In retrospect: The smartPerform founders tell their story

The path of a start-up is rarely straightforward. Between trial and error, mistakes, successes and valuable companions, a real success story has developed here – supported by team spirit, courage and gratitude.

Werner König

Co-founder of smartPerform. Today Professor for Interaction Design and Usability at Worms University of Applied Sciences.

What is the conclusion after 15 years of smartPerform?

Werner König: We certainly didn’t do everything right, and we certainly wasted time at one point or another where we could have been more focused. But it was a bit of a start-up, you have to try things out, see what works, work with the customer and then develop the good things further. So in hindsight, you always know everything better and could make it even more efficient. But I think I would do it again and I’m actually very happy with how it went.

Jens Gerken: Yes, I think so too. We’ve also learned an incredible amount that a company like ICT has driven a topic like this forward and that people like Detlef Beiter and Oli Mack were behind it to see that the team has managed to keep it going and that there are still some people involved with whom we’ve also raised it.

Werner König: Take Marc, for example.

Jens Gerken: Marc, for example. But also Klaus and Kevin. And today, of course, the entire team is a success story that has continued over the last few years. That’s really impressive.

Werner König: This is perhaps also a moment to say thank you. We have had so many companions along the way. ICT internally, at the university with Harald Reiterer and the whole team around him, but also on the customer side. We always tried to get the best out of it together. So a big thank you to all our companions!

The interview shows impressively that success does not come from a perfect plan, but from the will to try something new, to learn together and to continue consistently. Trust in the team, support from companions and the willingness to see experience as an opportunity were crucial. Today, a story has grown from the beginnings that encourages us to look back on our journey together with gratitude.