Success stories

New entrepreneur:
Friederike Kühl (Germany)
Age: 24
Company name: Yacobi Consult (Start-up)
Sector of activity: Transport and Logistics services

Host entrepreneur:
José Papí Ferrando (Spain)
Age: 50
Company name: Etelätär Innovation OÜ www.etelatar.com (25 years of experience)
Sector of activity: IT, office and communication equipment, services and supplies

Friederike Kühl, an aspiring entrepreneur from Germany, wanted to explore the launch of her own company in the transportation and logistics sector following the end of her studies. She discovered the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Programme and decided to grab the opportunity to learn from an experienced entrepreneur. Friederike collaborated with José Papí, Founder & CEO of Etelätär Innovation, a company with offices in Spain among other countries that specializes in developing award-winning Smart Mobility solutions and offers innovation management, market acceleration, and digital transformation services. Friederike chose José because of his company’s innovative spirit, low hierarchy structure, and involvement in both research and business activities. For José, Friederike’s profile and experience were a valuable resource. She was included in all the company’s operations and supported the CEO and the team in all dossiers but also refined her own business plan while extending both parties’ network.

The entrepreneurs established a smooth collaboration, despite the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic; José supported Friederike in drafting and exploring risk identification plans and in her learning process of human resources, finance, and team and project management. In turn, Friederike was involved in all running projects and was able to scout opportunities beneficial for her own company. She also developed an acceleration programme for José, where she identified targets for sales and marketing activities. She undertook two detailed competition analyses for her own business using tools that José recommended. Lastly, Friederike took on Movere, a project focused on a connected e-bike fleet service, and prepared the business concept for operational deployments. Both parties worked together to explore joint business models and managed to identify a mutually beneficial way to integrate Friederike’s business model and service offering into the scaling up of José’s business portfolio.

José gathered new insights and negotiation techniques for the German company culture as well as new inputs on marketing and sales activities. Friederike in turn developed many operational and strategical skills useful for her business project such as proper accounting taxation, team project and human resource management. Furthermore, this collaboration boosted business ideas for her company at the European level. Friederike made many valuable business contacts stemming from José’s vast professional network and explored synergies with some of these contacts. Friederike and José plan to further collaborate in the future and explore a long-term partnership.

For more information, please contact the local contact points involved in the exchange:

New entrepreneur's contact point:
Baden-Württemberg International (Stuttgart, Germany)

Host entrepreneur's contact point:
FUNDACION EQUIPO HUMANO (Valencia, Spain)

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