Company: Krüger law firm

Founder: Edith Krüger

Date of foundation: January 1, 2020

Industry and company: Legal advice / legal services industry

What drives you? What is your motto?

"Anyone who stops improving has stopped being good." - Philip Rosenthal What drives me? The relentless drive to continuously grow and seize opportunities.

What is your start-up about and what is special about it?

My start-up is about offering companies a clear and understandable approach to data protection and legal protection. What makes my law firm special is its practical approach: I translate complex legal requirements into simple, practicable solutions that not only offer legal protection, but also create trust among clients. I therefore offer tailor-made solutions that enable companies to proactively shape data protection and thus increase their competitiveness.

What are your first successes?

My first successes include providing comprehensive advice to a large group company on the implementation of the GDPR. This collaboration not only led to a significant improvement in data protection measures, but also strengthened the company's trust in my expertise. To this day, this group is one of my most important clients, which gives me a great sense of achievement and shows how valuable my work can be for large companies.

What is your professional background?

My professional career began as a salaried lawyer at various companies such as Deutsche Telekom and Bertelsmann, where I was able to gain valuable experience in dealing with legal issues within the corporate group. However, the desire to advise independently led me to self-employment. Although many people around me, such as my parents, who had a secure job as a civil servant, were skeptical at first and had concerns about the risks, I was not discouraged. I wanted to realize my own vision and have a positive impact on the companies I advise through my independence.

What was the trigger for you to set up your own company?

A key experience that led me to self-employment was the moment when I realized how much I was restricted in my role as an employed in-house lawyer in the corporate structure. I often felt inhibited in my creativity and freedom of decision, as in this role you are subject to the right of direction of your superior. This insight made me think about my professional goals and I no longer wanted to realize the visions of others, but to develop my own ideas and solutions. This need for independence and self-determination motivated me to take the plunge into self-employment.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?

My family, especially my parents, were initially skeptical, but ultimately gave me emotional support. My husband was a decisive support, who not only gave me backing, but also actively helped me to implement my start-up plan. In addition, mentors from my professional network were on hand to advise me and gave me practical tips on attracting clients and setting up my law firm. This combination of family support and professional advice was crucial to my success.

How did you experience the first few days as a founder?

The first few days of my start-up were characterized by a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It was fascinating to finally make my own decisions and implement my vision. At the same time, I was overcome with uncertainty: would I win enough customers? Would everything work? These questions were buzzing in my head, while at the same time I felt the freedom and the new opportunities. The first call from a potential client was a pivotal moment - it reassured me that I was on the right track. Those days were full of intense emotions and educational experiences that prepared me for the journey of self-employment.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

When setting up the company, the business side was initially my biggest challenge. I had to familiarize myself intensively with topics such as cost accounting, liquidity planning and controlling. Through continuous training, I not only developed the necessary skills, but also discovered my passion for entrepreneurial management. Today, I see this initial hurdle as a valuable added value for my personal development as an entrepreneur.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?

I draw attention to my company by regularly sharing three weekly LinkedIn posts on my company page and my personal account. These posts offer valuable insights into current data protection topics and our expertise. Word-of-mouth advertising also plays a crucial role, as satisfied clients often talk about my firm. This personal recommendation is one of the most effective forms of advertising and has already brought me many new contacts and clients.

How did you finance your start-up?

I financed it with my own funds, as there are unfortunately no subsidies for law firm start-ups - unlike in other sectors. The biggest investments were in a secure infrastructure and suitable software.

What dream would you still like to realize?

I would like to make one of my dreams come true by expanding my law firm into a recognized competence center for data protection. In the long term, I want to build up a large team so that I can support even more companies effectively and develop new projects together.

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would ...

... pursue my hobbies more intensively again, especially playing tennis.

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?

My special tip for founders is to build up a strong network early on. Contacts with mentors and like-minded people not only offer valuable advice, but also support in difficult times. And don't be afraid to ask for help - nobody expects you to do everything on your own!