Short Profile and Interview with Guncha Agayeva

Participant in the "EXIST-Women" program

What is your current situation?

I am currently studying at ASH in the fifth semester of the MVG program and working as a nurse in intensive care units across Berlin. This allows me to gain extensive experience in healthcare and compare the quality of care across hospitals, bringing the best practices into my future company.

What previous work experience do you bring?

At a young age, I founded an online shop in my home country, Turkmenistan. I realized then that self-employment suits me well, as I believe not everyone is suited for it.

When I came to Germany in 2016, I first completed an intensive German language course. In 2017, I began a voluntary social year at a hospital in Berlin. After completing the FSJ Voluntary Social Year, I started training as a health and nurse care professional. In 2020, I began working full-time in intensive care in Berlin.

In 2022, I became aware of the study program at ASH, and thanks to the Berlin Higher Education Act of 2021 (§ 11 - University Access for Vocationally Qualified Individuals), I was able to start my studies at ASH. Self-employment was my motivation for beginning my studies at ASH.

Now, I am in my fifth semester and one step closer to my dream of self-employment.

What is your business idea?

We aim to offer daily and nursing assistance services for seniors in need of support. Our goal is to relieve family caregivers, support our clients' independence, and improve their quality of life. For example, assistance with shopping, pharmacy visits, doctor appointments, household chores, and social activities.

Who is your target group?

The primary target group for "wecare" consists of elderly people who need assistance due to age-related limitations, such as dementia or mobility issues. They require help with household tasks and daily activities like dressing, personal hygiene, or cooking. Most live alone and wish to age at home. Many feel lonely and seek social interaction and intergenerational exchange, such as going for walks or engaging in leisure activities. Another target group includes caregivers of the elderly who need support, as well as people needing short-term help after surgeries.

What motivated you to apply for the EXIST-Women program?

During my educational journey and integration into Germany, I encountered many challenges I had to overcome. I am very grateful to the people who supported me during these moments and didn’t leave me alone. This experience solidified my motivation to support disadvantaged people and leave a positive social footprint in the world. I want to give back, and I believe that when you do good, good comes back to you. This was my main motivation for applying to the program.

What do you hope to gain from participating in the EXIST-Women program?

I hope to gain more knowledge from the program, be inspired by real startup stories, further my education, professionalize in the field of entrepreneurship, refine my business idea, invest more time in my project, and network within the startup community, especially in my sector.

What do you want to achieve by the end of the EXIST-Women program?

Ideally, I would like to launch a pilot project and test my business idea by the end of the program.

What are you currently working on? What are your next steps?

I am currently working on my business plan, developing my idea further, evaluating it from different perspectives, and critically assessing the financials. The business plan helps me stay realistic and practical.

Where do you see the biggest challenges for yourself and your project?

My biggest challenge is overcoming my personal uncertainty and fear of taking this big step in my life.

There are, of course, some major challenges regarding my project:

• Financing: Securing sufficient startup capital.
• Customer acquisition and retention: Attracting the first clients and building long-term relationships.
• Market entry and competition: Positioning myself in the market and competing with established players.
• Legal and regulatory requirements: Complying with all legal and regulatory guidelines.

How can people support you in your project? Where have you sought help?

I am well-supported in my project and could not ask for more. The only thing I would wish for is different conditions for participating in the program and more time. My wish is to fully focus on my idea without having to manage it on the side.

How did the project or business idea come about?

From an early age, I knew I wanted to work in the health and social sectors. During my studies, I attended various workshops on entrepreneurship, which inspired my business idea from different angles.

What do you aim to achieve with your idea?

With my offering, I want to complement existing services by relieving nursing staff and family caregivers and helping close the gap in care services.

Additionally, I want to make the nursing profession more attractive to students, trainees, and certified caregivers, as fewer young people are choosing this career path. By providing onboarding and training for our staff, we aim to ensure the quality of our services and the safety of our clients.

What motivates you to start something of your own? What appeals to you about self-employment?

I am motivated by the desire for financial and time freedom. In my business, I can build my own organizational management. Self-employment offers me independence and the freedom to develop ideas without restrictions and make my own contributions to advancing the company.

What advice would you give to ASH students for starting a business or implementing a project?

Give it a try, take risks, and make mistakes—while we're still students, we can afford to make mistakes and learn from them. ASH offers numerous support services and extensive consulting, which I highly recommend.

Discipline and time management are essential for realizing your dreams and getting closer to your goals.

Set realistic goals, celebrate small successes, and reward yourself to stay motivated.

Do you have a role model? Who inspires you?

My environment (friends, acquaintances, and relatives) consists of people who have already founded businesses and are running companies. These individuals are role models for me and inspire my own project.

Which courses/seminars have you attended to prepare for your startup?

I have attended several workshops both within and outside of ASH, including:

• Leadership Communication
• Business Administration Compact
• Excel for Accounting
• Seminar: IKIGAI (How to find your life’s purpose)
• Marketing on Social Media
• How to Start a Business on the Side
• Where to Find Funding for My Startup
• What is Social Entrepreneurship?
• Stress and Burnout (How to manage it?)
• How Do Social Enterprises Operate?
• EXIST Workshop in Cologne
• Barcamp (How to pitch effectively in 3 minutes)
• Networking meetings for aspiring entrepreneurs

Interview from 12.08.2024

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