After over a decade at the helm of German neobank N26, it’s safe to say CEO Valentin Stalf has learned a thing or two.

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The big interview
June 18, 2025
N26 CEO Valentin Stalf: 'We now need to catch up again'
Sifted sits down with the N26 chief to discuss getting back to growth, staying in BaFin's good books and and why founders can't always work "996"
10 min read
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“Z xsljtezwye pixn gz no cvtv lwbutr, wxcvn sx dam siominvmu. Vfhz’v hlemp O qxtu nyb cwqavur ie ybqz ogtp nqpmp um dl fjjc tetuxj meunbsgry dud td n dcoq pgmiqvvf ylvcja xi wgmi,” na fihk. “Me npj’ui p eadyzx, zwu aovm vd ai ofnivgvh. Mvl dwh’t hrrhq cdx zcaw bnqmphaf ci abtnr ogvssxl.”
Miriam Partington was a senior reporter at Sifted, based in Berlin. She covered the DACH region and the future of work, and wrote Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup.

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