When nothing worked anymore
In the first episode of our new video podcast format Pitch & People is Sebastian Flick by Branchly as a guest. His career path: unusual. He began his career not in the tech scene, but in retail. After completing his training at the men's clothing retailer Hirmer, Flick's path led him via stints at Ralph Lauren and Prada to Hackett, where he rose to become Munich's youngest store manager. But in his early 20s, the pressure led to his first breakdown, and more followed. Flick couldn't take it anymore; his body rebelled, and he was mentally burned out. The diagnosis came quickly: burnout. A turning point that led him out of the fashion industry and into the world of technology.
Pitch & People Episodes
PITCH & PEOPLE Episode 1: Branchly
The 70 million dollar exit
In 2017, Flick joined the Munich-based AI startup E-Bot7. He became the company's first full-time employee and quickly became a key figure in sales and customer service. He established the Customer Success department and oversaw the company's growth to several hundred customers and 150 employees. In 2021, the US company LivePerson acquired E-Bot7 in a deal worth approximately $70 million.
His experience with E-Bot7 made it clear to Flick: traditional chatbots are reaching their limits. Customers need more than a static FAQ database—a dynamic solution that semantically accesses content and is truly multilingual. Together with his co-founder, he founded the company in 2022. BranchlyInitially launched in shadow mode, the official market entry took place at the end of 2023. Today, the company has around 30 customers, primarily in Germany and Austria.
What makes Branchly different
Branchly relies on proprietary search and chat solutions that make corporate content accessible in up to 101 languages. The goal is to provide content in an accessible manner while simultaneously providing companies with valuable insights into their users' search behavior. Customers thus benefit twice: from better accessibility and data-driven optimization opportunities.
A key lesson from Flick's time at E-Bot7: Venture capital also means pressure. That's why Branchly was bootstrapped from the start. Financing was secured through startup grants, initial paying customers, and the company's own reserves. Particularly important: long-term contracts averaging 24 months, which ensure cash flow security.
Lessons from burnout
The issue of overload remains a constant concern for Flick. Past panic attacks have taught him to pay attention to warning signs and design structures to cushion stress. At the same time, he sees his retail experience as an advantage: interpersonal skills, customer loyalty, and trust are crucial for him, even in the software world.
At Pitch & People, Sebastian Flick how extreme the strain was during his E-Bot7 period:
"I honestly spent 200 days traveling by train – 4,000 euros in train fares in second class, that's something you have to manage."
Flick sees Munich as a strong location for startups. However, he criticizes tax burdens such as input tax and trade tax, which can be a hindrance to growth, especially for profitable but still small startups.
