KATAPULT

With maps, infographics, and scientific content presented in an accessible way, KATAPULT has carved out a unique niche for itself in the media landscape. How did the idea come about, and what motivated you back then to take the plunge and start the company?

„At first, the desire was greater than the idea. The idea for KATAPULT didn’t take shape until after we got started. We came up with the cards when we realized we didn’t have any money for images. Our current identity, therefore, was shaped by a valuable lack of funds. Not having money can, in rare cases, be an advantage.“ 

Please introduce yourself and the founding team briefly. Who is behind KATAPULT, and what skills did you bring to the table back then?

„I founded the company back then as the sole shareholder (which remains the case to this day), while I was still in college. Three other people joined during the exist phase, one of whom—Tim Ehlers (linguistics)—is still the chief layout designer at KATAPULT today. We worked well together as a team. After one year in the exist program, a request for continued funding was denied. Tim Ehlers and I were convinced that we could survive even without funding. So the team was cut in half. To this day, the Ehlers-Fredrich partnership remains central to KATAPULT. We lived on next to nothing for over a year while working very hard at the same time. Eventually, Ella Daum (a lawyer) joined us. She, too, still works for KATAPULT today.“

When you think back to the early days of starting the company: What challenges kept you busiest back then? Was there a moment that had a particularly profound impact on you?

„What we were most concerned with was how many subscriptions we were getting each day. Some days it was zero, some days it was three. That was what drove us to keep going and figure out how many years it would take for us to become independent. I think what had the biggest impact was probably the team downsizing at the beginning. It showed us that determination and focus are more important than team size.“

Your team received support from the exist startup grant during the founding phase. What role did that funding play in getting your business off the ground?

„Without the funding, I would have had to launch KATAPULT without a team. We wouldn’t have been able to gain the experience of building our first team or of scaling down. Without EXIST, KATAPULT would have had a hard time getting off the ground. Specifically: Maybe I would never have found a second person who was also fully committed and believed in a bright future (the one we have today).“

Looking back a bit: What did the exist grant make possible for you that might not have been possible—or might not have been possible until much later—without this support?

„Team experience, an office, ongoing support from the University of Greifswald—but most importantly: finding Tim Ehlers.“

What insight or advice would you share with today's founders who are just starting out on their journey?

„Only start with people who are enthusiastic.“

As KATAPULT, you were very open and transparent about your impending bankruptcy. You’re now investing again, and the company is back on track. Was your openness (in part) key to getting through this difficult phase? And what advice would you give to aspiring founders facing similar situations?

„Without that openness, we would be insolvent today. There are many mistakes I no longer make: the two most important ones are:

1. Once a company reaches a certain size, it needs a controlling function
2. “A team shouldn’t grow too quickly.”

KATAPULT has continued to evolve since its founding. What is your current focus, and what goals or projects are coming up next?

„We’re in the “Optioniverse’: We’re in the fortunate position of being able to (slowly!) build two new teams—a research team and a big data team. At the same time, we’re constructing more buildings on our property and discussing how to renovate our kitchen. It’s a lot of fun!”

If you had to describe your startup journey in three words, what would they be?

„Cards, Hanuta, cards …“