Scaling and Exiting Peers Solutions
From zero to acquisition: Building an AI-powered learning platform across Europe
1. Founding, Funding & Enterprise Expansion
I co-founded Peers Solutions with Dr. David Topf after successfully pitching in TRUMPF’s corporate accelerator. We became the first and only team to spin out independently, retaining 100% founder equity.
Over five years, I raised €4.5M in venture capital and €1M in public grants, positioning Peers among Germany’s most innovative digital learning platforms. We were recognized twice in national selection programs for top edtech ventures, with substantial grant funding from the federal government tied to that distinction.
I built and led the company’s expansion into enterprise B2B SaaS, signing clients like KUKA, Volvo, Scania, and a major banking group. Personally, I closed high six-figure contracts, grew contract volumes beyond €1M annually, and doubled ARR year over year in DACH and the Nordics.
2. Scaling Go-to-Market and Building the Team
To support this growth, I designed and implemented our go-to-market engine, combining:
- A data-driven sales funnel using BANT-based qualification, supported by a stack of HubSpot, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Surfe, and Mailchimp for high-quality lead qualification, nurturing, and pipeline management.
- Targeted demand generation strategies yielding 700 qualified MQLs/month.
- First-page SEO alongside consistent PR in Germany’s leading business and industry media such as Handelsblatt, Wirtschaftswoche, and Capital.
I hired and led a 20-person cross-functional team across sales, product, and customer success. Internally, I established playbooks, onboarding systems, a feedback culture, and a performance-linked compensation model aligned with rapid growth.
I also launched a second revenue stream: a curated content marketplace, by partnering with ZEIT Akademie, Haufe, and Cornelsen, negotiating SaaS-style revenue-share models.
3. Product Pivot & Acquisition
By year three, we recognized a recurring challenge: corporate learning was often deprioritized during budget cuts. I led the strategic pivot from a learning platform to an AI-based skills management solution, focusing on:
- Automated skill assessments
- Personalized learning paths
- A custom LLM trained on four years of proprietary skill graph data
This pivot resulted in a 17x increase in ARPU, a 230% optimization of our sales funnel, and 2x inbound leads — making the company significantly more attractive for acquisition.
I led our M&A process in collaboration with a boutique advisory firm: built a longlist of 100 potential buyers, managed due diligence and data rooms, negotiated multiple offers, and ultimately closed the acquisition with edyoucated as the strongest strategic and cultural fit.
I stayed on during pre- and post-merger integration to ensure smooth transition of team, customers, and roadmap.
