Tell us something about your Company, when was your company founded, your location, in how many countries are you active:
Barzahlen is Germany’s largest independent cash payment infrastructure. Our customers use our large cash-payment network with more than 10.000 retail partner stores for invoice payments, cash deposits and withdrawals from their bank account. The Cash Payment Solutions GmbH, which is the company behind Barzahlen, was founded in 2011 by Florian Swoboda, Achim Bönsch and Sebastian Seifert in Berlin.
Your Business
What is your core business?
We enable cash payments at retail stores for many different industries. Our service can be used in different sectors such as e-commerce, telecommunication, travel, gaming, insurance and the energy sector. Bills from these sectors may simply be made with cash at a retail store. The customer receives a payment slip with a bar code on their bill sent via e-mail, mail or SMS and takes this bar code to the closest Barzahlen retail partner store. Once the barcode is scanned at the cash register and paid with cash or any other available payment method at one of our retail partner stores, the payment is confirmed in real time.
How did you get to your business idea and when was your company established?
The business idea was developed by Florian Swoboda and Achim Bönsch in 2010. At this time Florian Swoboda was working for an E-Commerce Startup. He found out that a significant number of customers abort the checkout process. Achim Bönsch was working at this time for a business consultancy in the consumer goods and retail sector. Because you can’t find such a bad conversion rate in retail, they took a closer look on payment solutions. They found out that more than two thirds of the German population over 18 years old do not own a credit card. On top of that 79% of all purchases in German retail are made in cash. Cash is accessible to everyone – independent of age, place of residence or credit rating. As a result they decided to bring a cash payment solution to the internet. Barzahlen enables online shopping, playing or travel booking for cash users without revealing any sensitive financial data. Since 11th march 2013 Barzahlen is available nationwide in Germany.
Are you using Venture Capital? And if – who are your Venture Partners?
To assure a balanced growth of Barzahlen we are using carefully selected Venture Partners. One of our investors is the Alternative Strategic Investment GmbH. ALSTIN is a private, long-term-oriented investment company within the Maschmeyer Group in Hannover. Additionally the Berlin Technologie Holding is one of our Venture Partners. They are firmly based in Berlin with a majority of their portfolio companies. Our third partner is the Grenke Bank AG, which is s a wholly owned subsidiary of Grenke Leasing AG since 2009 and a member of the Grenke Group. The newly established and rapidly growing unit REWE Digital in Cologne pools all of the strategic and some of the operational online activities of REWE Group and is also a Venture Partner of Barzahlen.
In which countries are you active? Are you planning to expand your venture in other countries? And if – where?
Barzahlen is available nationwide at more than 10.000 retail partner stores, more than 8.000 online shops as well as hundreds of companies. We plan to expand into other countries in Europe in the future.
Where do you see the company in 5 years?
The focus for the future is on the Barzahlen banking solution for withdrawals and deposits from bank accounts. Next to Number26 and DKB, more banks will offer that service in the future. Our vision is to bring more and more bank services into the retail sector and, together with our retail partners, become the place where everyone can manage his or her most basic banking needs.
Your Team
How many employees work at your company right now? Are you planning to expand?
Cash Payment Solutions GmbH employs a young team of about 30 creative and dedicated employees in Berlin. We are always looking for highly motivated people who are searching for a new professional challenge.
What is the average age of your team members?
The average age of our team members is thirty-something. We employ several experienced people who are experts in their industry, for example the energy sector or the gaming industry.
What kind of attitude should new employees have to have in order to work at your company?
Our team is young but with top talents. We love our product and we work with high motivation and professionalism. But no worries, fun is also not missed out.
Why is it fun to work at your company? Do you offer any employee benefits?
Our team spirit appears every day, especially in our regular team events, lucky lunches to get to know each other and after-work activities.
Do you offer new employees a relocation service or help to relocate?
We do help new employees with apartment search and removal.
Do you have a job board? What is the web-link?
Yes we have: Career (in German) & Career (in English)
Your Office
How big is your Office/Production Site?
Our office is located in the heart of Berlin on more than 300 square meters.
Did you get help from an interior designer by designing the office? And if who did you work together with?
Our interior is designed with passion by our whole Barzahlen team. ♥
Thank you Barzahlen / Cash Payment Solutions Team for this interview and the photoshooting!
Location: Berlin, Germany Website: http://www.barzahlen.de
Photos: copyright by AndreasL.de
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