about where (and how) I can actually build…

Professionalism Takes Different Forms

🇩🇪 Berlin incubator: program was scheduled months in advance , smooth digital application, structured program you can plan your work around. German efficiency at its best.

🇪🇸 Málaga incubator ran on WhatsApp voice notes, application over lunches, and schedules that landed a week prior to the start. Super human and relationship-first. My Spanish friends were in their element – for me, the lack of advance notice made planning tough with two full workdays a week expected.

Neither is better. Berlin’s precision gives you certainty. Málaga’s flexibility gives you humanity. You just need to know which system fits your season of life.

Politics and Perspective

🇩🇪 Berlin is deeply engaged with world events – Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine, the energy crisis. It’s constant, it’s intense, and it can be exhausting. As someone who came from Novosibirsk years ago, I sometimes felt pressure to “prove” I belonged, that I shared the values.

🇪🇸 Málaga is different. When you mention you’re Russian, people express genuine sympathy about the situation – never judgment. The media pressure is lighter, the “we’re all doomed” energy less present.

Berlin’s political consciousness pushes important conversations forward. Málaga’s approach protected my mental space when I needed it most. Both matter.

The Depth of Conversation

🇩🇪 Berlin loves big topics: European sovereignty, democracy, quantum computing, inclusivity. These conversations are everywhere – coffee breaks, lunch, evening meetups.

Málaga keeps it lighter. Sometimes Berlin’s intensity adds to an already significant mental load. Sometimes that depth is what pushes your thinking forward.

Coming Home

🇪🇸 Málaga gave me an incredible foundation – a community (huge shoutout to Dan Marques and Ivan Suhinin), life-changing connections, events that shaped my development. It’s forever on my map to come back to.

🇩🇪 Berlin gives me something else: proper chilly winter, old friends, encounters with people from years past. The intellectual intensity and density that challenges me.