"Don’t wait for somebody else to tell you that you’re ready. Start now!”

On the Promoting Enterprise portal we are talking to the entrepreneurs on the 33 Under 33 list. This Secrets of Success initiative aims to shine the spotlight on a selection of successful young entrepreneurs, documenting their stories in an effort to inspire others to consider entrepreneurship as a career path. Today it is the turn of young Austrian entrepreneur Kosima Kovar.

Tell us about your business

sgreening is Austria’s first social & green marketing agency. My team is focusing on implementing sustainability measures in our customers’ core businesses and then putting together internal and external marketing campaigns to create awareness for sustainability. Let me tell you about my second company though.

The Ada Growth app provides tips from leading experts to women so they can make their strengths visible in the workplace.

Where did you get the idea from?

After realising that many customers only want to focus on CO₂ reduction I had this inner urge to found a company in social sustainability. SDGs #4 and #5 (quality education and gender equality) were always important to me. This is why my co-founder and I started an EduTech start-up for women, to make the strengths of every woman seen and heard.

How old were you when you first decided you would start your own business?

My first business I started when I was 23, the second when I was 25.

How did you get it off the ground?

My motivation is to leave this world in a better place than when I entered it.

Who did you turn to for help?

At first my family and friends. After a while, I found out how important it is to talk to other founders so I went to a lot of networking events to meet inspiring people. Now, I am surrounded by inspiring entrepreneurs. This not only helps me personally and my business to grow, it also helps me to see that it is okay when things don’t go as planned.

Describe some of the obstacles you faced as a young person starting out in this business.

Young and female – two obstacles I have faced and I am still facing. I experienced situations where I was not taken seriously, where my ideas were not heard and where my strengths were not seen. This is also a reason for the concept of Ada Growth – I would have loved to have the tips given by our experts on the Ada Growth App in situations I have faced in my past.

How do you define success?

For me, success is making a difference – having positive impact in this world.

What was the most challenging aspect of setting up your business?

The most challenging aspects in my opinion were the bureaucracy and the barriers for women to become self-employed.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

The most rewarding thing is knowing that my teams and I are working together to make the world a better place.

What are the future goals of your business, and how will you go about achieving them?

Ada Growth is now available in German. We want to create an impact larger than the German speaking area. Every woman in this world should have access to a mentor in her pocket. This is why we are working on the English version as we speak.

What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs out there?

Do not wait for a feeling to be ready. Do not wait for somebody else to tell you that you are ready. Start now!

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