The startup project “New Work Tools”, initiated by Theben AG has just begun. Our New Work heros come from Stuttgart, Bad Krozingen, Berlin, Frankfurt and from our headquarters in Balingen. Within 10 weeks Sonja, Jannic, Ralph, Viktor and Anja develop together with our coach Daniel a business model about New Work. Find out what our participants favour about the Tech Start Up School’s program, what they want and why they decided to work in the startup Project “New Work Tools”.
Sonja | “The Head is round so that Thinking can change Direction!”
Sonja is 25 Jahre old, comes from Überlingen and lives in Stuttgart. Her B.Sc.Thesis in business psychology is about behaviors in Corona Crisis. Via TSUS she wants to develop a business model for “effective work and a well designed work environment” to find a way to being self employed.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School-project “New Work-Tools”?
The redesign of the workplace has not been an issue in many large companies only since the Corona crisis. However, the crisis has contributed to the fact that small and medium-sized now have to deal with the topic of “new work”. However, previously unknown problems can arise here. I see the project as an opportunity to improve the workplace of the future in a sustainable manner and thus support companies in their change.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
Founding a start-up has fascinated me for a long time. But I had neither the right idea nor the know-how that I thought was necessary. Now, as a team, we have the opportunity to realize ourselves as part of the Tech Startup School project. What I particularly like about the start-up is the everyday variety, which is not the case in most 9-to-5 jobs.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
My biggest challenge is the successful transfer of my theoretical knowledge into the “real” world. I learned early on that not everything that sounds promising in theory can be applied in practice. Therefore, I will probably reach my limits at one point or another.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
At the end of the day, I want to see that I have really made a difference. My work should challenge me and I want to constantly learn something new.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
To see that a project on which one has worked for a long time is successfully implemented – that is exactly what makes me happy.
There has never been this “one” worst moment for me. However, it is bad for me when boredom arises and I “serve” my time without achieving anything.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
“The head is round so that thinking can change direction!” I read this very clichéd saying almost every morning on the wall of my university during my studies. But it has a profound message that I have internalized for myself. Often you are very caught up in your own thinking patterns and don’t allow other approaches at all. Therefore, one of my personal goals is to free myself from my established structures even more often and to change the direction of my thoughts.
Jannic | “Being part of the Team was like a big Win for me!”
Jannic is 31 years old, comes from Bad Krozingen and holds a B.Sc. degree in applied computer science. He works regularly as an app developer, but currently has more time for new projects due to the Corona crisis. Jannic has already gained initial experience with start-up projects
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School-project “New Work-Tools”?
In the past few years, I have become more and more interested in founding, self-employment and startups. Unfortunately, I have always lacked the idea, the time and the courage to quit my job and start my own business. Corona and the associated short-time work in my company was an opportunity that I wanted to take advantage of. I suddenly had a lot of time and then I came across the Tech Startup School. Being part of the team was like a big win for me.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
Even before my permanent position, I was thinking about starting up. I have often developed ideas and tried to found my own startup. Unfortunately so far without resounding success.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
The biggest challenge for me in this project is to get rid of my thinking as a software developer and to get involved in new methods and ideas. Thinking in problems and not in solutions I find an exciting approach that I have never used before.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
This question is currently very difficult for me to answer, because I currently do not know what I really, really want. Basically, of course, I want to have a lot of fun at work, so on Sundays I don’t have to say: “I have to go to work tomorrow”, but: “Tomorrow I’ll get up and start the day!”.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
My best moment was when my first self-written software went into productive use. It is a nice feeling to have developed something that other people need or solve problems.
My worst moment (which in retrospect is an opportunity) was registering short-time work. There is a lot of confusion and a great deal of uncertainty about how things will go in the future. But it was a great opportunity for me, because otherwise I wouldn’t have much time to start my own startup.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
Life motto: “I do not regret the things that I did, but the things that I did not.” Goals: I want to realize innovative ideas and see my work not as work, but as my life!
Ralph | “My best moment at work: When you reach a goal together and see that the work paid off. ”
Ralph is 30 years old, comes from Balingen and has a Master of Engineering in automotive engineering as well as training as an industrial mechanic. Ralph is currently working in software development. He now wants to get involved in the project in order to “do something on his own” and thus realize his dream of independence in a team via TSUS.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School project “New Work Tools”?
