Meet the founders. 🤓
Dr. Jim Sellmeijer & Steffen Biese
"Experiment. Fail. Learn. Repeat."
Mission: Workbee helps people who work in system-relevant jobs (essential workers) to find a better job and develop their potential.
Fun fact: According to Steffen, his dog is the real CEO of the company. 🐶
S: From the very beginning, my goal was to build a company that, in addition to economic success, could also have a major impact.
J: Most job platforms have been made for those with an academic background in mind. I find it unfair and also a little ineffective. During Corona we’ve seen how important essential workers, such as nurses, are for society. If we want to still have a health care system by 2030 something has to change. Workbee is that change.
🔝 List up to 3 of your greatest achievements to date.
J: In 2016 I finished my triple degree PhD in Neuroscience from the universities of Strasbourg, Freiburg and Basel with great distinction (Magna Cum Laude). Shortly after I moved to Germany and started my life anew in Berlin. I quickly moved into tech, gained a ton of experience and founded Workbee with Steffen.
S: With Duden Learnattack, I've already built a successful EdTech that helps thousands of students improve their grades. With Workbee, we've grown to 7 figures turnover in two years, helping thousands of health care professionals find a better job.
S: Seeing a company grow and thrive every day.
J: I am constantly driven by the ever-lingering “What if?”-question. What if I’d do a PhD? What if I’d move to Berlin? What if I found a company? What if…? It never stops.
💡 The most important lesson you have learned so far?
S: Focus.
J: Trusting the people you work with and, hot take, ‘servant leadership’ is most of the times the most effective leadership.
🥵 Your biggest challenge so far in founding a startup?
S: Rapid growth with very limited resources.
J: Being able to program and make software is one thing, but what is much more important is to figure out what you have to build. I’d say that is the most challenging part.
S: Focus. Sales cures everything. Positive Unit Economics.
J: Less ego and more pragmatism.
🤝 Why did you join allygatr?
S: allygatr helped us especially with sales/ market entry and building a strong team.
J: allygatr provides good support when we need it! In the beginning we were supported with sales and market entry and now they are a group of great people to bounce ideas off of.
🐊 Apart from alligators - what is your favorite animal?
J: It’s going to be a tie between cats and crows. I grew up with cats and they are the perfect pet; they have personality and are clean and cuddly. Crows because they are incredibly intelligent. Their social structure and problem solving skills fascinate me and they’ve been incredibly successful; they’re basically everywhere.
S: Probably I would have to say here that it is bees. 😉 But it's definitely dogs!
