part of Startup Factory

IMPULSE with Xantus founders Kim and Sven

PUBLISHED ON
22.10.2024
Author
Emma Schmitt
Category
Event

Two fascinating personalities were our guests on the IMPULSE format. Kim and Sven Eisenmann are best known for their product Xantus. Moderated by Sandra Schöttelndreier, they talked about their exciting founding story, which includes challenges but also many successes.

↓ Overview

The exciting founder story of the duo


Kim and Sven Eisenmann became world-famous with their product Xantus, and Kim even made it onto the Forbes ‘30 under 30’ list. But the world’s first bracelet that can test drinks for knockout drops is not the only idea the two of them have had. With their company Twinvay GmbH, they have already brought various products to market and are already working on the development of the next prototype.

 

Founding is our hobby


They never run out of ideas, and yet it doesn’t feel like work to them. For Sven, work is his hobby, and they both emphasise that business always comes first: founding and entrepreneurship as a way of life as opposed to being an employee. They see the fact that Kim and Sven are married primarily as an advantage, because it allows them to spend time together even while they’re working.

As part of the IMPULSE programme, they also talked about the road to success they have travelled, a journey that required Kim to set aside money while she was still studying. She infected Sven with her entrepreneurial enthusiasm, and so they founded the company together in 2016.

Guest speakers Kim and Sven, founders of Xantus, talking to the audience at the IMPULSE start-up event in Karlsruhe.

On an equal footing and at eye level with partners


The event took place in collaboration with the Equal Opportunities Office and as part of the Women’s Economic Days. We also talked to them about the topic of equality and female entrepreneurship, about which they both have a clear and pragmatic opinion. In the team, they complement each other with their strengths and weaknesses regardless of their gender and see it the same way with business partners and employees. Kim’s role as a woman plays no role in their day-to-day business, except recently in business with the United Arab Emirates, where Sven is increasingly involved.

With their friendly and authentic manner, the two quickly won over the audience and, after their IMPULS, answered a few questions and also made new contacts. Who knows what might come of it! Since we couldn’t just let Kim and Sven go, we also recorded a podcast episode with the two of them. Have a listen!

pictures © TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum

KIT-Gründerschmiede employer and guest speakers Kim and Sven during the start-up event IMPULSE in Karlsruhe
Guest speakers Kim and Sven, founders of Xantus, at the IMPULSE start-up event in Karlsruhe. Guest speakers Kim and Sven, founders of Xantus, talking to the audience at the IMPULSE start-up event in Karlsruhe. Guest speakers Kim and Sven, founders of Xantus, at the IMPULSE start-up event in Karlsruhe. KIT-Gründerschmiede employer and guest speakers Kim and Sven during the start-up event IMPULSE in Karlsruhe Sven and Kim, founders of Xantus, in conversation with attendees at the IMPULSE startup event in Karlsruhe. KIT-Gründerschmiede employee and guest speaker Kim during the start-up event IMPULSE in Karlsruhe KIT-Gründerschmiede employee and guest speaker Kim during the start-up event IMPULSE in Karlsruhe Sven, founder of Xantus, in conversation with attendees at the IMPULSE startup event in Karlsruhe Sven and Kim, founders of Xantus, in conversation with attendees at the IMPULSE startup event in Karlsruhe
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