On July 1, Traffic Solvers turns one year old. In twelve months, the platform grew from an idea into a solution that is now deployed in five countries and won a European innovation award. It is a great moment to look back on the first year. We spoke with both founders. In this second part, together with Fawad-Khan Bahadur, we look back on the highlights, setbacks, lessons, and ambitions for year two.
How did the Traffic Solvers adventure begin?
Traffic Solvers actually started as a hobby project. Together with Stefan and Mennan, we were working on Recruitment Solvers, a recruitment marketing platform that we were developing alongside our jobs. Along the way, we started discussing other applications of the same technology more and more frequently. Based on my previous experiences in the mobility sector, the idea arose to apply the concept to mobility communication.
When did it start getting serious?
Actually, right from the start. When the idea for Traffic Solvers emerged, I was convinced that it aligned well with the challenges I saw in the market. I had experienced firsthand how much time and energy organizations invest in informing their environment, and at the same time, I saw that digitalization still offered plenty of opportunities in that area. Of course, at that time, we didn't yet have any customers, references, or proof that it would work. But the conviction that we were building something the market needed was there from day one.
What was the first major setback?
I think it was the first rejected proposal. To some extent, I understood the explanation. As a new party, you don't yet have references from Traffic Solvers and you are asking organizations to trust something that still needs to prove itself. At the same time, it made us appreciate even more how much trust our first Platform Partners had in us. They saw the potential of the idea even before there was extensive evidence or a long client list. That trust played an important role in our first year.
What surprised you the most in the first year?
How fast things can sometimes move. A year ago, I didn't expect our platform to be used in five countries within such a short time. Nor did I expect us to win a European innovation award in the first year. At the same time, some things actually take much longer than you anticipate. It is sometimes a matter of finding the right balance between patience and accelerating at the right moment.
Which lessons do you take with you to year 2?
That 100% is often not necessary to get started. By nature, I want things to be right down to the last detail. As a result, you sometimes wait too long to launch, while practice actually provides the best feedback. About 75% is also sufficient to start. The latest insights usually only emerge once something is actually being used. A quote we also frequently cite is: “If you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late.” by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn.
What role did the people around you play?
By far the most important role. We consciously chose not to figure everything out ourselves. We have a number of mentors around us who help us with strategic choices, legal issues, finances, and commercial challenges. In addition, I have come to appreciate staff departments such as HR and finance even more. Only when you have to do everything yourself do you realize how much work is normally done behind the scenes.
What did you underestimate about entrepreneurship?
You have to have an opinion on subjects you know absolutely nothing about. Marketing and product development feel familiar to me. But it also involves the legal and financial side, for example. Some days you are a marketer, on others a salesperson, project manager, administrator, or customer service representative. That is part of the job, but it requires making sharp choices regarding how you allocate your time.
What did you learn about yourself in the first year?
I am someone who likes to look ahead and make plans, but the past year has once again confirmed that not everything is achievable. Some things take longer than expected, while other opportunities present themselves unexpectedly. I have also learned that you don't need to have a ready-made answer to everything. I prefer to see everything substantiated beforehand, but the choices we sometimes made purely based on conviction and gut feeling have turned out well in hindsight.
What are you most proud of?
We achieved great milestones and European recognition in this first year, but I am most proud of the trust people have placed in us. Partners who joined when we had hardly any references. Stefan, who decided to quit his job to continue building together. Clients who were willing to give something new a chance. Thanks to them, we are here today.
What do you hope year 2 brings?
That we continue building something we believe in. Of course, I hope for wonderful new collaborations and further growth, but above all, I hope that in a year's time we can say once again that we thoroughly enjoyed working on this adventure.
