The Delta Blog
Insights, stories, and updates from Europe's leading startup ecosystem
Oliver Merkel on the Cloud Bill That Became Blocks
Most founders would take a long break after Flink. Oliver Merkel launched his next company almost immediately. At the 10th edition of Gründerszene x The Delta, he shared his rules for angel investing, fundraising, and hiring, the unicorn he regrets missing, and how a cloud bill nobody could explain became Blocks, now at a €10 million run rate after five months. It's a playbook for founders who want to build on fundamentals, not hype.
Why Premium Matters: The Shift Toward High-Quality Event Environments in Berlin’s Startup Scene
For a long time, startup events in Berlin followed a simple logic: keep costs low, maximise attendance, focus on content. Space was an afterthought. That logic no longer holds. Founders are more selective about where they spend their time, and the bar has shifted. Premium no longer means luxury. It means intention, quality, and respect for people's attention.
Why Your Office Is Now Part of Your Employer Brand Especially in Early-Stage Startups
In 2026, your office is part of your employer brand, whether you plan it that way or not. Talent isn't just evaluating salary or mission, they're reading the space itself: is this a team built for focus, or one running on chaos? Candidates use the physical environment as a proxy for what's usually hardest to see in an interview, decision-making, maturity, care for the people doing the work. At The Delta Campus, we see it firsthand: founders who invest in environments that support their people recruit faster and hold onto talent longer. Your space isn't just where work happens, it's proof of the company you're building.
Oliver Merkel on Building Flink Into a Unicorn in Seven Months
Oliver Merkel spent years preparing decisions for CEOs before realising he wanted to make them himself. At the 10th edition of Gründerszene x The Delta, the Flink co-founder walked us through becoming a co-founder of Flaconi by accident, the three conditions he set before launching Flink, doing the deliveries himself, and the investor who pulled out a week before Christmas. It's a founder story about building on fundamentals while the rest of the market chased the money.
Tips before joining our Studio Open Day
Before applying to The Delta Studio Open Day: read our investment thesis first. Skip the AI-polished copy, say what you're building in one clear sentence. Show us customer validations, not just a prototype, and know your real market size and competitors. Capital doesn't make you an executor, the founders who get a good reply are the ones who've spent their energy talking to clients, not refining words.
Amenities That Actually Matter in 2026: What High-Performing Teams Expect From Their Workspace
In 2026, the best office amenities aren't about impressing people, they're about creating conditions that make great work easier. Amenities matter, but not because they impress people. They matter because they shape energy, behaviour, and decision making. From natural light and acoustics to breakout spaces, wellness zones, and the basics that shape belonging, workspaces are shifting toward a hospitality-inspired mindset built on care rather than corporate tradition. At The Delta Campus, we see this shift clearly: the best environments protect energy, make conversations easy, and make being together feel worth it.
Community-Centric Events: How to Build Gatherings That Spark Conversation, Connection, and Collaboration
Most events are built around content. Community-centric events are built around what happens between the formal moments. The conversations in the corners. The unexpected introductions. The feeling that you are not just attending, but belonging. In a city like Berlin, where people are busy and selective with their time, these are the gatherings that truly stand out.
From Fireside Chats to Demo Days: How to Choose the Perfect Venue for Any Type of Startup Event
The space you pick does more than host people. It shapes how they listen, move, interact, and remember the experience. For startup events, where attention is limited and expectations are high, matching the right format to the right environment can be the difference between an event people talk about and one they quietly forget.
The Case for Attuned: Rebalancing the Global Nervous System
We've launched Attuned. A new company from Rebecca Godfrey, Thomas Hübl and The Delta, built to scale co-regulation - human nervous systems supporting each other.