In October 2017, Pitch competition of the German Accelerator Tech A total of seven Munich startups were selected to receive support in entering the US market. The young entrepreneurs will be sent to Silicon Valley and New York to receive coaching and establish important contacts. ProGlove is the first representatives from the Bavarian capital to launch in the Big Apple. We interviewed the founders about their hopes for their time in the US and how they prepared for it.
What does ProGlove do, when was the company founded and where are you at the moment?
Thomas Kirchner, Alexander Grots, Paul Günther and I, Jonas Girardet, have 2014 ProGlove Founded after winning the "Make it Wearable" challenge in Silicon Valley, we aim to connect workers with the Industrial Internet of Things. Our wearables enable hands-free scanning using a scanner on the back of the hand, thus ensuring greater efficiency, ergonomics, and quality in industrial production and logistics. Our customers include almost all European automobile manufacturers and suppliers, including BMW, Mahle, and Skoda. Many applications are also suitable in retail and e-commerce, such as at Penny.
“The time is ripe”
Are you currently active abroad?
In October 2016 we MARK launched our smart glove across EuropeInitially, we focused on the DACH region because it was important to us to test ProGlove in our core region so we could respond quickly to our customers. We now have customers throughout Europe, and some pilot tests are even underway in the US and Canada.
How did you decide that now was the time for US expansion?
We already received concrete international customer inquiries at the CES in Las Vegas in 2015. The idea of entering other markets has therefore been around for some time. The US, in particular, has great market potential in the field of industrial wearables. Our customer base consists largely of DAX-listed companies with an international focus. This allows us to benefit from easier market access within these companies.
How did you find out about the German Accelerator Tech program and what made you decide to apply?
Some startup friends who have completed the German Accelerator Tech program themselves have told us about it. One of our goals is to demonstrate that we can scale internationally and compete in the US market. After expanding relatively quickly into neighboring European countries, the time is now ripe for the US.
Building a network in the States
How did the application process go for you?
We quickly realized the opportunity the German Accelerator program presented for us. We then registered online. After an initial pre-screening, we went through an interview to determine whether we were truly serious about our US plan. Finally, we had to impress the jury at the pitch in Munich.
You're not the first people from Munich to participate in the German Accelerator Tech Program. Did you get a chance to talk to other participants beforehand, and if so, what did they tell you?
Several other startups from Munich told us about the German Accelerator program: The program offers a very good starting point, especially for building a local network in the USA.
How did you prepare for your stay in the USA?
I traveled to the US three times last quarter to meet with customers on-site. I talked to other startups about the problems and challenges they faced in the US and how they were preparing for their US expansion.
Maintaining the startup spirit
What are your goals for your time in the USA?
Our main goal is to expand our growth through our existing customers and to acquire new US customers. What's also particularly important to me is that we tackle internationalization as a company in a way that doesn't compromise our ProGlove culture.
What do you see as the biggest challenge for ProGlove in the USA?
The correct prioritization of internationalization within ProGloves and the internal communication between the two points of view.
What do you expect from the German Accelerator Tech?
We hope to gain interesting contacts and an external perspective through the mentors of the German Accelerator program.
Where do you see ProGlove in a year?
We want to have established an independently functioning office in the US that is harmoniously integrated into the German team and maintain our startup spirit despite the growth of ProGlove.
Munich Startup will follow the development of ProGlove during the accelerator program in New York and provide further articles!
Read the interview in English here!
