Munich Startup: What motivated you to start the company?
Melissa Raupach: To be completely honest, before and during my studies I had no intention of co-founding a company. Plantura It happened more by chance for me. But I can't emphasize enough how glad I am that it turned out this way. For many people like me who studied social sciences or humanities, starting a business isn't really presented as an option during their studies, which I find unfortunate. In my opinion, good founding teams thrive on everyone bringing different strengths and experiences to the table. And academic background alone says nothing about the ability to be a good founder.
For Melissa Raupach, fundamental: Staying true to yourself
Munich Startup: Did you have any role models when you started your business?
Melissa Raupach: I'm generally not the type of person who has clear role models. It's usually everyday situations that make me think, "Wow, that was really well done" or "I could copy that." Inspiration is obviously a very important factor for development. But I generally try to follow my own path and find what feels meaningful and right for me. Staying true to myself and not being easily influenced by external circumstances is a fundamental character trait for me.
Munich Startup: When and where do you get the best ideas?
Melissa Raupach: It totally depends and can actually happen anywhere. Sometimes it's in the office, when we're discussing things as a team. Sometimes it's when I have a bit of distance from work. But I'm generally someone who works well under pressure and often has the best ideas when I do.
Important characteristics for startup founders
Munich Startup: Your greatest talent?
Melissa Raupach: Maybe my Plantura colleagues should answer that! Jokes aside: I think I'm good at bringing people together, motivating them, and creating a positive atmosphere. Communication is probably the key word here. In my experience, this is a very important skill, especially in a rapidly growing company.
Munich Startup: How do you deal with doubts?
Melissa Raupach: I have to be honest and say that with Plantura, I never really had any doubts that what we were doing and planning wouldn't work. I have a lot of trust in us and the team. Of course, I have doubts about myself from time to time, and I think that's completely normal. I then try to engage in dialogue with myself and determine whether these are justified doubts or whether I'm just worrying for no real reason. It often helps me to talk about it with someone I trust and get another objective assessment. Yoga is also incredibly important for me to calm down and find my balance.
Munich Startup: How do you set priorities? And which ones?
Melissa Raupach: It's important to me to do justice to my role as a founder, but also to my other "roles" in life as a friend, daughter, granddaughter, and so on. That's not always easy, because a successful startup is simply very time-consuming and stressful. But the whole thing isn't a sprint; it's more of a marathon, so you have to allocate your resources carefully. If you enjoy your work, I think that's worth a lot, and with enough sleep, a healthy diet, and exercise, that works quite well for me.
Allocate resources well
Munich Startup: Does this seem like a good time to start a business? Why?
Melissa Raupach: It always depends on the circumstances. With a good idea, an exciting market, and a great team, it's definitely possible!
Munich Startup: Is the startup industry lacking female role models?
Melissa Raupach: As I said, I'm not someone who generally has great role models, but I do think that a lot has happened in terms of female founders in recent years. However, I would like to see female founders, female VCs, or even female board members of public companies were so normal that we no longer need to emphasize the "female" so much. But unfortunately, that's still a long way to go.
Munich Startup: The three worst prejudices you encountered when starting a business?
Melissa Raupach: Phew, so there weren't really any bad prejudices.
Munich Startup: What’s on top of your desk right now?
Melissa Raupach: The launch of our Plantura-App! The next focus project is already in the starting blocks: the development of the new Plantura products for Q3 and Q4. I'm really looking forward to it, but I won't reveal any more than that yet.
Munich Startup: What makes you happy?
Melissa Raupach: Luckily, quite a few! But I'll just list a few: sunshine, good plant-based food, time with friends, hiking (especially in the sun and with a view), road trips, laughter, and restful sleep.
