Our business model is as unique as each of our team members and combines customer-centricity with tech and chem know-how. Since our founding, back in mid-2018, we have grown into a team of 35 talented people who are experts in their individual fields.
“It is extremely rewarding to work with an increasingly diverse team and so much passion.” – Alina Knoop, Office Manager
At CheMondis, each of our colleagues performs a meaningful role, while enjoying unlimited access to learning, growth, and development opportunities. In addition to being able to take advantage of outstanding benefits, we want everyone to be healthy, to have enough time to vacate and have the financial resources and support they need, in and out of the office.
We have created a workplace that is unique, challenging, smart, and innovative. A workplace that is inclusive and reflects diversity. Where everyone can be their authentic self, and where this authenticity is celebrated as a strength.
We cultivate a working environment that inspires new ideas, promotes ownership and experimentation and supports highly motivated individuals to be truly creative and to serve our customers in the best possible way.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is that I get to work together with great people from various cultures, with different expertise” – Irene Prinz, Head of HR
People who work at CheMondis come from many different backgrounds, both professionally and culturally. Besides this diversity, we are also united by our corporate values and our culture. They guide us in every single decision we make, and we truly live by them.
Our core values are multi-perspectivity, responsibility, vision-driven orientation, collaboration, and personal development. To gain deeper insight into CheMondis, look at our previous blog article, about our corporate values, mission statements, and vision statements here.
Our mindset
Our teams are constantly working on exciting new ways to further develop our culture and way of working. We’re set up in an agile environment with flat hierarchies and small interdisciplinary teams.
How do we live agility at CheMondis? One example is, that we use Scrum as a framework to develop our product. It enables us to release software increments in two-week iterations. In other words, new functionalities, features, and components are deployed to the marketplace at least twice a month.
To get as much as possible released in these sprint-cycles or to provide the best possible customer experience, many teams hold daily stand-ups to align their activities. To help visualize our progress we make use of physical Scrum boards.
Furthermore, we apply Objectives & Key Results (OKR) in order to set and harmonize our company, team, and individual goals on a quarterly basis.
Office environment
Applying agile approaches does not only require rethinking traditional team constellations but also redesigning the working environment we need. For that reason, the CheMondis office was designed to our individual needs and tailored to our networking culture in the format of an open workspace. We work in an environment that makes us feel comfortable and that awakens the urge to participate and collaborate.
“The ergonomics of our surroundings are amazing.” – Jesse, Working Student
Shaped in a semicircle, the office promotes both concentration and relaxation. While offering us multiple areas for creative collaboration, it also gives us the opportunity to speak confidently in secluded rooms. In various living room setups around the office, everyone can take a break and relax or have an informal conversation.
Right in the center of our office is an open space that can easily be – and often is – adapted to different kinds of events such as tech meetups, hackathons, or other business-related events. This is also the place where we come together for our monthly team stand-up, where every team briefly updates all colleagues on current activities, learnings, and highlights.
Our perks
We believe rest and a fulfilled life outside of the office makes a happier, healthier team, which is vital to productivity. For us, trust is one of the most important pillars for being able to work autonomously. This is why everyone at CheMondis profits from flexible working hours and the option to work from home.
When you look at our everyday office life, lunch is the time to socialize at CheMondis. We embrace a healthy lifestyle and always provide fresh fruit in the kitchen as well as snacks, drinks, and coffee.
In our spacious kitchen, lunch can be cooked fresh or bought from nearby restaurant options. Colleagues meet here to enjoy the food – and each other’s company. A great perk is that CheMondis offers a subsidy for our daily lunches.
For us, a healthy lifestyle is not only linked to nutrition, but also to physical activities. Bi-weekly, our yoga teacher Nico gives a yoga class in the office, and on Wednesdays, we have the opportunity to take part in a soccer match.
We regularly promote team events, activities, and everything that brings our team members even closer together – and we also like celebrating our achievements! Whether it be team lunches, concerts, excursions, workshops, or team building activities – there’s always lots of fun.
Team rituals
To promote cooperation across teams and encourage networking, we additionally use so-called “donut dates”. The goal is to pair two people across the teams to get to know each other better and to gain insights into each other’s work fields and challenges by meeting for donuts and coffee.
Furthermore, we cultivate another weekly ritual at CheMondis – “beer time”. To ring in the weekend, on Fridays, every one can meet up in the office kitchen, to socialize, enjoy a drink and to look back at the past week’s achievements.
On the 5th of November, our CheMondis marketplace turned one year old – this is why we are celebrating all month long. Get ready for a series of exciting content, including blog posts, animations, and further company announcements. Whether you are a CheMondis user from day one, a newcomer, or just interested in our marketplace, we are glad you are here with us. Join us on our blog and on all our social media channels to find out all about our birthday month.
What happened so far?
The Europe-based marketplace was founded about 1.5 years ago by the chemical specialty producer LANXESS. Set up as an own legal entity, CheMondis is tackling the challenge of digitalization in the chemical industry. Back in November 2018, the marketplace successfully launched its open beta version.
