At the heart of the University of Cologne lies the Gateway Excellence Start-up Center—a vibrant hub empowering entrepreneurial talent. It plays a key role in shaping students who are not just taught business theories but are prepared to lead in a world that prizes sustainability, innovation, and bold thinking. Graduates step into the job market ready to challenge conventions and create real-world solutions. The Start-up Center fuels this spirit by offering essential resources, from office space and mentorship to expert-led workshops on navigating complex funding environments.
Aligning with our Faculty's motto, “Today's Ideas. Tomorrow's Impact.”, the startup catchHR - a platform dedicated to skill alignment and long-term employee retention - exemplifies the exceptional support provided by the Gateway Start-up Center and the comprehensive education students receive at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne.
Founded by graduates Marco Verhoeven and Justin Bous, catchHR, was born from an idea to address the mismatch between candidates and companies and has, by now, transformed into an AI-powered recruitment platform. Using over 600 online sources, their AI Agent KIRA employs preference-based matching to automatically identify similarities between candidates‘ and recruiters' needs, ensuring a strong personal and cultural fit for employees and employers. This innovative approach benefits companies by not only finding qualified talent but also employees who align with their values, leading to higher retention and productivity. For students and graduates, it means being placed in roles where they can thrive, grow, and find fulfilment, paving the way for successful careers.
The startup's journey, driven by flexibility, resilience, and innovation, highlights how students apply academic learning to address societal needs like sustainability and ethical business. Their focus on practical, efficient solutions meets the needs of both employers and job seekers, setting them apart by ensuring a successful and satisfying recruitment experience.
“As experts in matching candidates with employers, we have found that University of Cologne students exhibit excellent employability skills. Their strong methodological foundation, persistence, and willingness to invest time and energy in their work are highly commendable. These students are well-prepared to explore what truly brings them joy in their careers, and our experience shows that there is a perfect job match for everyone. Early identification of personal strengths and interests is key to their success.”
Moreover, WiSo students and alumni reflect the shifting mindset of today’s workforce: they prioritise not just career success but also purpose-driven work that aligns with values like environmental sustainability. With the help of the Gateway Start-up Center, these students are empowered to develop the skill sets and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving global marketplace, making it a beacon for those eager to make a lasting impact.
Discover the full story behind Marcos and Justin's bold leap into entrepreneurship and how their shared vision led to the creation of catchHR in the interview below.
1. How did you come up with the idea of founding your start-up? Let’s get straight to it – how did everything kick off?
When we met, Marco worked in a consultancy while Justin was already deep into campus recruiting for major companies. Marco witnessed how the consultancy’s HR team was hiring people whose skills and personalities did not align with their job and the company. Since Justin was already working with personality analyses, we discovered we were a perfect match, and the idea for catchHR was born!
2. To what extent did the Gateway Excellence Start-up Center specifically support you in your process?
The Gateway Excellence Start-up Center was instrumental in our development. It provided us with crucial support, including the initial office space, guidance in navigating funding opportunities, and comprehensive workshops on writing business plans and understanding legal and tax obligations. This early-stage support helped us secure our first funding and laid the groundwork for our network in the entrepreneurial community. The resources and coaching available at Gateway allowed us to avoid common pitfalls and significantly accelerated our growth.
3. What have you learned from founding your own company?
Founding catchHR we learned as well as the students at the University of Cologne that we would have to build on the theories covered and introduced in the lecture hall. One of the biggest lessons learned is it’s always more bureaucratic and expensive than you imagine the costs to be. No matter how well you plan, there are so many unexpected hurdles - especially here in Germany. But we quickly realised: you just have to start. Overthinking kills momentum. A certain level of healthy naivety actually helps you push forward before the “what ifs” slow you down.
We also learned that there’s no such thing as the perfect idea. You don’t need a fully fleshed-out business plan from day one. What matters is the topic you’re passionate about -the actual idea grows and evolves over time. And sometimes, even if your heart is 100% in it, not every passion project is meant to be a business. That was a tough but important realisation. Another key learning was: go where the need already exists. Trying to create demand from scratch can be a long, painful path. If the market is already there and you can offer something better, faster, or more accessible, you're already in a better position.
And finally, we understood how crucial it is to have strong financial partners. A good idea without the right backing can only go so far. Having partners who believe in the vision and can support it financially makes all the difference when you're navigating uncertainty.
4. What benefits does your software have for students?
CatchHR offers students personalised job opportunities that align with both their skills and personalities, helping them find roles that are a perfect fit. The software uses AI technology to match students with job openings that align with their academic background and personal traits, increasing their chances of finding a position that fits them well. This personalised approach helps students transition smoothly into the workforce, finding roles that suit their qualifications and long-term career aspirations.
5. Do you feel like graduates have a different set of demands or beliefs when entering the “job market”? Which values are important to them and has this changed over time?
Yes, we observe that today's graduates have different demands and beliefs when entering the job market. They prioritise flexibility, work-life balance, and continuous learning and development opportunities. There is also a strongly emphasise finding purpose in their work and aligning with companies that share their values, such as sustainability and social responsibility. These priorities have evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting a shift towards a more holistic approach to career satisfaction.
6. How do you see the role of talent scouting companies evolving in the context of global sustainability trends?
As companies increasingly prioritise sustainability, the demand for talent with expertise in sustainable practices is rising. Our role is to identify and connect such forward-thinking professionals with companies committed to making a positive environmental impact. By aligning the right talent with these global sustainability goals, we help businesses to innovate and thrive in a more sustainable future. Sustainability can be applied to recruiting as well. Employee retention means a sustainable job for the candidate, happy employees mean healthy employees. We believe in creating a long-term partnership between companies and their candidates. And of course, because companies can work with our system in an economically sustainable way.
7. And how important is environmental sustainability to your company's operations?
Environmental sustainability is at the core of our company's operations. In every decision we make, we prioritise sustainable solutions that benefit both the business and the planet. For example, we plant trees to offset our carbon footprint, rely on eco-friendly electricity, and operate in a fully paperless office.