Because I think the topic is important and interesting. The TSUS also offers a basis for those interested in starting a business.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting up?
What appeals to me is the opportunity to work freely in a startup as well as the opportunity to change something and help other people to solve or simplify their problems.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
The whole project is a challenge. Therefore, all phases in the project are very important. If you are negligent in one area, the foundation and thus the overall goal can be jeopardized.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
Independent of location and time, but at the same time with many social contacts that make the working day a day that I can have fun with. The work should also help to change or improve something.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
If there are no challenges at work or if the fun is neglected, the work is not fun. The beautiful moments are when you have reached a goal together and see that the work was worth it.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
My motto is “Pura Vida”. It is an attitude to life. It means enjoying life and avoiding negative things. That is also my main goal.
Viktor | “The work that I really, really want is: free, social, equal and creative.”
Viktor is 26 years old and lives in Berlin. He has an M.Sc. in business informatics and experience in product development. Due to his great motivation to found a startup, he is happy to travel from Berlin to the workshops. He wants to develop products that help people in everyday life and contribute to increased efficiency.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School-project”New Work-Tools”?
Corona confronts millions of people with a changing way of working that brings with it some challenges and problems. Advancing a project or startup as a team that supports companies and employees in this difficult time is a very interesting way of helping the economy.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
I find it tempting to reduce the distance between product and customer in order to create added value for society.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
Probably the biggest challenge is to find an ideal problem-solution fit.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
Free, social, equal and creative.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
Developing new ideas lost in conversation and criticizing and testing them through discussions. The challenge is not to lose the goal and focus.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
My motto in life: “Get things done!”; My goal: deepen skills in sales, marketing and management.
Anja | “For everyone who likes to work on innovative questions, this project is a must.”
Anja comes from Karlsruhe and lives currently in Frankfurt am Main, where she holds her B.A. in Global Brand & Fashion Management. At 22, she is the youngest in the team and at the same time discovered early on that she wanted to start her own company. Your motivation to become self-employed has become even greater through your first work experience in an AI environment.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School project “New Work Tools”?
For every young person who likes to work on innovative questions and is interested in the startup scene, it was practically a must to apply for the project. For me personally, the question did not arise at all. When I found out about the project, it was immediately clear to me that I would apply.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
I had my first points of contact with startups at the beginning of my studies when I was living in a flat share with a founder. Before and during my studies, however, I always wanted to work in a large and well-known company. I dreamed of a big corporate career. It was only when I had my first interviews in larger companies and, at the same time, that I became more and more familiar with the startup scene in Frankfurt, that I realized that it would be much more exciting for me to work for a startup or maybe even start one myself. So the interest to start was already there, but neither the brilliant idea nor the appropriate people with whom I could implement something. The Tech Startup School came in very handy.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
I think the whole project is one big challenge, made up of many small challenges. Every day there is something new that we have never done before. That makes the whole thing very exhausting, but you also learn a lot and every day.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
How exactly the work looks that I really, really want to do, I can’t say for sure yet. I’m still very young and see the whole thing more as a kind of process in which I hope to find out for myself over time. However, what I do know is what the work I don’t want to do looks like, and it’s stupid and routine. I am a very bright and curious person. I get bored very quickly if I have to do the same thing every day. I think starting my own business gives me the opportunity to try myself in many ways and to discover what I really want and can do.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
My best moments at work so far have been goodbyes to an internship or a company, even if it sounds a bit ironic. On the one hand, these are very sad, on the other hand you have the opportunity to review the best work moments with colleagues. And of course there is always a little anticipation for the “new”.
My worst moment: I had not properly saved a file that I had created over a period of hours and which urgently had to be prepared for a customer. The horror was great, but in the end everything was finished on time.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
“Do not dream your life, live your dreams!” No matter what we want, we should not only dream of it, but also implement it and “live” it in reality. I approach our project in the same way. The idea of having your own company is certainly very nice. However, at some point you should just stop dreaming about it and turn it into reality.
