Sramana Mitra: You provide this to e-commerce companies? Martin Verwijmeren: Yes. We have two markets. On one hand, we have brand owners including manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers. They want to orchestrate their supply chains better. They make use of MPO. Within that market, we focus on consumer products. We also focus on industrial markets. Think
Sramana Mitra: Can you give us an example? Maybe work through a customer use case so that we understand exactly what you are talking about. Martin Verwijmeren: I’ll also explain how we go to market. MP Objects is a platform to support companies in their supply chain orchestration so that they can, through their customers,
We’re seeing some excellent European companies make successful transitions into becoming global software companies. This is an excellent and inspiring story for European startups to emulate. Sramana Mitra: Let’s start at the very beginning of your journey. Where are you from? Where were you born, raised, and in what kind of background? Martin Verwijmeren: I’m
Sramana Mitra: I have a few questions. In terms of university strategies, at what point did the universities start coming on board? At what point did you start closing university deals? David Lloyd: We closed our first university deal in 2013 with Europe’s largest private university in Milan. They remain one of our best university
Sramana Mitra: What were you doing revenue-wise? You started in 2011. What revenue level did you finish 2011 at? How long did it take you to hit the $1 million revenue run rate? David Lloyd: In 2011, our revenue was $20,000. We hit $1 million in early 2013. Sramana Mitra: In 2013, you’re still self-funded?
Sramana Mitra: The under-21 World Cup became a client of yours and they were offering internships on your platform. You started finding those interns through your platform. David Lloyd: Exactly. Sramana Mitra: How did you find these guys as clients? David Lloyd: That was due to the hustle and determination of my co-founder Joanna Molina.
Sramana Mitra: 2011 was when you started? David Lloyd: January 2011. Sramana Mitra: What were the circumstances? What was going on in the industry? What was going on in your own personal life? What was the idea that came out of both factors? David Lloyd: I was working on the trading floor in Merrill Lynch
If you haven’t already, please study our free Bootstrapping course and the Investor Introductions page. I am very bullish about market opportunities that are large enough to build sizable businesses but not large enough such that VCs end up funding numerous competing companies. This case study shows you how a niche player with a $150