StartUs Presents: nativy

Describe nativy in 50 or less words.

With nativy I want to change the translation market and eliminate all barriers between the client and the translator with software. First we started as a platform with direct contact between the client and translator and now every translator can create his or her own platform.

Why did you decide to pursue your own dreams rather than someone else’s?

I studied international business and languages, worked and studied in several countries and worked in a multinational for five years. They told me that I have to cancel my trip to Australia and will get the position of a director, responsible for three countries. Back from Australia they fired me. And now I’m free.

In 7 years from now: How did your startup change the world?

Freelance translators will have all the tools to directly work with clients and focus on translations. Barriers like closed CMS, SAP, limited availability, being on vacation, many language combinations at once, support by machine translation, online payment, creditors records etc. – all solved by software.

In what ways do you measure your success and how do you make sure you don’t lose track?

3 questions I have to answer for myself:

• Do I have enough time for my girlfriend, family and friends?
• Do I get up in the morning and take my time to drink a coffee on the balcony?
• Do I leave the office when my girlfriend calls me and asks me to spend some time with her?

Describe your typical working day from coming to the office to leaving it.

I started to work on nativy in January 2010. Each year was different, each month is different. Each day is different. I try to get s*it done and have a clear focus on my deadlines. I don’t waste my evenings on work events.

Already pivoted? Did customers use the translation services like you imagined it in the beginning?

Not really. Our first idea was that each translator should run his own translation agency and interact with all the other translators. We had so split our projects into steps due to a requirement of a public grant organization. So we created 6 fundamental steps. The first one was to become a translation agency ourselves and to start gathering a community of translators. The 2nd to get integrated into other software systems like software for hotels or real estate managers. My own agency starts now, every translator can be hired on his own webpage within 5 seconds.

Bootstrapped or financed: What fuels your startup now and what will in the future?

Public funding and a first investor. I keep the costs very low and our revenue is growing.

With ferocious competition and a booming trend to build new companies: How do you make sure you don’t get lost in the shuffle?

It’s a 37 Billion USD market. The biggest 100 companies in the world together have less than 15% of the world market. I compete with 20.000 translation agencies and 200.000 freelancers.

What do you look for in team members?

I don’t like people promising a lot or always having an excuse for not getting the work done and prefer the silent and smart people, that actually get things done.

Why would a talent join your team?

I can push talents to achieve things they themselves did not expect. Also we offer a good work climate and focus on the job.

What was your most memorable moment so far?

In October 2010 I had my first employee, I created a job for someone else, helping me with my business idea, that’s what stuck to my mind.

What advice would you give fellow founders for their startup?

Don’t run too fast, you don’t know the distance. Be proud of your startup but it’s just work and not your life.

Have something else you want to tell? 

In these 6 years I saw many people and have to thank them all for their support, longer or shorter.

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