How did the idea for Sparetech come to life?
Martin: Founding a company with somebody is a very personal thing: we met at Porsche Consulting and immediately clicked. Back in 2014, while working on a project at the Porsche Macan production facility in Leipzig, we identified a widespread, unresolved issue: digitizing and optimizing spare parts management.
Lukas: Martin proposed a breakthrough solution, and we were both instantly enthusiastic. Applying this concept successfully to clients like Volkswagen and Audi confirmed it was not a single problem, but an industry-wide challenge. That’s when we decided to take ownership of the solution. What began as an idea evolved into a business model — and Sparetech was born.
Did your responsibilities changed becoming entrepreneurs?
Martin: Leading an international team of around 100 people is a big task: It requires deep sense of accountability. Transitioning from consultants to entrepreneurs was a demanding test and this shift brought entirely new dimensions of responsibility and pressure. In consulting, you work within a larger system. As founders, we are now directly responsible for our employees, their salaries, and the overall success of the business. This challenged us but also highlighted the exceptional foundation Porsche Consulting provides, especially in navigating complexity and developing resilience and strategic thinking skills.
What were the key challenges shaping the company culture at Sparetech?
Martin: Building our team. We applied lessons from Porsche Consulting—like strengthening team cohesion through team events and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. While consulting prepared us to manage complexity, entrepreneurship taught us the value of simplicity—especially in software, where lean, agile solutions drive progress.
Lukas: Shifting from a consulting to a product-driven mindset was another major step. The improvement culture we developed as consultants remains central of how we work today.
Do you think Porsche Consulting was a springboard for your career?
Martin: Definitely!
Lukas: Porsche Consulting gave us the confidence to tackle new challenges and the experience to identify the “white spots” — the knowledge gaps you don’t always see in consulting. It also instilled a strong foundation of professionalism, structure, and a results-driven mindset.
Martin: From day one, we treated documentation and standardization not as constraints, but as enablers of sustainable growth. This disciplined approach helped us avoid scaling pitfalls by identifying bottlenecks early. The mindset we built while working in consulting still guides how we operate today.
Has this also influenced your leadership style?
Lukas: We learned that leadership goes beyond vision and mission—it’s built on shared values like authenticity, inspiration, trust, and supportiveness. These values unite us despite our diverse backgrounds and form the core of Sparetech’s mission, “Beyond Making Money.” We aim to inspire people to break new ground. We always keep ourselves accountable, no matter what. And as leaders, we make sure to walk the talk, which often is much easier said than done.
What advice would you give your younger selves?
Martin: Be prepared for the long haul! Building a successful company is tough—much tougher than expected. We spent years pushing through challenges that often felt overwhelming. Long-term thinking, resilience, and perseverance are essential. Even when nothing seems to go right, staying focused and enduring will help you reach your goals. For us, this mindset is the foundation of success.
Are there any lessons from founding you wish you knew while working at Porsche Consulting?
Both: A lot! (Lukas laughs out loud, Martin nods.)
What was the most important learning?
Lukas: As engineers, we think process- and technically oriented but lacked a holistic entrepreneurial mindset. Though we had some business basics, real leadership experience comes from doing. If we returned to consulting, our work would greatly improve thanks to this experience. We now better understand business impacts and how actions affect profit and loss and key financials.
What benefits do you see in the Alumni Network?
Martin: After starting our business in Europe with offices in Stuttgart, Munich and Berlin, we have recently expanded to Chicago - making Sparetech a truly global company. Being part of the Porsche Consulting Alumni Network allows us to build bridges across continents. Whether in Germany or the USA, we look forward to connecting with other alumni at events or visits.
What topics can alumni reach out to you about?
Martin: In addition to our international perspective from living and working abroad, we’re eager to connect with early-stage founders and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Lukas: When someone reaches out—whether for feedback on a business idea, guidance on starting up, or advice on leaving a secure job—we always make time, even without a prior connection. Founders always support founders.