From start-up pitch and pilot studies to policy roundtable: Michael Strudler's journey since the YSC 2025

When Michael Strudler won the Youth Start-Up Challenge at the SME & Clusters Assembly 2025 in Copenhagen, his green energy company Wendy Windenergy was already gaining momentum. Through the visibility the YSC provided, Michael was invited to a Youth Policy Dialogue roundtable in Nicosia, Cyprus, alongside Commissioner Šefčovič and fellow YSC alumni Pauline Bellec (2023) and Anna Biborka Nagypál (2024).

We caught up with Michael to hear how the experience shaped his thinking.

How have things been going with Wendy Windenergy since the Assembly?

"It's hard to believe how much has happened since Copenhagen! Things have been going really well with Wendy Windenergy. Since the Assembly, we've expanded our pilot projects, are currently working on our series transition, and were able to secure six-figure funding by mid-year."

How did attending the Assembly and taking part in the Youth Start-Up Challenge support your entrepreneurial journey?

"Most notably, it helped us expand our geographic reach. Since the YSC, we've seen a clear uptick in international enquiries – from both potential customers and partners. It really put us on the map beyond our home market."

The invitation to Nicosia itself was a direct consequence of that visibility. As Michael explains: "It came rather spontaneously. I was apparently proposed to the selection committee, partly thanks to my visibility through the YSC. A great example of how these opportunities have a life of their own."

What did the Youth Policy Dialogue in Nicosia mean to you as a young entrepreneur?

"The Youth Policy Dialogue was an extraordinary experience. Being in the room with European policymakers as a young entrepreneur made me realise how important it is for our generation to have a seat at the table when decisions that affect future industries are being made. It reinforced my belief that green energy innovation and trade policy are deeply connected, and that young voices need to be part of shaping that conversation."

If you could offer one piece of advice to a young person in Europe who has a business idea but has not yet taken the first step, what would it be?

"You have nothing to lose – just try it. The lessons you pick up along the way are incredibly valuable and will stay with you for life, regardless of the outcome. That experience is worth more than any amount of preparation."

Michael's journey illustrates how the Youth Start-Up Challenge creates pathways that extend far beyond the competition itself. From a startup pitch in Copenhagen to a policy roundtable with a European Commissioner in Nicosia, the journey shows what happens when young entrepreneurs are given visibility, credibility and access to the networks shaping Europe's economic future.

The Youth Start-Up Challenge will return in 2026. Stay tuned on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) or subscribe to our newsletter for the announcement. 👀