Founding a global real estate database

In 2004 I founded a global real estate database in Germany, an information provider for major construction projects around the world. Over six years I wrote the code, hired people and led the teams, raised the money and ran the business. In 2010 I sold my shares. The company later became part of a Nasdaq-listed group.

Many roles in one company

In the beginning, I was founder and developer, later managing director and chief technology officer. In the first years I ran product management and programmed the websites and the databases myself. I hired people, led the teams and coordinated how they built the web solutions. As managing director I managed the contracts, drafted the legal documents, led the contract negotiations and made the technical decisions.

Business plan, pitches and funding

I wrote the business plan and the financial plans and pitched the company to investors and partners. KfW and the venture capital investor Neuhaus Partners invested several million euros in the company between 2004 and 2010.

Due diligences for buyers and sellers

Over ten years I carried out several due diligences, on the buyer’s side and on the seller’s side. I examined and prepared the documents on the quality of the IT systems, the state of the teams and the health of the products.

What carries over

I have worked on both sides of a data company: I wrote its code and led its teams, and I wrote its business plan, raised its funding and sold my shares. I know what an investor asks about a data product because I have answered those questions in pitches and in due diligences.