Since then, over one thousand verified chemical companies have registered with a total of 2350 active users, trading more than 13,000 active products on the platform. Within the last 12 months, trading volumes have been steadily increasing with an increasing customer base.
Last November, we kicked off the beta version with a custom interface and a broad range of elementary marketplace features. These included among others an advanced search function, the possibility to chat between buyer and supplier, Instant Deal purchasing or selling, or individual negotiations.
Over the course of the last year we have expanded our features and functionalities a lot further: an automated product upload, an integrated credit rating service, and most recently the possibility to depict and apply long-term contractual agreements on the marketplace.
Especially, our purchasing options have evolved. Traditionally, there are two different ways of selling products on CheMondis. Suppliers can either choose to sell products directly as Instant Deals at fixed list prices or they can individually issue quotes based on Quote Requests from prospective customers.
A couple of months ago CheMondis introduced the “special offer” feature, allowing suppliers to make custom deals for selected buyers, as both an Instant Deal or a Quote Request. Only a couple of weeks ago, CheMondis has introduced a new option to help buy and sell chemicals on the marketplace – the Agreement.
It allows the buying and selling parties to agree on specific terms for recurring orders for a certain time period and to the buyer to gradually call-off the pre-defined volumes.
Our customers
At this point, we want to thank all CheMondis users. Our success is linked to our users and their continuous feedback. Since last year, we have single-handily verified and personally onboarded around one thousand chemical companies to the platform.
We are especially grateful for all the early movers of the industry and the trust and support the chemical industry in total has given us. We are excited to continue this way.
SynHet – Synthetic Heterocycles
Livchem Logistics GmbH
INNOVOX GMBH
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
ViVoChem B.V.
Mosselman SA
BÜFA Chemikalien GmbH & Co. KG
Life Chemicals Europe GmbH
Since our launch, CheMondis held over 1700 support chats via our inbuilt business messenger. We support registerd users with difficulties, missunderstandings and other erros, while we inform interested individuals about the CheMondis marketplace.
Team growth
The CheMondis team is an agile and entrepreneurial group of experts from the chemical industry and the world of technology. Our diverse team consists of a variety of personalities, from twelve different nationalities and cultural backgrounds – grouped into three departments. Team Commercial, Team Product, and Team Engineering.
In the course of the last year, the entire CheMondis team has grown to a total size of 30 employees. We are ready, to continue tackling the challenge of digitalizing the chemical industry. We are very happy to have every single team member on board and hope to further recruit talented colleagues. Interested in joining us at CheMondis? See all our current job offers here.
What is next?
The new year is almost there, 2020. Time flies and technology evolves. Technological advancements can lead to the change of a complete industry – as we have seen in the telecommunication industry, during the late 2000s. The internet changed the game.
And now comes CheMondis to help digitalize marketing, sales, and procurement within the chemical industry. In order to make the marketplace even better for users, our developers and designers are constantly working on new features and functionalities. What’s planned next, you might ask yourself.
There are a few components that can already be revealed. We are looking forward to launching an optimized search function, an inbuilt sample demand, and further a brand-new static page. And this is not even a fraction of what will be implemented in the course of 2020. Stay tuned.
In a nutshell
CheMondis has successfully launched the open beta version of the marketplace exactly one year ago. Since then, over one thousand verified chemical companies have registered, trading more then 13,000 active products on the platform.
Within the last 12 months, trading volumes have been steadily increasing with an increasing customer base. New functionalities and features have been and are to be implemented. We are going for more!
Now it is up to you
What are our thoughts on the previous year? Have you registered yet? Let us know and leave a comment in the section below!
Thanks for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
There are two different ways of selling products on CheMondis. Suppliers can either choose to sell products directly as instant deals at fixed list prices or they can individually issue quotes based on quote requests from prospective customers.
Next to instant deals and quote requests the CheMondis marketplace is introducing a third option for suppliers to sell products on the marketplace. Sell and buy products as special offers. The integrated special offer feature allows suppliers to make custom deals for selected buyers.
As with any other product offer, suppliers can decide to provide special offers as instant deals, quote requests, or both.
What makes special offers unique?
Special offers are not publicly accessible, they cannot be found in the search bar results. Instead, suppliers receive a unique URL for the special offer, which then can be exclusively shared with selected buyers – simply by sharing the link.
The special offer can be granted to any buyer the supplier selects. However only selected buyers can see and accept the special offer.
Why bother?
Granting special offers to buyers can have different reasons. As a supplier, you want to use this feature to offer special prices to specific long-time customers and/or buyers with high purchasing volumes. In other cases, it can be useful when suppliers are clearing storage capacities for future productions.
This may include products that cannot be stored for a long time or products which are off-specification. Send selected buyers a special offer for any reason you choose.
How does it work?
If you want to use the special offer function, please contact the CheMondis Team and let us know about it. Either you can contact your customer success manager directly or reach out to us via support@chemondis.com. Once our team has activated the feature for your supplier account you will be able to make special offers for selected buyers.
In order to make a special offer, upload your product via the regular product upload. Log in to CheMondis, head to “my products”, click “add product” and mark it as a “special offer”. Save your product information and you’re done!
