This is how your idea becomes a start-up!

? Aktimed? convinced the jurors of? DHdL? on VOX

© MG RTL D / Bernd-Michael Maurer

Sometimes it slumbers for years in one, sometimes it is this one flash of inspiration that changes everything: The speech is, of course, of visions for exciting products that make life a bit easier or even more beautiful. But is there still innovation at a time when everything seems to be there? Sure, of course! The best proof: the participants of? Entrepreneurs of the Future 2019 ?. One of them is Sabine Kroker-Hohmann. The physiotherapist offers with her label? Aktimed? Physiotapes with integrated herbal ingredients? Not only launched a revolution in the market, but also convinced two investors in the TV show "The Cave of the Lions". Brilliant! The foundress has revealed to us how an idea became a successful start-up.



You celebrate with? Aktimed? great successes. How did you come up with the idea of ​​integrating herbal extracts in cooling dressings?
In fact, it has brought me to my patients who have repeatedly asked for a product of this kind. At some point, the moment came when I decided to tackle this gap in the market.

What did you do next? Did you know immediately how to reach potential customers?
The first and most important step for us was first the granting of patents, then came an intensive period of product development, production development, production and finally the approval of the products. At the end of 2016 we started our tapes on the market. However, our customer base is quite large and ranges from doctors, hospitals, physiotherapists, sports clubs, pharmacies to movement-happy people. To reach everyone is still a challenge for us. How did we know how to reach trade users? however, we started from zero for end consumers.



Apart from the acquisition, what were the biggest challenges as a start-up and how did you master them?
One has to say that the medical device market is very static. So the main problem was finding a producer who had the guts to accept the idea of ​​"Aktimed"? to accept. In fact, we have been here for years rejecting the next! Then one of the leading dressings manufacturers agreed to start the project? and suddenly everything went very fast. A new factory building was built, a machine designed and after two years of testing we finally had our marketable product in hand.

The distribution of? Aktimed? takes place mainly offline? What do you expect from the participation in UdZ 2019 regarding the digitization of your company?
So far we have not focused so much on the end consumer market? we want to change that now! I think the participation in? Entrepreneurs of the future? Digitalization in general is an extremely great opportunity to make our "Aktimed" products better known in this segment as well.



You have already experienced a lot as a start-up. What would you give to other women who have an exciting idea and still doubt whether they can implement it?
If the idea is really good, you should rely on your gut feeling. And then: be energetic, try things out and be aware of the dangers. It is also important not to do everything alone. You need good consultants who have expertise that you do not have yourself. And of course: do not be afraid of failure!

With UdZ the founder starts now online

© Amazon

Amazon Launchpad brings your product among people

The idea is exciting, the product ready? and now? Like Sabine Kroker-Hohmann, many founders are faced with the question of how to get their product to the people who have been looking for it. That's why Amazon launched Launchpad three years ago? launched in Germany. Today, the program is used by over 200 German start-ups who want to bring their innovative products closer to millions of customers. As? Very easily! The team works with you to develop a long-term strategy for your brand and support you in its implementation. Thanks to clever marketing and PR measures, will your company become better known? thanks to its sales network, reliable customer service and prime shipping worldwide. Just register and start right away! Here, customers can discover top products that simplify life, such as the butt-shower by Happy Po, a young founder duo from Berlin.

With the joint initiative "Women Entrepreneurs of the Future", the Association of German Businesswomen, Global Digital Women, ChroniquesDuVasteMonde Academy and Amazon are promoting for the second time owners and managers of companies that are expanding their stationary business by launching their online business or their existing online business Want to expand the presence.At the core of the program is the individual accompaniment of all participants by expert coaches? all experienced company founders, e-commerce experts, Amazon retailers or bloggers. More information about the program can be found under: www.unternehmerinnenderzukunft.de

All Things Startup: 43North, Pitching, Investing & Scaling Your Company | #AskGaryVee Episode 197 (March 2024).