Five Questions for Hypnu

At only 25 years of age, Johannes Jäschke is a serial entrepreneur.

He founded his first company when he was still in high school at the young age of 14 and later completed the bachelor track at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management in 2020. His entreprenerial endeavors have been varied and include an artists’ agency, an AI-supported study app, an e-commerce platform, and Hypnu, a hypnosis-centric app he recently sold to a company based in Canada. And with several years’ experience on the start-up scene already under his belt, it’s only a matter of time before Jäschke is on to his next big idea.

1. Johannes, you recently sold your company Hypnu for a six-figure sum. Its hypnosis app is anchored by several experienced hypnotists, who help users overcome their fears or sleeping problems. How difficult is it to convince both potential users and the market that a hypnosis app has scientific merit and is not just hocus pocus?

You won’t be able to convince everyone. People are easily fascinated by hypnosis, especially with how it is often portrayed in the media or at hypnosis shows. In the United States, it’s sometimes seen as something akin to voodoo. And it’s difficult to do away with such preconceived notions.

But there are still many people who are open and willing to listen to the scientific research done on the subject. And this is why having hypnotists with a medical background on staff was so valuable for us. They had the same goal that we did, which was to legitimize hypnosis and establish it as an effective therapeutic method.

The long and short of it is that those who have been to a hypnosis show in Las Vegas would likely struggle to take hypnosis seriously as a form of therapy. But those who are open to meditation and other similar techniques often recognize the potential of hypnosis.

2. You saw a few possible use cases for a hypnosis app in your personal circles. Is that the secret for successful business development?

The most important thing is to avoid the big trap that many start-ups fall into: Don’t try to solve your own problems; solve one that is afflicting others. Too many entrepreneurs make this mistake and believe that a lot of other people have the same problem that they do when, in reality, they don’t.

Next, your start-up has to offer something valuable when compared to the competition. It’s not enough to merely be different or have more features. It’s about solving the customer’s problem better than any alternatives on the market.

And if you’ve identified a problem that people are willing to pay to resolve—and there are solid barriers to market entry—then you’ve got a winning business idea.

3. You’ve already founded four start-ups to date. Not all of them were major successes, which isn’t uncommon in the world of start-ups. What advice would you give founders so that they keep at it and don’t lose their confidence, even when they experience setbacks?

Hesitating out of fear or losing your nerve because of setbacks is, from my point of view, a mindset problem. I see it like this: A setback is an indicator of progress. So long as I’m failing forward, I’m still getting somewhere. What’s most important is that we can learn from each mistake, improve, and use it as a way to measure progress. If I found four companies and each earns more in profits than the last, then I’m definitely doing something right.

Also, as long as you don’t take on a lot of debt in your endeavors, the worst thing that can happen if you fail is you might have to look for another job. And even then, you’re going to be a much more interesting candidate than others who have never tried to start a business. You would be bringing valuable experience with you, which, in turn, would make you more attractive to an employer—even to former competitors. Failure boosts your chance on the market in the long run. That’s especially true in the United States, but also in Germany.

And let’s be honest. What is the worst that could happen in Germany? We have one of the best social services systems in the entire world. We don’t have to be so hesitant. Being dependent on government assistance for a few months is no major existential risk. At most, it might bruise your pride. But a little courage would do us a world of good.

4. To date, you have never brought investors on board at your start-ups, opting instead to fund your projects yourself. What are the advantages that that financial model brings? And does going down that path mean you miss out on other opportunities?

The greatest advantage that comes with funding your own projects is that you stay very grounded and can responsibly use the resources you’ve generated. If you’re putting your own money on the table, you’re going to think differently about risk and return. I would not say that it has necessarily made me more frugal, but certainly more aware and focused on the profitability of an investment. The trick is to weigh up each decision carefully and invest only in projects that truly add value.

Of course, there are some opportunities you might miss out on when you’re operating without investors. There are business models that simply require a high amount of capital to scale up or even get off the ground. You have to be aware of those things and think about whether your own business model is the best way forward.

5. It stands to reason that you’re very unlikely to turn your back on entrepreneurship with Hypnu’s exit. What are your next steps, and what will you have for us next time?

Absolutely not! There’s still so much to do right here in Germany. As long as I can work to solve a real problem, one that has a lot of impact potential and offers unlimited financial benefit, I will continue to found new companies.

I’m currently looking for a new challenge together with one of my former business partners. If anybody out there is looking for a new team of founders, send me a message on LinkedIn! Until then, I’ll be supporting non-techie entrepreneurs work on their first tech-focused start-up. And again, if anybody needs help in that department as well, reach out on LinkedIn!