Like every year, 120 participants from the network of German-speaking research centres and institutes for family businesses discussed current research topics and practical issues relating to family businesses and their entrepreneurial families over two days in February. The only unusual aspect was the way it was held: due to the ongoing Corona pandemic, the conference could not be held on site in Hamburg as planned, but took place online for the first time in 10 years. But the concept worked well: the exchange was intensive, the mood relaxed and the atmosphere familiar and friendly.