Expressing a desire to train with Union Berlin

Mirko Dieseler, the visionary behind EDM and the online state lottery platform Einfachlotto.de, shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights.

Dieseler found the founding phase of companies exhilarating, believing that there is untapped potential waiting to be discovered by creative minds. His path to entrepreneurship was a gradual one, born out of a desire for independence. The concept of selling state lotteries online became increasingly clear over time.

The journey was not without challenges. Obtaining the license to sell state lotteries online proved to be the biggest hurdle, taking a gruelling ten months. The process was further complicated by delays with authorities, permits, and the subsequent need for interim financing.

Dieseler's uncle, Heiner Raloff, played a crucial role in supporting him during the founding phase. With over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing, working as a former Bertelsmann manager, Dieseler had the necessary skills to navigate these challenges. He even provided a significant portion of the company's capital, with the remainder coming from investments by Netzpiloten AG, Media Ventures GmbH, and private investors.

Besides the co-founder Jan Samuel Stein, key companies involved in the financing of EDM include Planet A Ventures, a climate-focused venture capital fund based in Berlin with over 160 million USD under management. Planet A invests in energy, mobility software, and green technology companies. Partnerships with major tech corporations like Siemens have also supported the project, and over 5 million USD in seed funding has been raised for Cyclize, the company behind EDM technology.

The startup gained many new customers through cooperations, such as a promotion with Warsteiner that resulted in 70,000 new customers. Today, EDM continues to grow, offering a convenient and accessible platform for state lottery products.

In his spare time, Dieseler enjoys spending a beautiful Sunday with his family, most likely at a sports event of his children. If he weren't an entrepreneur, he would have liked to be a teacher for sports and history, or a youth coach at Union Berlin.

Looking to the future, Dieseler advocates for the path to self-employment in Germany to be made easier, as it currently requires courage. He advises other founders to work with extreme focus, set clear priorities, and always be willing to go the "extra mile."

Dieseler's experiences and insights are now being shared through a new book series from the website. The first title of the series is "Behind the Scenes of German Start-ups: 45 Founders about Building Their Company." The series aims to inspire and educate, offering a glimpse into the lives and minds of some of Germany's most successful entrepreneurs.

When asked about his dreams, Dieseler expressed a desire to travel back in time, especially to 1920s Berlin. The city's vibrant culture and history would no doubt provide a fascinating backdrop for this remarkable entrepreneur.