MBS Insights: Where is your start-up right now? What are the next steps and challenges?
Maximilian Pütz: The first big milestone for the end of January is the hopefully successful conclusion of our crowdfunding campaign. At this link, anyone interested can support the project and receive cool goodies as a thank you, as well as the unique opportunity to be the first to enjoy uptea and to further shape our portfolio according to their preferences. We appreciate any interest and support here, of course!
Further steps following the campaign are then the launch of the online store and the start of direct sales of the products in grocery and drug stores. Depending on how the current situation develops with regard to the coronavirus pandemic, I would be pleased to offer the catering trade and hotels a healthy stimulant with uptea in the second half of the year. We are starting with two varieties and would then like to successively expand our portfolio with further flavors and tea varieties. We already have other exciting ideas in mind for the future, but the focus is currently on the startnext campaign and the associated marketing of our first two varieties.
MBS Insights: How did your studies at MBS influence and prepare you for starting your own business? Are there any competencies and skills that you learned at MBS that help you in this experience now and bring you further?
Maximilian Pütz: Yes, MBS has laid important foundations for my entrepreneurship in many places. A large number of courses imparted important knowledge that I can now apply in practice. In addition to Accounting, Business Economics and Law, the courses on Marketing and Entrepreneurship come to my mind spontaneously. Here, too, a big thank you to MBS and the excellent lecturers!
MBS Insights: What is your tip for current students who may also be thinking about starting their own business? What are your best practices?
Maximilian Pütz: The most important learning for me was definitely that at some point you just have to get going and not just plan and think forever. Of course, at some points you’ll realize that you could have done something differently or better – but only those who do nothing don’t make mistakes. By doing nothing, however, you don’t get ahead and you shouldn’t be too afraid of mistakes, because you can learn a lot and well from them. I would like to encourage every single person with a business idea and enough self-motivation for a start-up to take the step. Even if the company might not be successful in the end, it’s a super exciting time where you learn so much – these experiences alone are worth it.
