Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Imero: Imero allows companies to digitally enhance their products and communicate directly with customers. Like everything else these days, this happens via smartphone. Users simply hold their phone up to the product and are immediately shown (without registration or download) the entire digital offering for their product: everything from basic product information and a certificate of authenticity to cool services like the suitcase itself being able to carbon-neutralize its travels.
Ben, Max, & Jonas founded Imero in 2020 to help companies connect their physical products with the digital world. These worlds are often still separate, and customers have to conduct lengthy Google searches to book a service ticket, for example, and then find the serial number, receipt, or manual. The "mobile first" principle has long been in place, and with Imero, this can now be implemented quickly and easily.
“Think of Imero as a kind of app store”
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Imero: It's nothing new for companies to try to enhance their products with digital services. However, until now, this required an app download or access via the website with registration. With Imero The product now becomes the central gateway.
We're also making it even easier for companies to find the right digital content for their product. Think of Imero as a kind of app store, where companies can add or remove certain useful features to their products with just a click.
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Imero: Ben & Jonas met through their work as physicists. Outside of work, both pondered how technology could be used to combat the global problem of counterfeit products. The trade in counterfeit products has grown steadily over the years and poses a major burden to people and the environment because it occurs without quality assurance and under the most dire conditions. For example, 1 million people die each year from counterfeit medicines.
We wanted to give people the ability to easily check whether something is genuine using their smartphone. In the course of our work, however, we realized that it takes more than just authenticity to get people to interact with products. People generally assume they haven't bought a fake. So we started linking useful and exciting services to products. Authenticity is verified every time they use the product—after all, the product is the gateway—but it's more fun and brings additional value to all parties.
To implement all of this, a true software professional was needed, and that's where Max came on board. Jonas and Max have known each other since childhood, so it wasn't difficult to convince him of the idea.
“We had to pivot and adjust all our previous developments”
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Imero: Realizing that authenticity alone isn't enough to delight customers was certainly a major challenge. We had to pivot and adapt all our previous developments, re-engage with customers, and acquire partners for our platform. In the end, however, it was worth the effort: within just six months of intensive work, the transition was complete, and the first customers began using the solution.
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Imero: We plan to close our funding round this year and then focus on deploying our solution to even more customers and products. In five years, it should be second nature for you and me to communicate directly with any type of product.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Imero: The startup ecosystem in Munich has helped us a lot. The two major Universities and the associated startup networks offer ample opportunity for exchange, coaching, and mentoring. The many co-working spaces and office space specifically for startups also provide plenty of opportunities to connect with other founders and help each other.
The distance to customers, partners, and investors is often not far, and we find excellent employees who can drive our startup forward. However, we have a flexible setup here and work with people all over the world.
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
Imero: As a tech startup, we work in the background, enabling our customers to improve their products and become digital champions. This makes us more of a hidden champion. However, we have the potential to be a rising star: We want to raise awareness of the new possibilities offered by Imero.
