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Start-up Heat Movement: From sneaker hype to a new health app!
Neustadt an der Weinstraße: Anton Gartner and Henning Sattler found new health app DROPTIME after success with Heat Movement.
Start-up Heat Movement: From sneaker hype to a new health app!
Innovative ideas blossom in Neustadt, not least thanks to Anton Gartner and Henning Sattler. Seven years ago, the two school friends founded the app Heat Movement, which quickly became number 1 in Germany for sneakers. With around 30 employees and five million downloads, the app was a real success - until the hype about sneakers died down and demand fell. SWR reports that Gartner and Sattler benefited from the sudden flood of online buyers during the Corona pandemic, with many sneakers being sold as collector's items at high prices. But after the hype died down, challenges followed.
In order to keep up with the times, Gartner, Sattler and their former intern Lars Bundenthal founded a new app called DROPTIME. This app compares offers for nutritional supplements and informs users about discounts. “The app is aimed at everyone who wants to take care of their health, not just fitness fans,” explains Gartner. This shows how flexible and creative startups have to be in order to survive in a constantly changing market.
The startup market in Germany
Did you know that North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the main regions for startups in Germany? Loud Statista Startups represent young companies that pursue innovative ideas with often little start-up capital. Many rely on external sources of financing, while the number of bankruptcies has increased in recent years. The business climate index shows that the mood among founders has cooled, which is currently the case German Startup Monitor is occupied. Despite the challenges, there are bright spots: more new startups were founded in the first half of 2023.
Challenges and perspectives
The period after the sneaker hype meant some difficult decisions for Gartner and Sattler. About a year and a half ago, Heat Movement was sold and the layoffs of about half of their employees were tearful. Gartner describes these decisions as tough but necessary. However, it's not just the economic conditions that matter; the personal connection and passion for sneakers that unites the founders are also crucial to their success.
The new offices on Lindenstrasse are a sign of their new direction: with sofas, large screens and game consoles, they offer a creative environment in which innovative solutions can be developed. Gartner remembers the beginnings with Heat Movement, whose first logo made a lasting impression through sponsored football jerseys from clubs in the Palatinate. These memories show that successful companies are created with honest commitment and a good knack for the right ideas.
The true strength of startups in Germany lies not only in their creative businesses, but also in the tireless willingness of their founders to break new ground and develop further. Whether it's with sneaker apps or nutritional supplements - the journey has just begun.