Crisp Studio experience report

Daniel : After my Abitur (university entrance qualification), I started studying environmental engineering in Aachen, a completely different degree programme to MCD. However, I quickly realised that I didn't feel at home there. My creative streak was neglected and I didn't quite like the teaching style. By switching to the UAS, I hoped that things would change: I was particularly attracted to the MCD programme by the combination of the creative and practice-oriented course and the opportunity to devote myself to other projects in my free time. We found each other during our studies and had the idea of combining all of our skills. That's how the company came about.

Leo: I looked at various degree programmes and found the combination of design, media and technology within the MCD course particularly appealing. I was also impressed by the practical relevance and the opportunity to pursue my own projects on the side.

René: I have always had a digital interest. I then looked at what you can do at state universities and MCD caught my eye.

Daniel: In contrast to technical universities, not everything here was focussed on one subject, but rather various subject areas are offered. This means that there are an incredible number of people with different interests and backgrounds. I also found the idea of working at the interface between the three areas exciting.

René: As the market for media agencies is pretty saturated, we had to specialise. That's when we came across Design Sprint. This is actually a book by Jake Knapp, who used to be a designer at Google Ventures. It's about a method in which you manage to test ideas in as short a time as possible before developing them. The testing then relates to how the idea is received by users. The design sprint is a one-week format in which a combination of workshop, prototyping and user tests are carried out. Basically, you then sit down together intensively for five days. You work through a fixed step-by-step process: the focus is on a challenge that the company is currently facing. From this, a prototype is developed, which can then look like a normal app on a mobile phone, for example. However, the code behind it is not yet elaborately programmed. Only the bare essentials work. On the last day, five users from the target group are then invited to analyse and test it.

Daniel: It's written everywhere, but you just have to start, because you'll never have enough knowledge or experience. Many things are not as complicated as you imagine. It's a mantra that sounds totally cheesy, but it's true. Just pluck up the courage and sell the things you're good at. Because you have the pressure from outside, as a professional result is expected, we then also delivered something professional. That helped us to progress bit by bit. Even if you mess something up. As long as you don't invest millions, you can live with it. It's a risk you can take from time to time: You learn from your mistakes.

Leo : Especially in the service sector, you should make sure that you don't sell yourself short, even if you're new to the industry!

René: Perseverance is also an important factor that shouldn't be underestimated. In the beginning, you have an idea and you develop it further. But pursuing an idea over a longer period of time, even if it changes, can be very important. You also shouldn't be put off by the competition.

Daniel: In any case, it is helpful to immerse yourself in the start-up network of the city or region.

Daniel : We are definitely still on the journey of building the company. That is also something that will always remain. We are working on running the company in such a way that it supports us as much as possible in our own lives. On the one hand, this refers to a salary. On the other hand, it means that the company doesn't take up all our time, e.g. that we have time to switch off at night or at the weekend. If you think five or ten years ahead and life has stabilised a little, we want to find a business model in which everyone is satisfied, but in which the finances are also right. In the future, we want to hire a few more people to take on important positions that are fundamental to the company's growth. We want to attract larger customers who will also bring larger projects with them, which will be even more fun for us and generate more turnover. This also has a positive effect on the company. In five years' time, I imagine that we will still be small, perhaps with six to eight people, but already generating several times the turnover that we do now. I think it's important to have the feeling that it will work like this for the next four to five years.

René: I would agree with that. I think many people also tend to set themselves very ambitious goals. It's important to look ahead, but to do so with calm and satisfaction. The company should function as a system so that everyone has ONE role and you can also go on holiday, which is not a given for many self-employed people.

René: We have a very classic division of labour. We operate in different areas. Basically, we have 2 phases: When the customer is there, i.e. in the sprint, and general business operations. During sprints, I moderate the workshop, Daniel does the prototyping and Leo is responsible for development. In terms of general business operations, Daniel is the Executive Director, I take over the entire customer side and Leo is the lead for the projects in the development phases.

Leo: After we changed the business area a little, we still have old customers for whom we are still doing web work. We still want to finalise these projects and that is also my area of responsibility.

Daniel: The contact with a company where two people were travelling as keynote speakers and wanted to set up an e-learning portal in the service sector. They needed video recordings for this. We then realised this completely with them. That was while we were still studying and we were particularly proud of it. It pushed us to our limits and taught us a lot. The project also made us realise that we need to plan better internally: In terms of workload, our own value, time management and pricing.

Leo: But even if something goes wrong, as long as you communicate it with the customer and make it right, that's fine.

Daniel: We got in touch with Mister Spex through the FH network. That was super helpful for us. But this is the area where we still have the most to learn: we find it much easier to realise a design sprint than to then bring it to people. What we are doing now is very niche-orientated. That's why we have to find out how to reach the right companies. Events have been the best way so far. We use these to make contacts and retain customers in the long term. Otherwise, we are quite active on social media, as this is a good way to show what we do.

René: The longer you work with a customer, the more you get used to each other and there are things that become more comfortable. Our sprints are compact and time-bound, so there is a certain amount of pressure: we always have to deliver maximum value.

Daniel : Definitely keep an open ear for people who are also planning to start up. For example, we went to a start-up event at the beginning. Actively approaching professors and asking for help is also very helpful. There are also some professors here who have a connection to business but are also very well versed in the topic of founding a company. Martin Wolf, for example, also founded his own company.

René : The professors are also super helpful. You realise that they really want to support you.

Daniel : I would also advise you to take a look at what's cool in addition to the lectures and see for yourself what you want to do.

Leo : You should make good use of your free time. Even if there's no money in it yet, if a project is interesting, you should keep at it.

René : If you get something from professors, go further and think outside the box. I remember that we got Havard Business Cases from Mr Motullo, for example, and I found that really interesting. Doing a bit of research into what Uber does, for example, and finding out a bit about the background definitely makes sense.

Daniel : The earlier you get to grips with the topic of start-ups, the easier it is. It's a bit like investing in finance. You have a kind of compound effect: i.e. the earlier you start, the easier it is. It's more of a continuous thing. In the first semesters, you may also be more independent: you may be supported by your parents for a longer period of time and have time to try things out. You can experiment, learn and start up very well in this environment. It's not so bad to fail at a young age.