October 29, 2020, 2:12 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
In the tech sector, Carsten Maschmeyer occasionally invests in startups that don’t make it big–that’s part of the business. But even privately, the entrepreneur has made some missteps. Which device turned out to be a flop, how he got rid of it, and seven other tech questions are answered by Maschmeyer in a quick-fire round with TECHBOOK editor-in-chief Andreas Filbig.
Spontaneity is key in the quick-fire round. The questions should be answered without much thought. TECHBOOK editor-in-chief Andreas Filbig is naturally interested in Carsten Maschmeyer’s everyday tech habits. You can see the results either directly here in the video or read them below.
TECHBOOK Interview with Carsten Maschmeyer
TECHBOOK: “Which app can’t you live without?”
Maschmeyer: “WhatsApp, because it’s important for the family.
TECHBOOK: “Do you remember your first cell phone?”
Maschmeyer: “I had a Nokia brick. Then came ‘Palm,’ where you pulled out a stylus and tapped on it. You could write the first emails with it. Of course, we always lost the stylus. Then we reordered the relatively expensive styluses. They knew how to make money with accessories.”
TECHBOOK: “Do you miss the time before smartphones?”
Maschmeyer: “No, the smartphone is outstanding. Especially because you don’t need a stylus and everything is in one. The transition took a few days, but I admit I’m a total iPhone user and fan.
TECHBOOK: “Smartwatch or analog watch?”
Maschmeyer: “Conventional and even analog. I wind the watch daily. Basically, I only carry one tech device with me. (…) I can only focus on one device.”
TECHBOOK: “Prefer calling or texting?”
Maschmeyer: “I don’t want to disturb people and have phases where I’m more introspective. That’s why during the week, during the day, I prefer calling, because besides the symbolic language, there’s also the voice. You immediately know if you’re exciting someone if you’re trying to acquire them or if you’re hurting someone if you’re too pushy. In the evenings or on weekends, I prefer texting. I find that more polite. It can lead to a call.”
Also interesting: Maschmeyer: “The 5 Most Common Mistakes by Startup Founders
TECHBOOK: “What’s your take on voice messages?”
Maschmeyer: “Since I’m in a lot of meetings, I can’t listen to them. So I quickly write back asking them to text me instead. Especially privately, when the kids or my wife leave a message, voice messages are just more effective.”
TECHBOOK: “Your biggest tech purchase mistake?”
Maschmeyer: “I don’t even remember what it’s called, but I bought a device where you could only write in it. Everything was stored there. I started using it and realized it wasn’t compatible with other systems. I admit, I left it somewhere in a hotel.” (laughs)
TECHBOOK: “How high is your tolerance for tech issues?”
Maschmeyer: “Very high! I experience it daily with our founders. We are invested in about 85 startups. We love digital business models.”