open.INC

Founded in 2018 by Martin Stein and Nico Castelli, the start-up open.INC specialises in the digital acquisition and processing of machine data. Their software enables them to generate added value for their customers/other companies.

‘Digital data are the ‘digital’ nails, so to speak, and we build the customers a corresponding tool to use this data, the ‘digital’ hammer,’ is how the founders describe the benefits of their software. The aim of founding the company was to create a certain degree of flexibility so that companies can always customise the tool so that they can use it for their actual work.

The two business informatics graduates got to know each other while working on a project at the University of Siegen. The collaboration between Nico and Martin was uncomplicated right from the start. ‘We're both more interested in technology and want to develop things.’

The founders are still working part-time in research at the University of Siegen. They are therefore always working for open.INC in their spare time. The company was founded with its own financial resources and is currently based in Weidenau. Another employee works full-time as a developer at open.INC.

How did you come up with the idea of open.INC and the associated idea of data analysis?

Nico: In our research project at the University of Siegen, we have always developed a relatively large amount of software that collects, stores and then processes digital data. However, these were prototypes that were not really suitable for operational use. However, we have already tested, utilised and researched these in research projects together with companies.

Martin: The companies where we used this software for research purposes really liked our developments. They were often interested in continuing to use our software after the research project, but still needed customisations/modifications and required service and maintenance. However, the University of Siegen does not offer this desired service. As the demand grew, we thought we could offer the software and the corresponding services on the side.

What appealed to you about setting up your own company?

Nico: Through our work at the university, we come into contact with a relatively large number of companies and get to know their structures. We have realised that the processes in large software companies in particular are very slow and deadlocked. For Martin and me, this is not the way we (want to) work. In self-employment, we have the opportunity to steer things ourselves and decide how we implement things.

When did you decide to set up your own company?

Martin: When customers ‘threatened’ us with an order, so to speak, it occurred to us that perhaps we should put a legal framework around our endeavours.

What is/was innovative about your company?

Nico: The special thing about open.INC is, on the one hand, the connection between the machine world and the software world. With our service, we have just found a niche between mechanical engineers and IT. One side works more with the machines and the data connection, while the other is very good at analysing data. We offer the full range, as we know how to get the data from a machine and then also how to process and analyse the data in software. So we are independent of others.

Martin: Our unique selling point is that our software is open source. This means that it can be used by anyone. At the same time, it can be flexibly customised to the individual requirements of companies.

What was the biggest challenge you faced at open.INC?

Nico: The biggest difficulty was that nobody told us what we had to do, when and how. We had to figure out all the founding processes on our own. All the formalities involved in founding a company were difficult to figure out. We were constantly being sent back and forth.

Martin: I remember one incident, for example. The notary told us to pay money into an account so that he could sign the notarised contract. The savings bank then told us that we couldn't open an account there without a signed notarised contract. And then we were caught between two stools and felt a bit ‘taken for a ride’.

What is your advice for young founders?

Martin: It's difficult to give a generalised answer. But I think it's important to realise that you need to be willing to take a bit of a risk and invest a lot of time.

Nico: And you have to like the work you do. Otherwise, at some point you won't have the stamina needed to set up a company.

Would you found a company again?

Martin: Yes, but we would certainly do a few things differently. We initially founded the company quite naively and built up the necessary structures on the side. These could certainly have been planned and organised a little better in advance.

This portrait is based on an interview with Martin Stein and Nico Castelli in November 2020 and was written by Janice Gust.

 

Click here for the startup's homepage.