Munich Startup: What does Smartaxxess do? What problem are you solving?
Ruth Schöllhammer, co-founder and CMO at Smartaxxess: Our startup supports and finances founders through a comprehensive ecosystem that supports them from planning through financing to successful establishment of their business. We provide access to relevant partners such as consultants, tax offices, insurance companies and lenders and support them in implementing their business ideas.
Smartaxxess: financing without a bank meeting
Munich Startup: But that already exists, doesn’t it!
Ruth Schöllhammer: Not quite: that applies to individual elements such as planning, insurance or loans. There are already various specialized platforms for that. Smartaxxess goes one step further. On the one hand, we offer things that don’t otherwise exist on the market: our own qualitative rating, for example. Or financing without a bank meeting.
However, the actual and biggest difference is that Smartaxxess is a complete and comprehensive ecosystem. Here you don’t just get access to financing and partners, but also a forecast of the business concept’s probability of success and seamless business management. All online, all with a central digital file – and supported by consultants.
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Ruth Schöllhammer: The founding story of Smartaxxess emerged from the collaboration of Kai Flehmig-Pichlmaier, Mark Tom Pösken and myself. As former executives in large corporations, we came together to support young medium-sized companies in Germany. Through our exchange in the German Founders Association, we were able to identify obstacles for founders. We then set about developing solutions for them, and that’s how the Smartaxxess Group was born.
Open to innovation?
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Ruth Schöllhammer: That was certainly finding the right people who are open to innovation and willing to implement it. It was crucial to find partners from various sectors such as insurance, banking and consulting and to convince them of the benefits of the digital platform economy.
Munich Startup: Where do you want to be in one year, where in five years?
Ruth Schöllhammer: We launched at the end of 2023 and are currently in the market launch phase. In one year, we aim to finance and support 300 founders through our platform. In five years, we want to be the market leader for financing, consulting and supporting young companies in Germany.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced the startup location Munich so far?
Ruth Schöllhammer: Munich offers a great environment for startups, particularly in the academic sector. There are numerous support and funding opportunities as well as information points for founders. However, even in Munich, there is a lack of concrete support in areas such as financing, funding and implementation of business ventures, just as elsewhere. Processing times for funding applications and costs for real estate and employees are also an issue.
Control important assets within the company itself
Munich Startup: Outsource or do it yourself?
Ruth Schöllhammer: Both. Important assets should be managed within the company itself, whether it’s software development, sales, partner onboarding or support. But for that, you should bring competent partners on board. That’s also a contribution to your own risk mitigation.
