It’s fair to say that 2013 has been full of new encounters, entrepreneurial ups and downs, and most of all – some interesting startup folks. This recap is a Top 5 Editor’s Pick – no popularity rankings but our personal favourites among the profiles this year. Join us in re-reading those before we wrap this year up!
The business way of showing tattoos
Christine Zimmer, CEO of TATTOOMODELS.AT
While working as a graphic designer for an agency, Christine Zimmer (28) realised the potential of tattooed models. She quit her job and started her own advertising agency, TATTOOMODELS.AT. She also has her own vodka brand and is about to expand internationally. Currently, the company has close to 3.000 models and not one of them is showing too much – Christine has drawn a clear line between porn and liberalness.
Read our profile here.
“Entrepreneurship has no gender”
Diana Radulovski, co-founder of versichern24.at and stromgas24.at
At 27, Diana Radulovski has a lot going for her. The native Bulgarian co-founded the successful online insurance aggregator and comparison website versichern24.at in Austria and then launched an equivalent for the energy market, stromgas24.at. In recognition of her business achievements, this year she received the MiA Award for women with a migrant background.
Read our profile here.
The exit of the one-man show
Matei Pavel, CEO of Konkurs, Cautareduceri & AndroidMakeup
Matei Pavel (25) believes that the real evolution of a market is based on creating fresh projects, and he is taking it very seriously: In his early 20s, he started his first company – at that time Romania’s only directory of contests, sweepstakes and giveaways. Later, he launched Romania’s first daily-deal aggregator, which, in turn, was followed by a mobile application. And if this weren’t enough, he is now working on his first international project.
Read our profile here.
A frame of mind
Roland Wolf, CEO and co-founder ROLF Spectacles
Put aside the prejudice you may have about Austrian basements – here is the story of Roland Wolf (33), who started his innovative eyewear brand ROLF Spectacles out of his father’s cellar. The family business is based in the middle of the mountains in Tyroland specialises in handmade production of wooden, bamboo and woodstone optical frames. Workmanship and locality are at the fore for the Austrian startup – even if this means having to work hard against the cheaper competition and the conservative mindset of some of their compatriots.
Read our profile here.
Q is not for quitters
Sofie Quidenus, CEO of Qidenus Technologies
With its patented ‘bionic finger’ page-turning technology, Qidenus has been one of Austria’s most successful tech companies of the recent years. Sofie Quidenus (30) has been running the business for almost a decade and believes that “the moment you’re ready to quit is usually the one right before the miracle happens.”
Read our profile here.
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