Company: M&M Äppelwoi GbR

Founders: Maik Peters & Marco Lasser

Date of foundation: January 1, 2024

Industry and company: Beverages / wine production

What drives you? What is your motto?

A simple idea became our first own cider, which is now going its own way. What was initially just a question from Maik to Marco then became reality.

The positive encouragement from the people around us is also what drives us and spurs us on to continue.

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

M&M Äppelwoi stands for us, Maik & Marco, who produce our own Hessian cider and sell it ourselves. Naturally with everything that goes with such a brand.

What are your first successes?

The positive feedback from friends and acquaintances and also from our first customers is what has made us particularly happy. It has shown us that our idea is well received.

What is your professional background?

We both trained as craftsmen.

Maik Peters: Specialist for event technology

Marco Lasser: Electronics technician for energy and building technology.

What prompted you to set up your own company?

That a test phase turned into more than that. It showed us that there was more to it than that. We were encouraged by more and more people from our environment - which also led us to set up a company.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?

Discussions with our families helped us here, but we also received advice from other companies in the beverage industry, such as Bierstadt Gold.

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

There is a lot behind it. You don't just set up a company, you have to do a lot of things before you can really get going.

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

You can't really name one. We looked at what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it and then we got started, true to the motto: just do it!

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

We use social media like Instagram a lot. But you also have to say here

that word-of-mouth advertising helps a lot. And it's particularly important to make contacts with other companies and associations.

How did you finance your start-up?

So far, we have been able to pay for everything from our own funds.

What dream would you still like to realize?

To make Hessian cider better known beyond the borders of Hesse.

And, of course, to become a good player for apple wine here in the region.

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

... invest even more in M&M Äppelwoi.

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

Just do it! If you have an idea, just try to realize it. Only then can you see what it can become. Sometimes the best things happen from the craziest ideas!