Workplaces: Robert Mayer, co-founder of Visual Meta

People like shopping centers, because there under one roof collected dozens of brands. On the Internet, everything is different: it is necessary to open the website of the site to search for models, compare prices, and so on..

ShopAlike.ru - a virtual shopping mall. This aggregator makes online shopping truly convenient. ShopAlike.ru project belongs to the German company Visual Meta GmbH. We met up with one of its founders, Robert Mayer and found the structure of the workspace the company and how difficult it is to manage an international team (Visual Meta is represented in 20 countries the world).

What do you do in your work?

I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, was looking for the right business idea and found it. I spoke with Oliver Samverom (founder of the German business incubator in Europe "Rocket Internet"), we discussed various ideas for business and came to the idea of ​​shopping platform. It was then that I met with Johannes (the second co-founder of Visual Meta Company), and we started working on the realization of the idea together.

In Russia, we launched Shopalike.ru in the early summer of 2014, and the platform is growing quickly and steadily.

Is it difficult to start a business in Germany?

As I have said, we founded together with Visual Meta "Rocket Internet", a leading business incubator in Europe. It was in late 2008 and in January 2009 we started the official launch. We passed two rounds of business angel funding in 2009, which was enough to reach the break-even point. C 2011, our company belongs to a group Axel Springer company.

It seems to me to start a business in Germany is pretty simple.

The state provides support to start a business through various funding programs.

However, we did not use them. We were lucky - it was possible to find a private investor. The program of public finance is often very strict rules that limit the freedom of the entrepreneur, and we tried to avoid it.

In general, in Germany simply find a business angel funding, is much more complicated things with subsequent rounds of financing - A and B, they are still much more modest than in the US.

What other niches are now in demand in Europe?

I think that soon we will see a lot of innovative solutions in the field of Internet banking, online payment and other Internet of Things. At the moment, huge flows of venture capital attracted to these areas.

What is more difficult: to lead a small company or a huge corporation?

I think the most difficult to manage medium-sized company. Small companies amounted to less than 10 people to manage quite easily, because you personally know everyone. In large corporations already have a proven and well-established processes and structures. But in the fast-growing medium-sized companies (approximately 190 people) you do not know all the personal and often do not have yet the necessary chain of command and a clear hierarchy. This is really difficult.

At the moment, our company has about 120 employees, while in 2009 we had only 40. Every week there are new faces, there are always job openings, as we grow rapidly.

How does your workplace?

I believe that the company must necessarily have its own office, even a separate room. Coworking - is wonderful, but only at first, and as the team grows, you need a separate room. When you are getting more than five people, own rental office becomes a reasonable solution.

This summer we finished repairing office, and now it has become even brighter and more cheerful, that contributes to the overall friendly atmosphere in the company.

In the office we try to do everything possible to our employees were really comfortable, both physically and mentally. In the office, there is always freely available coffee, tea, cereals, fruit and drinks. In addition, in the living room staff can play table tennis, kicker, the PlayStation, play the guitar and just relax, and after 18:30 everyone can enjoy a bottle of German beer.

Is it difficult to manage an international team?

We hire people from all over the world - from Brazil to India, from Norway to Turkey.

We do not draw the line between German officers and employees from other countries, we are all on the same floor.

Every employee at the same time belong to two groups: the team of the country, which held regular meetings, and appropriate department (quality, marketing, design, sales, IT, etc...). So we try to get the best performance and communication, because, as you know, the larger the company, the more there is problems with communication.

What are the difficulties faced by Russian-speaking staff, working for you?

Naturally, each has its own habits and rules, which are due to their culture, education, nationality. However, many Russian-speaking staff, who work in a company for a long time lived outside of the country and has already spent several years in different cities of Europe - in other words, for them to work here is not so much a cultural shock.

Recently, within the company, we have released the so-called Code of Conduct, a manual on corporate culture, in which we share with the staff of the company's core values ​​and basic office etiquette. These things are important when the team is multinational and multicultural. But, basically, I think, due to the friendly atmosphere of the assimilation process is painless, and problems are rare cultural differences.

Arises whether the Russian-speaking employees of difficulties with this?

According to my experience, the Russian least disciplined and accurate than the Germans.

They work well in a team, and they have business acumen. I like to deal with them.

What it takes to be part of your team?

Become a part of the Russian team is not so difficult, as long as we have open vacancy suitable for you. Russia was launched in the beginning of summer, and while at the moment we do not have vacancies in the Russian department, but we are always short of talented developers, so I advise to keep up to date vacancies in the relevant section of Visual-Meta Site.

As you are looking for talent?

Usually, we place position on the largest and most popular recruitment portals. In the case of certain jobs we have been looking for so-called direct, that is, contact the suitable candidates directly and individually.

September 21, 2014, we launched Ideas Competition Berlin Startup CallingWhose purpose - to draw attention to talented students of Russian universities and collect the maximum number of development ideas ShopAlike.ru in Russia.

What software use?

We have a specially developed software for monitoring and control of key performance indicators such as visits, income and so on. D. In addition, we have a special HR-software, which is convenient to store all the personal information of our employees, and through which you can apply for a leave of absence in two clicks.

Is there a dream configuration?

Business of my dreams - it is a business that is useful to society, generates income and whose workspace brings joy to every employee.

We're working on it. ;)