New beach volleyball facilities at the ZHS:

Tanja Koch serves

TUMstudinews: How long have you been playing volleyball for?

Tanja Koch: For ten years. The last two years, I played in the “zweite Bundesliga”. Our team was promoted three times in a row – which was quite a challenge, considering the management aspect alone. Unfortunately, we were relegated back to the third league last year. Now, of course, we are especially ambitious.

Are you taking part in the “Hochschulmeisterschaften” for the first time this year?

No, I took part in Bayreuth last year – and in Kiel, but that was quite a while ago. It’s always a lot of fun, simply because it’s a cool event with lots of young people. Apart from that, I like the fact that it’s possible to play much more freely, because the opponents don’t know your strengths and weaknesses so well. I am looking forward to see what it will be like at TUM this time.

You’re in a team with Nadine Raß. How long have you known each other now?

I got to know Naddl eight years ago. Usually, we play indoor volleyball, not beach volleyball, but we are both very happy to be able to play together once more in the end.

Why “in the end”? Are you quitting?

I’ll be going to Stanford for six months, as of September, to write my Master’s thesis.

Do you already have a topic?

Yes, it’s about “Entrepreneurial Education for Disruptive Technologies”. In my start-up PrismAR, everything is about the disruptive technology “Augmented Reality”, and our field of business is technology consulting. Stanford and the surrounding area in Silicon Valley is probably the best place in the world to really get to the bottom of this topic.

Wow, you already have your own start-up?

Yes, I always wanted to start my own business, preferably in the biotech sector. That’s why the Master’s course of Management was the ideal complement to my Bachelor’s studies, which were mainly about biochemistry.

Do you have enough time for volleyball in addition to your studies and your own business?

Yes. In the summer, we usually train a little less than in winter anyway.

Are you planning to continue with volleyball when you are back?

Yes, I guess I’ll stay on forever – depending, of course, on how my start-up will develop – but, ideally, I’m hoping to be able to manage it all. Volleyball is just a great sport with really great people.

Do you have specific ambitions for the University Championships?

Well, to be as successful as possible, naturally, but the main goal is to have fun. We’re also looking forward to challenging ourselves again, and we want to represent TUM as well as we can.

What do you think of the new facilities?

Unfortunately, I haven’t been there myself yet, but I’ve heard that they are pretty good – so we are really looking forward to the 10th of July.

What are your personal plans for the future?

In any case, I want to be an entrepreneur and continue to pursue that goal. That’s something I discovered in connection with my start-up.

(Interview: Verena Pongratz)

Tanja Koch (24) is from Bamberg. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science at TUM. Tanja has been playing for the “Geilster Club der Welt” since 2011: Tanja at "Der geilste Club der Welt"