Change is an essential part of our lives, and there is nothing quite like the thrilling experience of moving to a new country. The excitement of discovering a new place is often accompanied by the challenges of adapting to a different culture. Despite the thrill of new experiences, the process can be overwhelming. How do I know? Because I am also a newcomer in Germany.
Newbee is an all-in-one mobile app designed to simplify integration for newcomers to a country. When people move to another country to start a new life, they face similar challenges regardless of their educational or professional background. They need to find a home, understand the school system, navigate tax policies, get acquainted with the health system, socialise, deal with homesickness, and access essential services like child care or legal assistance without a language barrier. Listing all these challenges could fill tens of pages.
In this technologically advanced world, the information you need is out there, but finding it often requires hours of scrolling through multiple websites and talking to many people, with no guarantee of finding reliable information. Newbee offers a solution by providing all the information needed to overcome these challenges in one app.
My move to Germany was a rollercoaster. It was thrilling, but saying goodbye to my friends and the network I had been building was hard. Even though I have extensive experience in commercial and operational functions at international companies such as Procter & Gamble, Coty, and Starbucks, my lack of market knowledge and the language barrier were obstacles to growing my career and pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams.
Then, I started the Executive MBA program at Frankfurt School, which became a turning point in my life in Germany. I joined a global technology leader in a management role while continuing to follow my entrepreneurial journey.
I have had two fortunate moments in my entrepreneurial journey: the first was finding my business partner, Özge, and the second was discovering the Frankfurt School Entrepreneurship Center.
I met my business partner Özge after moving to Germany. Facing similar challenges as foreigners and sharing entrepreneurial aspirations brought us together. We complement each other very well. With extensive experience in sales and marketing roles at international companies like P&G and Starbucks, I am responsible for all business-related aspects of our product, including user acquisition strategy, revenue model, and all financial matters. Özge, a highly talented IT manager with a PhD in engineering, handles the technology side of the product. She even developed our MVP by herself.
When my business partner and I decided to launch Newbee, we were committed to creating a great product and had a solid plan, but our limited network and resources made it challenging to move forward. With full-time jobs and family commitments, our time was also restricted. However, everything changed for the better when we connected with the Frankfurt School Entrepreneurship Center, which provided invaluable guidance in pursuing our entrepreneurial dreams. After being accepted into the Accelerator Program, attending numerous workshops, and meeting many mentors and potential investors, we finally launched our MVP and are ready for the public launch in September. We will also be on stage at the FS Entrepreneurship Centre Demo Day on 2 September.
Two years ago, Germany was a whole new world, and I felt lost. Now, thanks to Frankfurt School, it feels like home. With Newbee, I hope I can help make that transition just a little bit smoother for the next generation of newcomers. As female founders, we also faced unique challenges. Research indicates that women face discrimination in funding, networking, and validation, making it harder to establish and scale businesses. Yet, by stepping forward despite these challenges, we pave the way for more women to follow. Our perseverance and unique perspectives are essential for driving innovation and achieving excellence in the entrepreneurial world. Together, we can transform the landscape for future female founders, making it more inclusive and equitable.
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