Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Greentech Talents: Career entrants and career changers often face many uncertainties: lack of network, lack of experience and the pressure to get up to speed quickly. With our innovative and tailor-made cross-mentoring programs, which bring together mentees and mentors from different companies and industries, we focus on the individual strengths and goals of the mentees. Our aim is to support talented career starters, young professionals and career changers from the greentech sector on their career path and to connect them with forward-looking companies and mentors. Our founder and CEO Jörg is committed to ensuring that cross-mentoring programs are conceived holistically and that topics such as mental health are taken into account just as much as network building and professional development.
Our mission: A fulfilling career for everyone! To this end, we offer a platform for trusting and hierarchy-free exchange and personal development.
Munich Startup: But that already exists!
Greentech Talents: That’s right, comprehensive internal mentoring programs are almost exclusively offered by large companies. This is exactly where Greentech Talents comes in: Many small and medium-sized companies in the greentech sector do not have the human or financial resources to develop such programs on their own. The Greentech Talents cross-mentoring program closes this gap by offering a holistic and cost-effective alternative specifically tailored to this industry in German-speaking countries. According to feedback from our first partner companies, the insight into other companies, their culture and processes strengthens the loyalty of the mentees and mentors towards their own company. At the same time, it promotes their motivation to develop professionally and take on more responsibility in their company.
Talent for a more sustainable future
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Greentech Talents: Our founding story at Greentech Talents is closely linked to Jörg’s goal of supporting people in their professional development. For over 20 years, he worked in the recruitment industry to build powerful sales organizations. Over time, however, he realized that the industry was neither prepared for upcoming challenges nor willing to tackle necessary changes. In addition, his doubts grew as to whether an environment characterized by status symbols such as company trips in private jets, ever larger company SUVs and high salaries could really be the goal worth striving for.
A burnout and several months of time out led Jörg to the realization that it is more important to help people build a sustainable career and have a positive impact on the world at the same time. This insight led to the founding of Greentech Talents – a platform that nurtures talent and supports companies in the greentech sector to successfully navigate the challenges of the emerging demographic crisis and create a more sustainable future.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Greentech Talents: Financing and the right positioning are of course always major challenges for a startup. But the biggest challenge so far has been developing our matching algorithm. In cross-mentoring, where mentoring partners come from different companies, matching is crucial. Studies show that the best results are achieved when both partners share similar values, views and attitudes.
To achieve this, we collect data such as professional experience, career goals and development needs. In addition, mentor and mentee go through a game-based online assessment. On this basis, our algorithm determines the optimal mentoring pairs.
Goal: Becoming a driving force for sustainable careers
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where would you like to be in five years?
Greentech Talents: In a year’s time, we would like to further expand our network at Greentech Talents and establish ourselves as the leading platform for cross-mentoring in the greentech sector. Our goal is to bring companies and talents together to enrich each other and to continuously improve the matching algorithm to achieve optimal mentoring results.
In five years’ time, we see ourselves as a driving force for sustainable careers with a strong international presence. We not only want to advance the green economy, but also set mentoring standards that have a long-term positive impact on the professional and personal development of our mentees and mentors.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Greentech Talents: Munich is an ideal location for our startup. We particularly benefit from the many events and workshops that offer us guidance and help us to grow. The exchange with other greentech startups inspires us again and again and gives us impetus for new ideas. We think Munich is characterized by a strong startup community that is visibly and tangibly well networked and supports each other.
Munich Startup: Quick exit or staying power?
Greentech Talents: To change the world, we need perseverance. Our motto: Only those who want the impossible can achieve the possible.
