Why did you start your start-up, which problem do you address and how do you solve it?
The chemical industry - although one of the largest industries in the world - is still a bit stuck in old habits when it comes to marketing and sales. Many players do not take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization and many possibilities disappear.
Chembid wants to help chemical companies to be present on the Internet and to benefit from online marketing activities. With a new generation of professional buyers, new demands are increasing. By being listed on the chembid platform, the companies are found by buyers via digital channels in their search for suppliers on the Internet. The number of search queries carried out by these buyers will increase steadily and therefore this channel will gain in importance. We therefore wish to provide this group with a tool that creates transparency by collecting the available technical and commercial information from suppliers of chemicals and chemical substances.
How did you come up with the idea of setting up your start-up?
The idea to found chembid was born from several minds and was based on the growing need to apply digital conversion to the chemical industry.
What is special about your business model, what do you do differently?
With our meta search engine, we are one level higher than any marketplace out there. By collecting and aggregating suitable results from marketplaces and individual webshops, we are able to offer buyers, but also suppliers in the chemical industry, more transparency and thus added value.
What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome at the beginning?
In the beginning, many companies did not recognize the urgency of tackling digital marketing & sales projects today rather than at some diffuse time. One of the biggest challenges was certainly to sensitize those responsible in the companies to this situation.
What was the most valuable advice someone gave you during your start-up phase?
"When it comes to innovation, an ounce of execution is worth more than a ton of theory" Phil McKinney, former CTO of HP
What has been your greatest success so far?
In terms of the number of products, we are now the largest chemical products database in the world and have achieved a user growth of over 800% in 2018.
What is the next challenge for you?
Our biggest challenge today is to continue growing as we did in 2018.
Why are you on Startbase?
We are always looking to connect with other players from the start-up and business world. This platform is a great way to get in touch!
What would you recommend to other founders?
Be persistent, patient and loud.
What has really gone wrong since the foundation?
The first approach with our marketplace was just not unique enough in the idea. We have learned from it and have taken our new Metasuch approach one step higher.
Let's assume you are the governing mayor of Oldenburg for one day, what would you change?
I would create more rooms and more events where startups and established companies can meet and learn from each other in an informal environment.
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