Sebastian Schuon, a well-known figure in the startup industry, is co-founder and CEO of the Munich proptech Alasco. After studying at CDTM in Munich and completing a master’s degree at Stanford, he successfully built the online platform Stylight and then worked as a business angel at Personio, before focusing on the real estate industry and its digitalization. He has compiled five reasons why joining is worthwhile despite the crisis.
1. Crisis is not equal to crisis
Inflation and the currently strained economic situation do not necessarily mean that all startups are in crisis. Here, it’s worth taking a closer look at the background of the startup you want to apply to. Especially on the topic of funding, you can ask concrete questions during the application process. Many startups have several financially strong investors in the background and have long since adapted their budget planning to the changing circumstances, for example by adjusting the timeframe for desired growth. The key words here are: resilience and sustainability. It’s no longer just about rapid, but especially sustainable growth.
In the proptech sector, it can be said that despite the pandemic, many startups have completed successful funding rounds and are planning expansion in the coming years, which underscores the high relevance and future of the industry (Source: Proptech Germany Study 2022). Proptechs continue to be in demand from investors’ side and are therefore long-term secure employers (Source: Proptech M&A Market Report by Hampleton Partners). Besides that, there are startups that are fundamentally resilient and future-oriented, such as green and energy startups (Enpal), which are sustainably transforming the future and where there are good future prospects despite the crisis. So the tip here is: look at which topics move with the times and will be relevant in the future.
2. Growing together – without glass ceilings
Word gets around – especially for young professionals entering the workforce, startups are becoming increasingly attractive because they can quickly advance their careers there. For people with little professional experience, getting started can be difficult. It turns out well that ambitious early-career professionals often find their place in startups. Young companies are flexible and even in times of crisis offer the advantage of introducing new people to the various work areas in their organization. And it often doesn’t take 4 years to grow out of your junior position… The growth-oriented structure of startups is your opportunity to grow yourself and quickly pursue your professional goals.
The same applies to digitalization: in startups you grow quickly, but in many cases you also have the opportunity to work in companies that are ahead of their time – in every respect. Starting with the field of activity of many startups in the area of digitalization, through modern work equipment to flexible work models, startups offer an innovative work environment.
3. Steep learning curve – become an expert
The keyword flexibility, combined with flat hierarchies, enables not only rapid growth and exciting developments, but also a steep learning curve. Within a very short time, you can become experts in your startups. Additionally, there’s not only the opportunity to learn in your own field of activity. Even within the same company, you often have the chance to explore different areas and, for example, not only become a marketing expert but also help out in the sales department. If you’re looking for strict hierarchies and formal culture, startups are not the right place for you.
If that’s settled, the next point comes: passion for the topic! Many startups pursue important issues that capture the zeitgeist and deal with, for example, digitalization or sustainability. As with Alasco, proptechs are a relevant driver of transformation, digitalization, and necessary innovation in the construction and real estate world. In times of crisis, this impact is more important than ever, because you can provide crucial impulses to make the industry fit for the future.
4. You like to roll up your sleeves – “hands-on startups”
One thing that never fails at startups is the unique do-it mentality. Through small teams selected in very deliberate recruitment processes, you work with highly qualified colleagues who want to advance something together. Ideally, you’re part of that too. Important in startups, and this shouldn’t be underestimated, is the willingness and enjoyment of working independently and actively shaping ideas and projects.
Given the rapid growth in startups mentioned earlier, your career prospects are certainly not bad. To give you a practical example: Alasco follows the motto “startup done right.” The founding team successfully built Stylight a few years ago and brought the valuable experience and learnings into the new project.
5. Feel like making a change?
Compared to medium-sized companies or corporations, startups are much more flexible and adaptable in their structure. You can see this alone in the close collaboration between different work areas and positions. Last but not least, startups often offer innovative solutions that not only give employees meaningful tasks, but ideally also contribute to pressing issues such as sustainability and the like. Proptechs, for example, contribute 78.2 percent more to ESG and thus more sustainability in the real estate industry (Source: Proptech Germany Study 2022). Against the backdrop that the building sector is globally responsible for 38 percent of CO2 emissions, there is an opportunity to make real impact here (Source: United Nations Environmental Program 2020). In general, unlike many traditional companies, this also applies to the impact you as an individual can have with your work on the startup and the industry.
And if those aren’t enough reasons yet, just try it: apply and find out if working in startups is for you.
