Matthias, tell us your startup story.
It all began in Naples. Ten years ago. I met my wife and my co-founder Silyan there almost at the same time. I quickly realized that he is a special technician who loves out-of-the-box thinking. I knew immediately that I wanted to start something with him. Since then, we have been going to Bulgaria on the Black Sea almost every summer.
In 2021, I was ready for something new professionally and wanted to realize my long-held desire to start my own business. It was then that Silyan told me about the Green Deal and the role of new technologies, Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR). I was immediately hooked and had the feeling: yes, this is it. And we've been on the right track ever since.
What impact does your product have in terms of sustainability and for whom?
We strive to have the greatest possible positive impact on the environment. That is what drives us. We want to stop the climate crisis. To do this, we develop environmental projects that remove atmospheric CO2 and store it for the long term. Companies from all over Europe pay us for these projects in a traditional B2B business model. The more the regulations of the Green Deal are implemented, the more important the role of our projects becomes.
Why is sustainability so important to you?
I love nature and its diversity and it makes me sad to see how much has changed in my short life. I don't want to stand idly by and accept that we are destroying the diverse habitats and making them unlivable through our actions and consumption. I want to preserve this beautiful planet for as long as possible and protect the home of all living creatures. I cannot accept that the beauty of our planet continues to be destroyed.
What does the everyday life of a startup founder look like?
I don't want to paint a false and misleading picture. Very varied, spontaneous and creative, of course. Calls, team meetings, customer meetings, website updates, social media, financial planning. A little bit of everything. BUT, and I would like to emphasize this, discipline is the most important thing in my view. Everything happens out of self-motivation and, as a founder, this must be extremely strong. So strong that even the less sexy tasks are tackled in daily business. As a founder, I have to leave my comfort zone, learn new skills and just do it.
What tips can you give the start-up talents of tomorrow?
- Venture into new fields of work and technologies. There is an incredible amount of support and interest for innovation in AI, GreenTech and MedTech.
- Use your school years and 20s, when you have even less responsibility, and be brave. Just get started.
- No employee is as motivated and cost-effective as a founder. Build your team broadly, with as many different skills and characters as possible.
- Founding is like a long journey. There are many ups and downs. The important thing is to keep going and not get discouraged. It's incredible what doors open that you didn't even know existed.
(c) Photo: Carbony
