In uncertain times, Germany’s Mittelstand is under pressure. Skills shortages, digital transformation, geopolitical uncertainty – many companies are asking: What now? Tobias Rappers, founder of Maschinenraum, has a clear answer: Collaboration is key.
In the Unruhige Zeiten podcast, TTE Strategy’s Lars Linnekogel speaks with Tobias Rappers about the challenges facing family businesses – and about Maschinenraum as a transformation platform for over 70 companies and 450,000+ employees.
“Many companies face the same issues – so why not learn from each other?” Rappers asks. His vision: peer-to-peer exchange, co-creation, and openly sharing best practices – even among competitors. It sounds risky. But it works.
Maschinenraum is more than a think tank. It’s a safe space where Mittelstand leaders test ideas, exchange innovations, and develop concrete solutions. From AI in manufacturing to overcoming internal resistance – this is collaboration that creates results.
“Our members don’t have an insight problem – they have an execution problem,” Rappers notes. That’s where Maschinenraum makes a difference, offering structured formats, active engagement, and a bold mindset shift.
The key takeaway: Transformation doesn’t happen alone. Family businesses that open up, take action, and include others in their thinking can reposition themselves – strategically, culturally, and economically.
TTE Strategy shares this belief. We know that co-created transformations are more sustainable because they’re owned by the people inside the company. And that’s exactly what’s needed now: progress built on shared momentum.
TTE Strategy