The founder of digidip is one of the successful digital entrepreneurs in Germany. How you got there and where it still needs to go, she spoke with DW.
Sabrina Spielberger was only as a blogger to be successful, then she founded at the age of 28 in Berlin, your company digidip. The was 2013. Today she leads a company that operates in more than 40 countries.
DW: How would you describe your product?
Spielberger: We use quasi-two sides: on the one hand, the whole of the website operator, so the bloggers, magazines and Influencers, and on the other hand, the Online stores. It is like a marketplace: the Online stores like to pay more attention. They then work closely with us and we will propose you web pages, and bloggers who can talk about these Online stores or write. And on the other hand, we give bloggers the Chance to earn money. We conclude by using the approximately 100 Affiliate networks thousands of Online stores in an Interface of us.
And now they want to internationalize?
We are already international. I’ve even already started in our second year, the business in France to expand. So far I have not trusted me for the first time in the countries where our largest competitors are still. In 2016, I have taken the courage, also the Big attack in the United Kingdom. This has worked out quite well and now the USA is our big goal. So we are already active in over 40 countries.
You can edit the US market electronically, or you need people on the ground?
I was recently in New York and since has asked me, in fact, a potential customer: “Why are you here and not your office?” I replied to him: “do you Want me to pay $ 200,000 a year for an office in New York, or do you want me to which the money is dear to you?” It is very expensive in London and New York to have an office. Luckily, our Business is digital and a lot of runs over E-Mail, Calls, and Skype.
How to find you actually your employees? This seems now to be pretty hard?
It is very difficult. The most I have used myself. My Director of Sales was fresh out of the Uni to us and had no idea about the business. I’ve been taught. In the beginning there was only him and me and a programmer. He stayed up with me today and the one who equiped the new salesperson just now, as I have him learn at the time. So the search for employees is not easy. If I search in Berlin, for example, to good programmers, or distribution learning, I have no Chance.
Where can you find the programmer?
Sometimes about contacts by other programmers, you know. And you have to really not see that you scare away the good. The programmers, it is very important that the workplace offers you a lot of room to develop. The programmers in my Team appreciate very much that you will have a free Hand, you can contribute in our product, that they are just robots that need to start programming, but really your Input.
Has it ever played a role that you are a woman? Or was that for the development of your company, no matter?
I’m in an industry that is very male dominated. As it is said: “That’s great that you’re doing this. And as a woman, and very great and so.” This was highlighted, as would be a woman with a disability [laughs]. I suppose just politely nodding. But I also think it’s always nice when men, even older men say: “I think that’s great and let’s do something together. Someday I want my daughter makes them, like, and then a model.” Since I already had support from women, too. I felt I was never discriminated against. Clearly, at the beginning. But I don’t know if it was because we were still relatively small, that it has taken us so seriously. But I can always make up for it relatively quickly with my mouth.
It is for women who want to start, it is important to have role models?
Yes, definitely. I try as often as possible to go to Events, where it comes to female founders, and to entertain me as with the women, to take away your fear, to give tips on how to keep above water, if you have no money.
Therefore, networks are crucial?
A Netzwerkist super critical. I neglected at the beginning, because I saw it as not important. I always thought it is a waste of time. But now I regret it that I didn’t do it sooner.
The Interview was conducted by Manuela Kasper-Claridge.