On 14 and 15 October 2025, we carried out the mentoring sessions for Groups 3 and 4 in the clubhouse of the Adolzfurt Men’s Choir in Bretzfeld. Similar to the Göttingen group, the three mentoring phases were combined into one session per group to match participants’ availability. The atmosphere in both groups was highly collaborative, with participants drawing on their regional experience and long-standing community connections.
Many participants were new to structured entrepreneurial reflection, so we adapted the pace and guidance accordingly. Group-based support proved especially effective, helping everyone to shape initial idea directions in areas such as local food initiatives, community-oriented services or simple upcycling approaches. Discussions also revealed that sustainability is a priority for many residents in rural communities, even if the terminology is sometimes new.
The sessions concluded with participants identifying small but concrete steps to explore their ideas further, including speaking with local farmers, seeking additional knowledge and considering skills they may wish to strengthen. We appreciate the openness and commitment shown across both groups.