What is Handpicked?

Handpicked is here to empower, inspire and connect Berlin’s professionals. I read and check thousands of sources each week so you don’t have to.

That happens through two weekly newsletters, this website and social media. Handpicked Berlin covers the city on Mondays — news, culture and the people in it. Handpicked Careers covers work on Thursdays — jobs, hiring and companies, in Berlin and across Germany.

Handpicked is currently actively run on these channels:

The gorgeous Handpicked Berlin logo was designed by Dejan Ulcej. I made the website myself.

I’d love you to check out the newsletters and articles we’ve published. You can also read about what our readers and partners say.

The two newsletters

Hi, I’m Igor, the person behind Handpicked Berlin. Thank you for sharing your inbox with me! I send you two focused editions each week — all handpicked to inspire your day.

I started this newsletter in May 2022 as a passion project, and it’s grown into something I’m really proud of. It’s still me doing all the digging, curating, and writing each week.

Handpicked Berlin — every Monday

Your weekly Berlin briefing. Each Monday edition includes:

  • Berlin — the week’s most important developments and recommendations
  • In brief — quick Berlin headlines and news worth knowing
  • Coffee Talk — a guest shares three recommendations
  • Worth your time — reads, resources and discoveries beyond the news
  • Meanwhile — a meme along with social media links that resonated

Handpicked Careers — every Thursday

The career newsletter for people building a career in Germany. Each Thursday edition includes:

  • Handpicked jobs — curated roles in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and remote
  • Community board — reader asks, offers and projects, plus what you said in the poll
  • Funded in Germany — startups that just raised, with careers page links
  • Signals — hiring, layoffs and the company news that affects your job
  • Events — tech, community and social events across Berlin, Munich and Hamburg
  • Career compass — practical advice on getting hired, skills, AI at work and pay

Beyond the newsletters, I also run this website about Berlin life and careers in Germany. My Salary Trends Survey has become particularly popular among professionals here, and I’m always looking for new ways to create useful content.

You can explore previous editions in the Monday archive and the Thursday archive.

Why we split into two editions

Until February 2026, Handpicked Berlin was one large weekly newsletter with 75+ links and a 20+ minute read time. Reader feedback told us it was great content but a lot to digest in one sitting. In March 2026, we split into two shorter, focused editions: news on Monday, careers on Thursday. Each one is now around a 5 minute read — easier to fit into your day, and each edition can now develop further.

How can I advertise?

Check our partner hub.

You can also promote a job.

Handpicked Berlin in Media

Who started Handpicked Berlin?

I’m Igor, and I live and work in Berlin. Since 2022, I’ve been running Handpicked Berlin, a newsletter that grew from a desire to contribute something meaningful into a widely-read source for Berlin’s tech community. I read and check thousands of sources weekly to expertly curate insights and essential updates on Berlin’s tech and startup ecosystem, career opportunities, and salary trends. One of the projects I am most proud of is the Berlin Salary Trends survey.

I primarily run the newsletters and all social channels myself, with occasional help. You can connect with me on LinkedIn (profile photo by Jonathan Kappler).

One of my current hobby projects is Insider’s Dinner Club.

My other hobby projects are currently paused, but:

Contact me here. Thanks for reading and subscribing.

You're our favourite kind of reader.

The kind who scrolls past the headline into the actual content. Our two weekly newsletters are written for exactly that audience: Monday for Berlin news, culture and city life, Thursday for jobs, hiring and careers across Germany.

Read by 13,067+ Berliners · Twice a week · ~5 min each