With this measure, the Hive founder increases his mental health

Hive

When Franz Purucker looks back on the past year, it must feel like it was five years. At least. In winter, Hive was still the promising, small startup of three elite university graduates, in addition to Purucker they are Oskar Ziegler and Leonard von Kleist. In the spring, the VCs Earlybird, Amplifier and Picus Capital, the founder of Flixbus and Michael Wax from Forto then invested 6.6 million euros in the tech company. And in the autumn, the investors put in another clean: 29 million euros additional in a Series A round , led by Tiger Global from the USA. According to the company, Hive is valued at around 135 million euros.

Hive is benefiting from the boom in the direct-to-consumer segment. As a fulfillment provider, the founding trio takes care of the manufacturers. In its own warehouses, Hive takes over the entire processes for the producers, regardless of the goods: processing incoming orders, processing payments, packing packages, shipping. In addition: prediction or analysis. Automation of stocks, deliveries and returns, inventory forecasting and cost analysis.

In the start-up scene questionnaire, Purucker tells what he has learned in this exciting year – and what he plans to do for the next.

Franz, what new things did you learn about yourself in 2021?

I have learned that it helps me to clearly differentiate in day-to-day business as a founder whether or not I can directly influence an event or a risk. Events like the unexpected cancellation of a potential customer or a delayed train journey are not worth emotional tension. All that counts is to invest my full energy every day in building the best team and the best product for our customers. I highly recommend Ryan Holiday’s book “The Daily Stoic” for developing stoic calm in unexpected situations.

Keyword Mental Health: How do you keep yourself mentally fit?

I think the most important trick for me is to give up the pursuit of the perfect balance – no one gets the perfect one Life. I love intensity and therefore try to be either completely “on” or completely “off”. During the week I am 100 percent focused on work and do not meet privately, on Saturdays I turn off my cell phone and spend time with close friends and my girlfriend, on Sundays I do administrative work and do sports.

How would you describe the development of the startup scene in the past year?

The increase in extremely early pre-seed investments, which often take place before the first product version or sales, combined with the macroeconomic environment of years of low interest rates and high capital availability in all VC- Fund has significantly reduced the personal risk of becoming a founder – there has never been a better time to start than now!

Have you discovered a new hobby for yourself?

I had the opportunity to do a week of freediving in spring to go – diving with your own breath instead of an oxygen bottle – and found the experience of searching for a quasi meditative state under water fascinating. It’s not a routine hobby yet, but maybe I’ll be able to dive again next year.

Who would you have liked to meet for lunch in 2021?

I would have liked to get to know the Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, who did it has managed to help shape one of the world’s most digitally-savvy governments and crush bureaucracy. Your term of office ended last year, maybe the chances for a lunch appointment will soon be better.

For what did you spend the most money?

I spend way too much money on Mobility Services – Uber, Swapfiets, a dance bike – instead of just getting up 15 minutes earlier and riding a bike normally.

Which startup Would you have liked to read the news last year?

I would have been happy to see more announcements from new European growth equity funds in order to increase the proportion of late-stage financing led by local rather than American investors and thus later to allow more profits from our tech scene to flow into the European economies.

Which company would you have bought shares in if it were on the stock exchange?

Trade Republic, as the solution to trading ETFs smoothly via mobile phone makes it easier for many people to invest instead of just saving .

Which trend did you find overrated in 2021?

I have to admit that I haven’t invested enough time in the subject of “Metaverse” to understand the potential.