The startup project “New Work Tools”, initiated by Theben AG has just begun. Our New Work heros come from Stuttgart, Bad Krozingen, Berlin, Frankfurt and from our headquarters in Balingen. Within 10 weeks Sonja, Jannic, Ralph, Viktor and Anja develop together with our coach Daniel a business model about New Work. Find out what our participants favour about the Tech Start Up School’s program, what they want and why they decided to work in the startup Project “New Work Tools”.
Sonja | “The Head is round so that Thinking can change Direction!”
Sonja is 25 Jahre old, comes from Überlingen and lives in Stuttgart. Her B.Sc.Thesis in business psychology is about behaviors in Corona Crisis. Via TSUS she wants to develop a business model for “effective work and a well designed work environment” to find a way to being self employed.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School-project “New Work-Tools”?
The redesign of the workplace has not been an issue in many large companies only since the Corona crisis. However, the crisis has contributed to the fact that small and medium-sized now have to deal with the topic of “new work”. However, previously unknown problems can arise here. I see the project as an opportunity to improve the workplace of the future in a sustainable manner and thus support companies in their change.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
Founding a start-up has fascinated me for a long time. But I had neither the right idea nor the know-how that I thought was necessary. Now, as a team, we have the opportunity to realize ourselves as part of the Tech Startup School project. What I particularly like about the start-up is the everyday variety, which is not the case in most 9-to-5 jobs.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
My biggest challenge is the successful transfer of my theoretical knowledge into the “real” world. I learned early on that not everything that sounds promising in theory can be applied in practice. Therefore, I will probably reach my limits at one point or another.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
At the end of the day, I want to see that I have really made a difference. My work should challenge me and I want to constantly learn something new.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
To see that a project on which one has worked for a long time is successfully implemented – that is exactly what makes me happy.
There has never been this “one” worst moment for me. However, it is bad for me when boredom arises and I “serve” my time without achieving anything.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
“The head is round so that thinking can change direction!” I read this very clichéd saying almost every morning on the wall of my university during my studies. But it has a profound message that I have internalized for myself. Often you are very caught up in your own thinking patterns and don’t allow other approaches at all. Therefore, one of my personal goals is to free myself from my established structures even more often and to change the direction of my thoughts.
Jannic | “Being part of the Team was like a big Win for me!”
Jannic is 31 years old, comes from Bad Krozingen and holds a B.Sc. degree in applied computer science. He works regularly as an app developer, but currently has more time for new projects due to the Corona crisis. Jannic has already gained initial experience with start-up projects
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School-project “New Work-Tools”?
In the past few years, I have become more and more interested in founding, self-employment and startups. Unfortunately, I have always lacked the idea, the time and the courage to quit my job and start my own business. Corona and the associated short-time work in my company was an opportunity that I wanted to take advantage of. I suddenly had a lot of time and then I came across the Tech Startup School. Being part of the team was like a big win for me.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
Even before my permanent position, I was thinking about starting up. I have often developed ideas and tried to found my own startup. Unfortunately so far without resounding success.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
The biggest challenge for me in this project is to get rid of my thinking as a software developer and to get involved in new methods and ideas. Thinking in problems and not in solutions I find an exciting approach that I have never used before.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
This question is currently very difficult for me to answer, because I currently do not know what I really, really want. Basically, of course, I want to have a lot of fun at work, so on Sundays I don’t have to say: “I have to go to work tomorrow”, but: “Tomorrow I’ll get up and start the day!”.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
My best moment was when my first self-written software went into productive use. It is a nice feeling to have developed something that other people need or solve problems.
My worst moment (which in retrospect is an opportunity) was registering short-time work. There is a lot of confusion and a great deal of uncertainty about how things will go in the future. But it was a great opportunity for me, because otherwise I wouldn’t have much time to start my own startup.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
Life motto: “I do not regret the things that I did, but the things that I did not.” Goals: I want to realize innovative ideas and see my work not as work, but as my life!
Ralph | “My best moment at work: When you reach a goal together and see that the work paid off. ”
Ralph is 30 years old, comes from Balingen and has a Master of Engineering in automotive engineering as well as training as an industrial mechanic. Ralph is currently working in software development. He now wants to get involved in the project in order to “do something on his own” and thus realize his dream of independence in a team via TSUS.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School project “New Work Tools”?
