NEnA: Entrepreneurs

"I live for my idea"

The 27 year old biotechnologist Katja Heppe founded the company „Heppe Medical Chitosan“ in 2005. She successfully supplies companies of the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry with chitosan in form of nano particles, an important product with versatile applications.

The young female entrepreneur has been awarded various prices, which proove that her concept has been very convincing right from the start. From the first idea to the realization 5 years have passed. Today Katja Heppe has 3 employees and plans a further extention of her company. She prognosticates “a big future” for chitosan and for nanotechnology.

During her studies Ms. Heppe already concerned herself with chitin and its by-product chitosan and discovered its potentials. Chitin which is mainly extracted from the shell of crustaceans is a solid compound which is supposed to protect and support an organism. Chitosan is generated in a chemical process. The natural product has many advantages: It does not excite any anaphylactic reactions and binds bacteria and other objectionable substances. Especially in a sensitive field like medicine constant quality and solid characteristics of the product are essential. A growing customer base prooves that Katja Heppe’s company complies with these stringent requirements. Her technology realizes the production of 100 different types of this product in a high quality and standardized way. 

After graduating from university and making the first professional experiences in economy, also in the company of her parents, Katja Heppe decided for a start-up. “An own company offers the chance to influence your personal development and to set up your own goals”, she describes the liberty of entrepreneurship. Not primary the perspective of being an entrepreneur, but the fascination for one topic and the wish to concentrate on it were the reasons for starting up her own company.

A good idea, however, is not enough to realize a successful start up. As the prize of liberty is partly unforeseeable risks and high demands to the entrepreneur. In addition to staying power and know-how Katja Heppe states another important element: Networks. Right from the entrepreneurial idea contacts were the basis of success and solidity of the company. No matter if acquisition of customers, transfer of know-how or information on the current state of research – the advantage of networking is obvious. Especially in the starting phase it is important to make use of the contact pool. “Do not be too shy”, says the female entrepreneur.

Furthermore young entrepreneurs should take the advantage of the opportunity of professional coaching: Business development, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and entrepreneurial academies offer consultation and support. Applications for entrepreneurial prizes are useful as well, as the applicant is thus requested to think over her concept.

In addition to the above-mentioned qualities, a realistic evaluation of the market and a sound entrepreneurial spirit are the main pillars of a successful company according to Katja Heppe. “Is there a market for my product and is it big enough to live on it?”, that is her decisive question. Moreover the personal qualifications should be put on the acid test. Most of all the own ability to cope with the financial risk of the first years after a foundation needs to be evaluated. Katja Heppe needed a starting capital of 50.000 Euros. Subsidies helped her. She expressly decided against foreign capital. At the beginning her entrepreneurship was financed just by customer orders.

Katja Heppe gathered the necessary knowledge, which qualifies a female scientists as female entrepreneur, in practical experiences while persuing her studies: No matter if marketing, purchasing or controlling, she looked deliberately through all fields of economy and even her research work was based in an entrepreneurial context.

The constant personal development and education are important in order to persist in the start-up stage. Especially in a rapidly develping field like nanotechnology it is essential to be innovative and to know the latest state of research. Coming from the “ivory tower” of science it is important to be “close to the public”, says Katja Heepe and the trends of the market should never be left unobserved. According to herself, her own personal “entrepreneur qualities” are stamina and dedicated commitment, the uncompromising standing for your own idea and a high determination.

Katja Heppe’s working day starts early and ends mostly after more than 12 hours. “Sparetime” was an unknown expression to her for the first 5 years after starting up the company. However the biologist tries to have one day off per week.

The reason for less women than men who decide to start up an own company is among other things the lack of authority. Furthermore women are mostly impeded because of the apparent problem to decide between career and children. A decision which does not turn up for Katja Heppe. She plans to have children and is convinced that her entrepreneurship is an advantage for the alledged problem of compatibility of family and entrepreneurship. E.g. if there was no other solution, she would take take her children to her working office. At this point good networks are also useful.

According to Katja Heppe, there are no fundamental disadvantages of women compared to men in view of starting up a company. However, she is sure that women are requested to give proof of their skills more often than men are. Therefore it is important “to show all the self-confidence you have”, and “not to take everything personally”. A good appearance decides on success and failure. A clear corporate identity was the beginning of Katja Heppes entrepreneurial activities. Name, logo and website are hallmarks and should be well elaborated and professional.

Self confidence does not only require the marketing of own ideas but it is also essential in the interaction with your employees. “Hierachical thinking is imporant,“ says Katja Heppe. She is very careful with the choice of employees and partners. She insists on being on formal terms  „Sie“ with her employees and on the fact „to manage the company and not to be part of the team.”

Katja Heppe makes use of the options to extend her competitive advantages: In addition to the production of chitosan she offers consultation and seminars regarding this subject.

She has big plans for the future. The company is supposed to grow further and to extend its position in the market successfully by buying an additional qualification feature.