PLUTA Restructuring Expert Ingo Thurm holds Talks with Investors for Start-up Company Smartjobr

Ingo Thurm from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH is in the process of finding an investor for Smartjobr GmbH based in Hanover. The provider of a platform for freelancers had to file for insolvency at the beginning of June, whereupon the Local Court of Hanover appointed Mr Ingo Thurm as the provisional insolvency administrator.

Smartjobr developed an iOS and Android app for bringing together freelancers and potential customers from the creative and digital sector. The company has nine employees, whose salaries are guaranteed for a period of three months thanks to the so-called insolvency substitute benefits.

The reason why Smartjobr filed for insolvency was liquidity problems as a result of planned external funds not being granted. Business operations will be continued without any restriction. Restructuring expert Mr Ingo Thurm is currently in the process of finding an investor for the company. Initial talks with several prospective buyers have already taken place.

“My goal is to find an investor for the company in the near future. Several investors have expressed their interest in this innovative company. This is a good basis for the further discussions with potential investors,” said the PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Ingo Thurm, who will be supported in the proceedings by the attorney Mr Günther Hahn.

Smartjobr GmbH was founded by Mr Pascal Wabnitz (CEO) and Mr Nils Kreyenhagen (COO) in 2015. Mr Florian Mielke (CTO) subsequently became involved as a co-founder. In July 2017, the start-up company launched an app of the same name. Since then, Smartjobr has been on an expansion course. In the meantime, users from 47 countries have been benefiting from this matching-based freelance recruiting platform. Customers include companies operating in areas ranging from advertising, design, PR, social media, e-commerce to recruiters, business consultants as well as start-ups.

Chief Operating Officer Mr Nils Kreyenhagen said, “The CEO of a major international company in this sector recently verified that we have the best mobile solution on the market. In about two-to-three months, the web version of Smartjobr should also be available. It is, therefore, all the more regrettable that we did not succeed in concluding the last round of financing. Sometimes this is part and parcel of the start-up business. However, we are involved in promising talks with domestic and foreign investors.”