Because I think the topic is important and interesting. The TSUS also offers a basis for those interested in starting a business.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting up?
What appeals to me is the opportunity to work freely in a startup as well as the opportunity to change something and help other people to solve or simplify their problems.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
The whole project is a challenge. Therefore, all phases in the project are very important. If you are negligent in one area, the foundation and thus the overall goal can be jeopardized.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
Independent of location and time, but at the same time with many social contacts that make the working day a day that I can have fun with. The work should also help to change or improve something.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
If there are no challenges at work or if the fun is neglected, the work is not fun. The beautiful moments are when you have reached a goal together and see that the work was worth it.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
My motto is “Pura Vida”. It is an attitude to life. It means enjoying life and avoiding negative things. That is also my main goal.
Viktor | “The work that I really, really want is: free, social, equal and creative.”
Viktor is 26 years old and lives in Berlin. He has an M.Sc. in business informatics and experience in product development. Due to his great motivation to found a startup, he is happy to travel from Berlin to the workshops. He wants to develop products that help people in everyday life and contribute to increased efficiency.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School-project”New Work-Tools”?
Corona confronts millions of people with a changing way of working that brings with it some challenges and problems. Advancing a project or startup as a team that supports companies and employees in this difficult time is a very interesting way of helping the economy.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
I find it tempting to reduce the distance between product and customer in order to create added value for society.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
Probably the biggest challenge is to find an ideal problem-solution fit.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
Free, social, equal and creative.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
Developing new ideas lost in conversation and criticizing and testing them through discussions. The challenge is not to lose the goal and focus.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
My motto in life: “Get things done!”; My goal: deepen skills in sales, marketing and management.
Anja | “For everyone who likes to work on innovative questions, this project is a must.”
Anja comes from Karlsruhe and lives currently in Frankfurt am Main, where she holds her B.A. in Global Brand & Fashion Management. At 22, she is the youngest in the team and at the same time discovered early on that she wanted to start her own company. Your motivation to become self-employed has become even greater through your first work experience in an AI environment.
Why did you apply for the Tech Startup School project “New Work Tools”?
For every young person who likes to work on innovative questions and is interested in the startup scene, it was practically a must to apply for the project. For me personally, the question did not arise at all. When I found out about the project, it was immediately clear to me that I would apply.
Have you thought about starting a business for a long time? What appeals to you about starting a startup?
I had my first points of contact with startups at the beginning of my studies when I was living in a flat share with a founder. Before and during my studies, however, I always wanted to work in a large and well-known company. I dreamed of a big corporate career. It was only when I had my first interviews in larger companies and, at the same time, that I became more and more familiar with the startup scene in Frankfurt, that I realized that it would be much more exciting for me to work for a startup or maybe even start one myself. So the interest to start was already there, but neither the brilliant idea nor the appropriate people with whom I could implement something. The Tech Startup School came in very handy.
What is the biggest challenge for you in this project?
I think the whole project is one big challenge, made up of many small challenges. Every day there is something new that we have never done before. That makes the whole thing very exhausting, but you also learn a lot and every day.
What is the work that YOU really, really want?
How exactly the work looks that I really, really want to do, I can’t say for sure yet. I’m still very young and see the whole thing more as a kind of process in which I hope to find out for myself over time. However, what I do know is what the work I don’t want to do looks like, and it’s stupid and routine. I am a very bright and curious person. I get bored very quickly if I have to do the same thing every day. I think starting my own business gives me the opportunity to try myself in many ways and to discover what I really want and can do.
What was your best moment at work and what was the worst?
My best moments at work so far have been goodbyes to an internship or a company, even if it sounds a bit ironic. On the one hand, these are very sad, on the other hand you have the opportunity to review the best work moments with colleagues. And of course there is always a little anticipation for the “new”.
My worst moment: I had not properly saved a file that I had created over a period of hours and which urgently had to be prepared for a customer. The horror was great, but in the end everything was finished on time.
What is your motto in life and what personal goals do you want to achieve?
“Do not dream your life, live your dreams!” No matter what we want, we should not only dream of it, but also implement it and “live” it in reality. I approach our project in the same way. The idea of having your own company is certainly very nice. However, at some point you should just stop dreaming about it and turn it into reality.