Found in Frustration: Joey's Tech Troubles Sparked a Startup Revolution

Meet Joey Hansel, a 25-year-old entrepreneur based in Berlin, Germany.

With a track record in two previous startups spanning luxury goods and EV charging solutions, Joey has honed his expertise in business development and marketing. Now, he's channeling his experience and passion into his latest venture: 2found.

Joey's journey with 2found is a tale of innovation born from frustration. As a Berlin-based entrepreneur, Joey found himself repeatedly hitting a wall when it came to executing his ideas. The culprit? A lack of technical expertise.

This realisation sparked a quest to find a better way for founders to connect with talent, particularly in Europe's startup ecosystem.

The Beginning

"I started interviewing startup hubs in German technical universities," Joey recalls, "and realised that a lot of people, either for later stages of their startup or for founding, are looking for an easier way to connect to verified talent."

What Joey discovered was a gap in the market.

While there were platforms available for connecting founders and talent, many were desktop-based and not optimized for the on-the-go lifestyle of modern entrepreneurs. This insight led to the birth of "found." - a mobile-first platform designed to connect founders with potential co-founders and talent.

"In my opinion, using the time on public transport to connect to worldwide or local talent through the tip of your fingers on your smartphone is a way better use of your time," Joey explains, encapsulating the essence of his vision.

The name "found." itself is clever wordplay, embodying the platform's mission: "Found each other. Found together. The tinder for to-be founders of the next industry disrupting startup."

Target Audience

Joey's target audience includes master's degree students, recent graduates, freelance marketers, and self-taught IT experts. To reach this demographic, he's leveraging his personal network, engaging with university startup hubs, and planning to expand into sponsored email campaigns, hackathons, and even influencer marketing.

Ironically, Joey's biggest challenge mirrored the very problem he was trying to solve. "The biggest challenge yet to overcome was finding a co-founder who can execute the full-stack development of the application," he admits. However, persistence paid off, and Joey found a like-minded partner to build the MVP.

Learning from past experiences with overfunded ventures, Joey made the bold decision to bootstrap 2found for as long as possible. He's fortunate to have a mentor with expertise in marketing and business development, who has promised support when growth outpaces their current capacities.

Joey's immediate goal is simple yet profound: to see the first successful match on the platform. He's eagerly anticipating feedback from beta testers to refine the product. But his vision extends far beyond just making connections.

"Once we have the platform running with daily users and matches, we will approach the exciting part of this journey, our long-term goals," Joey says with enthusiasm. These goals include offering legal packages and financing consultations to newly formed startups, leveraging his network of legal experts and investors.

Where Next?

Joey dreams of a future where 2found doesn't just match co-founders but nurtures startups from inception to launch. He envisions a monthly newsletter showcasing the most promising startups to a select group of VCs, bridging the gap between founders and investors.

"Hopefully we can then proudly look back on a portfolio of start-ups that we have accompanied on their way to the launch pad," Joey muses, his words brimming with anticipation for the future of 2found and the startups it will help create.