Damian, what excites you about IT?
What particularly excites me about IT is the continuous development of new technologies and methods. This dynamic ensures that working in IT is always exciting and constantly changing. I am particularly interested in administration, software development and cyber security. I am also fascinated by the possibility of solving complex problems with IT solutions. A good example of this is our handball app. This app shows how creative IT solutions can make everyday life easier and better.
How did you come up with the idea for your start-up?
The idea for our start-up came from our own experience in handball. Two of the guys in our team are handball players themselves and have also worked as coaches. This dual role enabled them to recognise first-hand the challenges and difficulties that many clubs face on a day-to-day basis. In particular, they realised that they didn't have an efficient tool to record and manage player data digitally. Previously, they often only used tally sheets and Excel spreadsheets, which was both time-consuming and confusing. In addition, training sessions are currently planned with pen and paper, exercises are taken from various databases (be it YouTube, Instagram or others) and communication with players and parents takes place via WhatsApp. We recognised this gap and decided to develop a solution that would simplify and optimise the management and analysis of player and training data. The result is our handball app, which helps clubs to manage their data more efficiently and thus improve their training and match operations. We want to become the all-in-one app for handball coaches and clubs so that no more time is spent on planning and administration and volunteer coaches have more time to work with players.
At DTS, you work as a Systems Technician in the DC IT Solutions - Team Operations department. How do you reconcile your job and the start-up?
In order to balance my job at DTS and the start-up, I had to make a clear prioritisation. As my main commitment is to my job as a Systems Technician, the start-up takes up less time. Nevertheless, we have developed a fixed schedule so that we can work continuously on our project. Every week, we set aside around eight hours to concentrate on the further development of the app. In addition, we regularly schedule entire Saturdays to meet in person, work intensively on the app and support each other with any problems that arise. This targeted time management and effective teamwork enable me to fulfil both tasks without one of the two projects being neglected.
Does your involvement in your start-up influence your work at DTS and vice versa?
Both in app development and in my role as a Systems Technician, it is necessary to find solutions to complex problems. The approach to problem solving is very similar in both areas as it requires a lot of research such as searching stack overflow and try-and-error methods. Working on our start-up has developed my problem-solving skills and strengthened my perseverance. It has also made me more patient and persistent in troubleshooting and analysing problems.
How do you stay motivated even in difficult times?
In challenging phases, I always remind myself how far we have come since the start of development. The thought that we have made progress from the initial ideas and concepts to a functioning product motivates me enormously. It's impressive to see what we've already achieved, and that gives me the energy to keep believing in our vision and working hard towards it.
What are your professional and personal wishes for the future?
I would like to continue to develop professionally in the future by constantly familiarising myself with new topics and technologies and possibly also getting a taste of other areas. I would also like to see our start-up grow successfully in the coming years. The aim is to reach as many handball teams and clubs as possible with our handball app and to offer them real added value through our solution and bring more professionalism to handball across the board.
dts.de