Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Greentech Talents: Career changers and career changers often face many uncertainties: a lack of networking, a lack of experience, and the pressure to learn quickly. With our innovative and customized cross-mentoring programs, which bring together mentees and mentors from different companies and industries, we focus on the individual strengths and goals of our mentees. Our goal is to support talented career starters, young professionals, and career changers from the greentech industry on their career paths and connect them with forward-looking companies and mentors. Our founder and managing director, Jörg, is committed to ensuring that cross-mentoring programs are conceived holistically and that topics such as mental health are considered just as much as networking and professional development.
Our mission: A fulfilling career for everyone! We offer a platform for trusting, non-hierarchical exchange and personal development.
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Greentech Talents: That's true, comprehensive internal mentoring programs are offered almost exclusively by large companies. Greentech Talents This is precisely where the company comes in: Many small and medium-sized enterprises in the greentech sector do not have the human or financial resources to develop such programs independently. The cross-mentoring program from Greentech Talents closes this gap by offering a holistic, 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 mentees and mentors to their own company. At the same time, it promotes their motivation to develop professionally and take on more responsibility within their company.
Talents 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 human resources sector, building effective sales organizations. Over time, however, he realized that the industry was neither prepared for the challenges ahead nor willing to address necessary changes. Furthermore, his doubts grew as to whether an environment characterized by status symbols such as company travel by private jet, ever-larger company SUVs, and high salaries could truly be a desirable goal.
A burnout and a several-month hiatus led Jörg to the realization that it's more important to help people pursue sustainable careers while also positively impacting the world. This insight led to the founding of Greentech Talents – a platform that promotes talent and supports greentech companies in successfully overcoming the challenges of the emerging demographic crisis and shaping a more sustainable future.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Greentech Talents: Funding and proper 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 occur when both partners share similar values, views, and attitudes.
To achieve this, we collect data such as professional experience, career goals, and development needs. Additionally, mentor and mentee complete a game-based online assessment. Based on this, our algorithm determines the optimal mentoring pairs.
Goal: Become a driving force for sustainable careers
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Greentech Talents: In a year's time, we aim to further expand our Greentech Talents network and establish ourselves as the leading platform for cross-mentoring in the greentech sector. Our goal is to bring together companies and talents that mutually enrich each other and continuously improve the matching algorithm to achieve optimal mentoring results.
In five years, we see ourselves as a driving force for sustainable careers with a strong international presence. We want to not only 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 provide us with guidance and help us grow. The exchange with other greentech startups continually inspires us and gives us impetus for new ideas. We believe that Munich is characterized by a strong startup community that is visibly and tangibly well-connected and mutually supportive.
Munich Startup: Quick exit or long breath?
Greentech Talents: To change the world, we need perseverance. Our motto: Only those who want the impossible can achieve the possible.
