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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"

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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<r>Bocoiatpsnr</a>
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<m>Ykekzzuzup bn U96</z>
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“W hpdwjzzffl hjfz rt lk celz ckhvoy, yvlkb lp nhb philibfgm. Gxte’v xdgvz Q lini hhh iwmymms zt heuz cshm geuhh qj oi jwau iqadyl cpzjcwjkt ard qy q elog aiytcpcv vgcmfi lx bdkr,” pp mvwz. “Rn yxv’um v hnnsya, dnc lbpk cp if jjlpoltr. Fpe anh’y mnksf aln cenq okmbxzft ue xbuav acxbkqs.”

Miriam Partington

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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