Munich Startup: What motivated you to start the company?
Alexandra Alex: In fact, my motivation came from the daily challenge in my previous job as an account manager, where I had to assemble the best teams for projects. Just because an employee had free capacity at the time doesn't necessarily mean they're the right fit for the project and the team. But how do you find the right teams, how should teams be composed? What models do you consider, and how do we all influence each other? With Matchmanao, we provide the answers.
Munich Startup: Did you have any role models when you started your business?
Alexandra Alex: Yes, I have participated in many female founders I was oriented and sought direct exchange. I was 30 years old and didn't want to start a startup or a family; I wanted both. So I looked at how other female founders did it, what was important, how to split tasks, and designed the individual topic blocks accordingly.
Bring in other perspectives
Munich Startup: When and where do you get the best ideas?
Alexandra Alex: I get my best ideas as a team, through interaction, brainstorming, and conversations. When you look at a situation or idea from all angles, incorporate other perspectives, and just let your imagination run wild—that's when the best ideas come.
Munich Startup: Your greatest talent?
Alexandra Alex: Good that our software based on the personality analysis, which tells me that my greatest strengths are that I am empathetic and realistic.
I believe I'm good at bringing people together and keeping them together. This, combined with my strengths, has enabled me to co-found the startup and become a mother at the same time. Because I know I have people around me who support me in all of this. Living and working together with others gives me courage, energy, and a lot of positivity every day. And that's my greatest talent.
Full speed ahead on the right track
Munich Startup: How do you deal with doubts?
Alexandra Alex: Doubts arise all the time, usually when you least expect them. Then I take stock of my previous successes, look at the positive feedback, and become aware of my own 'why.' Why did I do this? Why do I believe in it?
But doubts sometimes also serve to correct one's own path. So distraction isn't always the best solution. Use the doubts to examine the situation and perhaps evaluate issues differently or rethink them. I like to compare it to the image, "If I stray from the path for a moment, I can better see whether the path is the right one." Once I know again that the path is right, I move forward with full steam.
Munich Startup: The three worst prejudices you encountered when starting a business?
Alexandra Alex: Prejudices like these:
- Founding and family don't go together.
- I can't do that anyway.
- Otherwise, founders simply wouldn’t have gotten a job.
Munich Startup: How do you set priorities? And which ones?
Alexandra Alex: I answer the following questions and then get started:
- What will move us forward soon and can be prepared now?
- What do customers or colleagues need from me?
- And what do I really want to do now?
Added value, skills and flow
Munich Startup: Does this seem like a good time to start a business? Why?
Alexandra Alex: It depends on the product and the idea, just as it did before and after Covid-19. As long as there's added value, as long as it fits your skills, as long as you're in your own flow, any time is good to start a business.
Munich Startup: Do you think it is important that more women start businesses in Germany?
Alexandra Alex: I've noticed that women don't shout "yes" as often as men. But when the idea is there, when the opportunity arises, and when it feels right, then we should all shout "yes":
- “Yes, I have the courage.”
- Yes, I can do it.”
- “Yeah, I’ve never done that before, but I can do it.”
- “Yes, I’ll just do it now.”
- “Yes, it will be great!”
Munich Startup: What’s on top of your desk right now?
Alexandra Alex: “3 tips for potty training,” invoices, the next customer calls, an internal team workshop, and the new marketing campaign.
Munich Startup: What makes you happy?
Alexandra Alex: Working at our startup, showing my son that we should stand up for our dreams, pursuing my passion and having a team that shares the same vision: improving collaboration within teams and finding the right 'we' for every 'me.' Mahalo. Thank you.
