6 The TEP Times | Fall 2014 INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURS
6 The TEP Times | Fall 2014 INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURS
Unlocking the World with KISI
German native Max Schuetz co-founded KISI : an app-operated key system
BY ISABELLE RINGNES
Less than three years ago , Max Schuetz – along with Bernhard Mehl and Carl Pfeiffer - co-founded a virtual key company . After beating 220 other participants in the NYC Next Idea Competition in 2013 , the KISI team decided it was time to bring their smartphone-powered virtual key company from Munich to New York City . Now they are working out of the NYU Poly incubator in DUMBO and continue to develop their innovative key solution .
Can you explain how KISI works ? It ’ s a combination of " keys " and " easy !" KISI enables people to unlock their doors with virtual keys on their smartphones . It ’ s a smartphone app paired with a small device integrated with a building ’ s electronic access system . KISI owners can easily share keys with whomever they want directly through the smartphone app or via email . This unique ability eliminates the need to wait at home in order to let your repairman or visiting friend in ; with a simple click you can share keys , and just as easily you can revoke their access .
Why did you decide to move to New York ? New York is a very dense market and it has an amazing infrastructure . With our Metro cards we are able to reach all of our clients within an hour . New York is a very attractive market because people are very open to try new technologies and innovations , as opposed to Germany where they are more conservative . You also get a lot of support from the city through organizations like the NYCEDC . They introduced us to many investors , clients , and contacts . In the beginning you often get overwhelmed , but once you get your life going
Max Schuetz ( left ) and Bernhard Mehl ( right ) co-founded KISI together with Carl Pfeiffer .
and establish a routine you are able to realize the massive potential in terms of future customer base and partnerships . New York is a great location because people travel here all the time ; it is a natural connecting point to meet with international clients .
What did you find were the biggest challenges of moving to New York as an international entrepreneur ? Immigration , getting a visa , and getting started ... and of course , finding an apartment . I managed to get a visa through the help of a lawyer . We were lucky because we had already gotten some press coverage and could convince immigration that we were actually doing something innovative .
So if you ' re an entrepreneur I recommend that you try to get some media coverage ; not only does it promote your business , it helps justify your visa . It ’ s a win-win .
How do you recommend that people get their business started here ? I recommend using co-working spaces . They are great because you get to meet a variety of people . Because the leases are short-term , it ’ s also very inexpensive . I also recommend using the NYCEDC in addition to university programs like NYU Poly and Columbia University for help with HR . They have certain student programs that essentially pay for your summer interns .
What 3 pieces of advice would you give to international entrepreneurs following in your footsteps ? 1 . People from home will question your decisions and make you feel insecure . But don ’ t listen to them . If you have an idea , try it out ! It ’ s important to ask for advice , but consider the background of the people that give it to you . 2 . Make sure you have some friends where you move . They support you during bad times and lend you their couch when you don ’ t have a home . 3 . Don ’ t think too much about the future . It might scare you . Prepare for what can go wrong , but don ’ t be afraid of failure .
Why New Manufacturing Is The Next Big Thing : Q & A With Calvin Chu
BY FRANK HAUSER
Calvin Chu , former Managing Director of the R / GA Connected Devices Accelerator , powered by TechStars , shares his thoughts on the emergence of new manufacturing in New York City . Chu is a specialist in hardware and the “ Internet of Things ”, and a member of the World to NYC advisory board .
Why do you promote “ new ” manufacturing ? When it comes to hardware , there are so many things that are not connected , that are not smart . It ’ s a wide-open field right now where people can try anything .
Why is New York City the right place for new manufacturing ? A lot of the enabling companies in 3D printing and in industrial design are setting up their base of operations in the five boroughs because of demographics , access to venture capital , and access to talent .
What will this new industrial revolution mean for NYC ? This city ' s diversity of startups is going to really build up the “ street-cred ” of the city . It ’ s going to be the next big growth sector for New York . We already have fashion , media , and finance . Increasingly , these things can happen anywhere . But when it comes to hardware , there are few places in the world that are as perfect as NYC for this .
What do you think manufacturing in NYC will look like in ten years ? Already we ’ re seeing companies build up manufacturing lines in Brooklyn , and New Jersey has always been a big printed circuit board manufacturing center . We can have a complete end-to-end ecosystem where we don ’ t need to outsource beyond the Tri-State area . And when you have a lot of companies in a manufacturing space working in a tight-knit manner , we can get to a place where a startup can go from concept to a complete end product in a very short amount of time , for not a lot of cost .
How should the city and government get involved ? Taxes are higher here than elsewhere , but the city ' s heart is in the right place with initiatives like Startup New York and Made in NY . I ’ m really loving what ’ s happening , but it could be happening faster , especially with more official support .
What needs to be done to take new manufacturing in NYC to the next level ? The next big thing is really branding . The next step should be to attract more venture capitalists that are willing to be a part of the ecosystem here . I also would love to see big support from the city and from the state to evangelize this . And I would love to see the media really get the word out .
Calvin Chu ’ s Take on Demographics , Talent , and Venture Capital
Demographics
• Having high population density and a diverse population is intensely good for new startups . They can bring in a wide group of perspectives that cannot be found anywhere else . You can ’ t go to Shenzhen , Italy , or Russia to field-test a product , but in New York City we can get to neighborhoods with those populations in a thirtyminute trip . Access to Talent
• We don ’ t have a big hardware anchor company that ’ s pulling in all the talent and " raising the floor " on the costs of talent . Here , there are so many people in diverse communities who are very knowledgeable in electronics , industrial engineering , and mechanical engineering . Startups can get to them easily . Access to Venture Capital
• New York VC firms are increasingly including an international perspectives in their investments .