We Need More Founders! – Christian Müller on OMR, Co-founding with Friends, and the Zalando Exit

About this episode

"I think being an entrepreneur is really fucking awesome!" – With these words, Christian Müller sums up his passion for founding companies. The serial entrepreneur has successfully built multiple companies, sold his first venture Metrigo to Zalando, and created the Online Marketing Rockstars festival, which exceeded all expectations in 2023 with 26,000 participants.

From Hobby Project to Mega Event

What now attracts tens of thousands of marketing professionals to Hamburg as the Online Marketing Rockstars Festival began as a simple hobby project. Together with two friends, Müller developed the idea to create a platform for the online marketing community. The festival has since become just one building block of a larger ecosystem.

Online Marketing Rockstars has evolved into a genuine brand with multiple channels: alongside the festival, there's the OMR Podcast, the job board onlinemarketingjobs.de, and Podstars. According to Müller, this diversity in offerings is one of the key success factors.

Co-founding with Friends – Blessing or Curse?

A central theme of the conversation: founding companies with friends. Müller has had both positive and challenging experiences. While many experts advise against it, his example shows it can definitely work – if you create the right conditions.

Conflict situations are inevitable but not necessarily destructive. What matters is how you handle them and whether you're willing to have difficult conversations. Müller's experience shows that clear structures and open communication are the keys to success.

From Founding to Exit

The sale of Metrigo to Zalando was an important milestone in Müller's entrepreneurial journey. But what actually changes when you sell a company? This experience brings not only financial changes but also new perspectives on entrepreneurship.

Müller's view on bootstrapping is also interesting: Is it actually an advantage to start without external capital? His experiences show that the lack of resources often leads to creative solutions and stronger focus on what's essential.

Realistic Expectations of Founder Life

Müller also speaks openly about expectations you shouldn't have as a founder. Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but reality looks different. Anyone who founds a company should be aware that it's not just about the big success moments, but also about daily challenges and setbacks.

Balancing Multiple Projects

A practical aspect that concerns many serial entrepreneurs: How do you balance different projects? Müller shows how he manages to juggle OMR with his freelancing work and what priorities he sets.

Conclusion: Germany Needs More Founders

Christian Müller's story is a plea for more entrepreneurial courage in Germany. His experiences show that successful founding is possible – even with friends, even without large startup capital, and even in a competitive market like online marketing.

Online Marketing Rockstars is more than just an event – it's an example of how a simple idea can evolve into an entire ecosystem. Müller's message is clear: "We need more founders!" – and his own story shows why entrepreneurship, despite all challenges, can be "really fucking awesome."