Founder of Kopply

In 2018, my co-founder Björn and I started our journey to revolutionize the way professionals connect. Driven by the vision of replacing paper business cards, we dove into the world of SaaS startups, fueled by passion and a bold idea to create the ultimate networking tool.

Our adventure began with the development of a cutting-edge web and mobile application. Built on React and React-Native, with an AWS serverless backend, our solution was designed to streamline personal contact management like never before. Our early days were marked by intense development, learning, and adaptation. The Founder Institute Berlin played a pivotal role in our growth, shaping our startup's trajectory.

The pandemic in 2021 was a turning point. Despite the initial success with recurring users and our first paying customers, the world changed overnight. Networking went virtual, and so did our strategy. Embracing change, we pivoted our product to suit the remote networking world. This pivot wasn't just strategic; it was technical. We transitioned our codebase from React and React-Native to Flutter, shifting our serverless backend to Google Cloud and Firebase. This challenging phase tested our adaptability and commitment.

Collaboration was our mantra. Working with a diverse team of consultants, freelancers, product managers, bloggers, designers, and developers, we embarked on a journey of constant experimentation. We iterated on UI designs, experimented with new features, and relentlessly pursued user feedback. This period was a whirlwind of innovation, learning, and growth.

By 2022, it became clear that our growth goals were beyond our reach. With a heavy heart but a wealth of experience, we made the tough decision to conclude our startup journey. This decision, while difficult, was a testament to our commitment to realistic and responsible entrepreneurship.

Our startup journey might not have ended as we initially envisioned, but the lessons learned, relationships forged, and skills acquired are invaluable. From technical prowess in cutting-edge technologies to strategic pivots under pressure, our experience is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the courage to dream big.

Looking back, I see a path marked by innovation, learning, and the audacity to challenge the status quo. As I move forward, these experiences form the cornerstone of my professional journey, ready to bring this wealth of knowledge to new ventures and challenges.

P.S.: Some of the blog posts are still available on Medium if you're interested in seeing more of what we've accomplished with Kopply.