Burnout, Train Tickets, and Self-Funding: Challenges in the Startup World
Sebastian Flick, a former fashion industry professional, took a leap of faith in 2017 when he joined the Munich-based AI startup E-Bot7. His tenure at E-Bot7 was marked by extensive travel, with approximately 200 days spent on trains during his time there. He recalls spending 4,000 euros on train fares in second class.
Before joining E-Bot7, Flick honed his skills in retail, working at Hirmer, Ralph Lauren, Prada, and Hackett. His retail experience instilled in him a deep appreciation for interpersonal skills, customer loyalty, and trust, values that he carried over into the software world.
Flick became the first full-time employee at E-Bot7 and established the Customer Success department. Under his leadership, E-Bot7 grew to several hundred customers and 150 employees. The company's long-term contracts, averaging 24 months, ensured cash flow security.
In 2021, the US company LivePerson acquired E-Bot7 in a deal worth approximately $70 million. Despite the success, Flick experienced burnout due to the pressure and was diagnosed with burnout.
In the aftermath of the acquisition, Flick and his co-founder founded Branchly in 2022 in Berlin. Unlike E-Bot7, Branchly was bootstrapped from the start, securing financing through startup grants, initial paying customers, and the company's own reserves.
Branchly was launched in shadow mode and officially entered the market at the end of 2023. The company offers a unique service, providing content accessibility while offering companies insights into user search behavior. It relies on proprietary search and chat solutions to make corporate content accessible in up to 101 languages.
Today, Branchly boasts around 30 customers, primarily in Germany and Austria. Flick, now a guest on the video podcast format Pitch & People by Branchly, continues to advocate for the importance of interpersonal skills, customer loyalty, and trust in the business world.
Flick also criticizes tax burdens such as input tax and trade tax as potential growth hindrances for small, profitable startups, highlighting Munich as a strong location for startups but expressing concerns about the tax environment. Despite these challenges, Flick's journey from retail to AI startup success and beyond serves as an inspiring testament to his resilience and vision.
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