The Munich IoT startup has been in ProGlove as part of the German Accelerator Tech Program in New Yorkto get to know the American market and gain a foothold. We asked the founders about their experiences so far.
The first few weeks are over. How would you describe your experience in the USA so far?
Over the past few weeks, we've gained a very good insight into how the American market works. There are significant cultural differences, which naturally also affect communication with customers: Sending an email won't get you very far in the US, but a quick phone call often works wonders. You can only convince customers here if you are not only extremely well prepared but can also provide your customers with all the necessary marketing materials. Once you've impressed your champion, they will be helpful and extremely committed to your cause.
New terrain for ProGlove
Has everything gone as you imagined so far, or were there one or two surprises?
Of course, the customs here are different from what we're used to at home. Some things go faster, others take much longer than in Germany. For example, we could have applied for our American business account in Germany, which would have saved us a lot of time here.
How were the first few weeks in the German Accelerator Tech program?
Thanks to the regular coaching and close collaboration with our mentors, we feel truly in good hands here. The mentors come from various backgrounds and are designed to prepare us for the new market and the different competitive conditions here. So far, we've received very interesting input, specifically in the areas of sales, PR, and legal.
“An incredible dynamic”
How does the work with the mentors proceed?
It's really cool to have access to this large network of relevant industry players. The mentors devote a lot of time to our needs and are always available. If I have questions for a mentor, I often meet with them for lunch. That's the advantage of the central GA office in Manhattan: I can get to anywhere quickly.
What do you think of New York as a location for startups in general and for your business in particular?
New York is incredibly dynamic, the startup hub of the American East Coast, and the people are extremely open. The startup scene is broad and diverse: Nowhere else can you find so many investors in one place. And we constantly meet people who work in relevant industries.
What do you think of the other companies participating in the German Accelerator Tech program?
We maintain close contact with the other startups in the GA Tech program. I also meet regularly with established startups and tell them what's been going well or not in the last few weeks. They've often had the same experiences and can give us good advice.
Continued close cooperation with Munich
What is the most important thing you have learned so far in the USA?
The most important thing we learned is that the US market obviously works differently than the German one. Often, a US company prefers to work with a US startup rather than a German one.
What are your concrete goals for the next few weeks?
We're currently a four-person US team. Of course, we want to continue growing in the US and maintain our startup culture. Despite the time change, we're working closely with our colleagues in Munich. It's been working great so far, and we plan to continue that way in the future.
Have you had a chance to enjoy the city after all the work?
Sure! After work, we often do workouts on the office roof terrace with a view of the other skyscrapers. There are also many excellent restaurants and bars here, and a wide range of cultural offerings—the quality of life is truly high.
Here's the first part: ProGlove starts in the Big Apple
