The Munich-based startup Messengerpeople offers a SaaS solution for messenger communication. In concrete terms, this means: If a company decides to use channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, or Viber for consulting, service, or marketing, there's a high probability that it will end up with the Munich-based SaaS startup. 5 million financing With 60 employees, the young company has grown significantly since its founding in 2015. Founder and CEO Franz Buchenberger answered our 7 questions.
Munich Startup: Who are you and what do you do?
Franz Buchenberger, messenger people: We are a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider for Customer communication via messenger appsWhile there are already numerous software providers for customer communication via email, phone, or SMS, with our platform we have developed the first software solution for today's number one communication channel—messenger apps. There is currently no comparable software solution that is officially integrated with the world's most popular messenger apps and whose use by companies is GDPR-compliant.
Max Tietz, Peter Pock, Kristof Nast-Kolb and I founded the company in 2015 — back then as WhatsApp broadcastWhatsApp was born from the merger of two startups, both active in the messaging industry. The match was simply perfect. Max, Peter, and Kristof are our tech geniuses and used their extensive experience to build our innovative software solution. I have extensive experience in developing and marketing innovative enterprise software and had already co-founded several companies at the time. The Messengerpeople team has since grown to around 60 employees, and we are located in the heart of Munich, in a beautiful historic villa on the Theresienwiese.
By the way, we also have an office available here right now, if anyone would like to become our neighbor. We're looking forward to welcoming an innovative Munich startup to our office.
“The match was simply perfect”
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Franz Buchenberger: Really? Then please don't tell anyone. No, seriously: There are perhaps a handful of official "Messenger Solution Providers" for WhatsApp, Facebook, Apple for Apple Business Chat, and Viber worldwide.
We're the first to offer a software solution specifically developed for messenger communication, including a chatbot builder. Our service is the only one that enables scalable customer communication across multiple messenger apps for companies.
Relevance, knowledge and passion
Munich Startup: What are the three main ingredients for your recipe for success?
Franz Buchenberger: First: High relevance. Eight out of ten Germans use Whatsapp virtually daily. And over half of customers would like companies to also provide personalized advice through this channel. In practice, customers send the retailer a photo of their complaint, for example, and then receive a quick response. Customers want this—which is why more and more companies are now looking for a solution to offer this professionally and legally.
Second: Knowledge. We operate in a highly dynamic, yet technically demanding market. This requires a great deal of knowledge—and a willingness to continually learn. We have been offering messenger expertise for around five years. We know what matters and can draw on a unique wealth of experience from thousands of messenger campaigns.
Third: Passion. Every one of us on the team uses Messenger every day. This naturalness shows us how important messenger apps have become in everyday life. That's why we fully stand behind our product.
Ready to keep learning
Munich Startup: How is business going?
Franz Buchenberger: Good. As I said, there's market demand. For example, we've just acquired TUI Germany as a customer. With our software solution, over 2,000 companies worldwide have already discovered the benefits of WhatsApp and other social media platforms. Many more will follow.
The fact that our product is in tune with the times has been confirmed to us for several years by external, independent bodies. Among other things, we have been repeatedly recognized as "Innovator of the Year” by Brand Eins (2017, 2018 and 2019). And recently, Messengerpeople was awarded the German Excellence Prize awarded for the best software solution.
Munich Startup: What does Munich mean to you?
Franz Buchenberger: Munich is one of the greatest cities in the world for us and a preferred location for new colleagues from abroad. For us, the mix of leisure value, economic power, and innovation in Munich is perfect.
We in the team enjoy the high leisure factor and enjoy being active together, which often leads to new business approaches. And of course, Munich offers the highest concentration of startups after Berlin and is an innovation hub in Germany. Accordingly, it's easy to find interesting Networks to build.
Messengerpeople: “We won’t end up on the Epic Fail list”
Munich Startup: How can your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Franz Buchenberger: All of us on the team have internalized the motto "If you don't undoubtedly feel that you're successful, you aren't." Messenger apps aren't going away anytime soon. There's still potential here for many years of success.
Messengerpeople is definitely at the forefront here. And we demonstrate every day that we are the pioneer and expert in the field of messenger communication. Last year, Deloitte named us one of the "Fast50" Top 10 fastest growing tech startups One of many proofs that we won't end up on the epic fail list.
Munich Startup: Get up early or stay up all night?
Franz Buchenberger: It's completely different for us. That's why we offer colleagues flexible working hours and home office options. One of our colleagues recently wrote on Slack: "Tomorrow I'll be back in the office at my normal hours—that is, from 11:00 a.m."—and it's working.
We make sure everyone can work in the way they are most productive. On average, those who prefer to come to the office a little earlier probably predominate. But at our company and team events, every colleague becomes a night owl.
