SQUEEZE- the new Interview Series

@knozaki2015 will interview CEOs, Lawyers, Steemit Whales, Activists, Entrepreneurs, VCs, Models and many more. 

The Interview Series starts with former CEO of www.Flightright.com Marcus Schmitt, who is now running COPYTRACK in Berlin (Copytrack finds copyright infringements)

#1 Which problems does your startup solve? 

Our service is dedicated to everybody who provides images online. These pictures get stolen countless times everyday by being copied and distributed illegally. The creators have an enormous financial disadvantage because of that.  Until now there is not much one can do about it. Copyright infringements are difficult to pursue and considered a trivial offense. In addition to the time required detecting an infringement and to take actions against it, there always remains a legal risk. COPYTRACK provides  a tool to risk less and comfortably assert their demands. We offer our  service free of charge and even bear the risk of legal fees. All we do  is keeping a success-related commission. 

It´s easy - just upload  pictures - we deliver the worldwide matches - you decide whether its legal  or COPYTRACK should follow up - we take care of the rest!

Whilst  doing all that we always aim for a fair settlement between all sides  and emphasize on performing polite but decisive for our customers.   

#2 How did you come up with the idea for your startup?

In  my head ideas are sinning around all day, and based on my experience so  far I am linking many possibilities and networks in my environment. So  with COPYTRACK I was looking  for a legal issue, that is a mass phenomenon and has the potential of  being automated.  However I did not expect  this project to be so extremely complex in two fields. Creating a  powerful image search engine and image matching engine as well as  building a highly scalable post-licensing, collection and  claiming platform. 

#3 Can you tell me a story about a customer using your product?

Just two weeks ago, we had a  customer uploading his images. He immediately worked on his hits &  results and submitted a claim for post licensing. Our engine  automatically calculated the official fee and contacted  the infringing party. They responded on our settlement platform and we  had a mutual settlement and post-licensing after 15 hours.

Everybody was happy!

#4 Who is the team of your startup?

The management team  consists of two extremely experienced people. Our operational management  is assembled of people I already work with since a few years and the  rest of the team are young, motivated and inspiring  people.

The main thing is that we love to work together, have a lot of fun and like a lot what we do.

#5 How do you finance your startup?

We had a initial investment and I also put some money on the table.

Our business started so  successful that we can grow organically now, but still we want to speed  up and might take another round of investment.

#6 What is your go to market approach?

Well, the area of  photography is quite well organized. Photo- and News- agencies are  contacted directly or on certain congresses. Photographers are well  organized in blogs and social media, so we do our online marketing  homework.

Another important step is  to be present internationally. So we just opened up subsidiaries in  New York and Tokyo. This way we have no difference in time zones and also  get to know the markets and legal systems much  better.

#7 How do you monetize and scale?

Fees are easy and transparent:

The use of our service is free. 

We just keep a success fee of 30% in case we are successful

That´s it!

Scaling means being highly  automized. Or whole system, the image technology as well as all  licensing and legal processes are almost fully automatic and connected  with a sophisticated business intelligence. This way  it does not matter whether we receive 100 pictures or 100 million  pictures. Our engines scale as we go. This is also the key to our low  cost structure.

#8 Where will your startup be in five years?

For sure we will be market  leading in this area. But we have much bigger plans and these will be a  revolution for the market of online image licensing.

#9 What mistakes have you made thus far and what have you learned?

Plenty I guess :-)

Initially I trusted some business partners, they copied my idea while we were trying to build up our business. 

When I found out we stopped the cooperation. Now they still try to copy us and think they are smart - but they have no idea how complex this topic is and actually  they are not smart at all - so I don´t care ;-)

#10 What is the first bit of advice you’d give to someone who’s thinking of starting their own business?

Find competent and loyal  partners that complete your competencies, constantly challenge your own  business model and if it feels right - don´t give up. If it´s not fun -  don´t do it!

#11 Are you joining Steemit.com?

We are currently looking into Steemit, and i will  join Steemit in the next days.

Thank you very much Marcus Schmitt, we see you soon on www.steemit.com!!!

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• SQUEEZE (Interview Series)