HHL alumni help founders to realize their software idea
While many HHL alumni have visionary software product ideas, we wanted to relish the opportunity to share the story of two HHL alumni who are supporting other founders to build up their software products. Until today, they have enabled numerous start-ups, including several HHL ventures, with tech sparring, workshops and development resources. So, what is the exact story?
How it all started
In 2019, MSc13 alumnus Kolja Czudnochowski co-founded his first software start-up Confrix. Together with a former HHL classmate, they had the vision to revolutionize how professionals work with Excel and PowerPoint. While their studies and professional experience helped them avoid common founding mistakes on the business-side, software development was new to them.
Half a year later, they found themselves stumbling across some of the most common shortcomings and mistakes in software development. With an increasing level of frustration and impatient investors, they successfully leveraged the value of HHL’s community.
K7 alumna and serial entrepreneur Julia Derndinger introduced Kolja to Artur Tomys, who graduated from HHL in 2009 and founded Equiqo, a software development company in Wroclaw and Berlin.
Further development of Confrix
Many workshop hours later, in January 2020, both teams clarified the technical requirements, which therefore allowed the definition of an appropriate product roadmap and tech set-up. The development process started from scratch, while numerous renowned consulting firms were impatiently waiting to test the solution.
The story continues
Today, while engaging in new entrepreneurial endeavors, Kolja offers sparring and consultation to (aspiring) founders and SMEs, enabling them to approach their tech set-up and to make better decisions. Typical topics are the definition of an initial tech team set-up, product (MVP) scoping and estimation, MVP development, tech recruiting, CTO-on-demand, tech audits, and general best practices.
Most satisfying is to help others avoid common shortcomings that can be observed across most start-ups, scale-ups, but also corporates and the Mittelstand.
To further encourage this, he recently teamed up with experienced, complementary tech entrepreneurs to found the initiative triplethat.de.
Artur’s firm, on the other hand, already has long-lasting partnerships with the HHL start-ups Flaconi, Zenloop and Kartenmacherei supporting them with tech talent from Poland. As Kolja has benefitted tremendously from the HHL community and its willingness to help, he’s very happy to share his experience with other alumni.
We are thanking Kolja for his constant support and efforts for the entire HHL community. This is truly inspiring and exemplary.
Hi, I am Sigrid, the Director of Career and Alumni Relations at HHL. With more than 13 years of experience in coaching, motivational training and communication in the US, the UK and Germany, it is my core interest to enhance a lifelong career and network guidance for the entire HHL community. I am keen to empower our community to aim high, to nourish lifelong connections and to foster each other's personal and professional development. This ambition is also rooted in my experiences as a former competitive athlete and graduate of a Master's program in Performance Psychology (M.Sc.) at the University of Edinburgh.