Step 1: Contact customer success manager
Step 2: Activate “special offer” feature
Step 3: Log in to CheMondis
Step 4: Head to “my products”
Step 5: Click “add product”
Step 6: Mark as “special offer”
Step 7: Click “save”
Step 8: Copy unique URL
Step 9: Send out URL to picked buyers
What are the costs?
During the testing period, the special offer feature can be used by any supplier absolutely free of charge. In order to activate the feature on CheMondis please contact your customer success manager or the CheMondis team via support@chemondis.com.
Now it is up for you
What do you think of the CheMondis special offer feature? Is it helpful? What is most helpful to you? And which other features could be useful on the marketplace? Let us know and leave a comment in the section below!
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
No team works well without a couple of people keeping the overview and the team together. Team staff makes sure the overall operations run smoothly. Head of Human Resources Irene Prinz and Office Manager Alina Knoop take care of #teamchemondis.
At CheMondis we believe that a happy team member is a productive team member. Every day, we try to make our entire team feel as good as possible, at work and after work. While offering a variety of employee perks, which vary from company field trips to simply having a dozen of donuts (and a basket of fresh fruits) in the office, we try to uphold a office environment that sparks a sense of unity.
Irene Prinz – Head of Human Resources
On many occasions, Irene is the woman of the hour. She is responsible for recruitment and promotes all open vacancies. While keeping the oversight over the entire team and supporting everyone in work-related and personal matters.
In case you’re interested in working at CheMondis and want to find out why CheMondis is a great place to work – she is the one to get in contact with. Find out about all our current job offers here.
Why work at CheMondis
Drive the development of a tech-start-up and join our agile, interdisciplinary, and international team. Enjoy flat hierarchies, flexible working hours, a competitive salary, and our modern office located in the center of cologne. The balance between start-up flexibility and corporate stability make CheMondis an attractive employer. Join the Team today and be part of the digital movement tomorrow.
Recently, Irene introduced support programs for new CheMondis team members joining us from abroad. We offer assistance regarding visa issues, relocation, and language courses. To ensure that everyone feels at home, in the office, and in the city, the CheMondis team frequently engages in recreational activities together.
Employee Benefits at CheMondis
Engage in an innovative and exciting product
Shape the success story of a chemical-tech-start-up and make an impact
Collaborate with an agile team of experts
Work in a beautiful and modern office in the center of Cologne
Take part in recreational activities and enjoy the team spirit of CheMondis
Make use of advanced vocational training
Pick the hardware you prefer
Enjoy flat hierarchies, flexible working hours and a competitive salary
Alina Knoop – Office Management
Our office management angel Alina, makes sure that we have all that we need in our beautiful office. She arranges, maintains and manages all administrative regards while personally assisting managing director Sebastian Brenner.
On top of that, Alina organizes both events in our office environment. Stay updated on upcoming events via our LinkedIn channel here.
Networking Event @CheMondis
Furthermore, Alina governs our co-working space. Should you be interested in co-working spaces, she is the one to contact. Find out all about our co-working space here.
Co-Working Space @CheMondis
Now it is up to you
What is your opinion on co-working spaces? And would you like to join a networking event at CheMondis? Leave a comment for team staff.
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis Blog.
As a marketplace, we act as a mediator between buyers and suppliers. Our main goal is to match a specific buyer demand with a fitting supplier. When buyers turn to the CheMondis marketplace to buy chemicals online, the first stop for them is our search bar. It is located at the top center of the CheMondis marketplace.
Buyers can make use of our search functions and find products conveniently. Suppliers can cast light on their own product portfolio by appearing in the CheMondis search. Our search bar includes a vast variety of functions. For example, it shows you query suggestions, helping you find products even faster.
Sebastian Brenner, Managing Director of CheMondis
“Finding the right product for your specific need is our central goal!” Sebastian Brenner – Managing Director
Using Product Search Efficiently as a Buyer
In order to reduce the time you invest into searching for chemicals, we installed three different search trails into CheMondis. You can find new suppliers, new products, and new substances by using our search bar and filters.
Receive a vast array of products by using the search bar. While doing so, search by product name, substance, formula, CAS number, and/or supplier name. In order for you to find products and substances even faster, query suggestions show up, while typing in a search term.
On the upper left sidebar, buyers can filter by industries, referring to the industry in which the product is applied in. Suppliers and Buyers can filter by the following industries:
Industry Filters on CheMondis
Adhesives & Sealants
Agriculture
Ceramics & Glas
Chemical Manufacturing
Cleaning Products
Construction
Cosmetics & Personal Care
Food & Feed
Leather & Textiles
Lubricants
Packaging Materials
Paints & Coatings
Pharma & Life Science
Plastics
Pulp & Paper
Research Chemicals
Rubber
Water Treatment
Other Industries
Multiple industry filters can be combined and applied.
On the lower left sidebar, buyers can find and select the product group (E.g.: Solids, Resins) and subgroups they are looking for, in order to further distinguish and search more efficiently.
Product Groups on CheMondis
Acids & Lyes
Additives
Agrochemicals
Bio-based Materials
Flavors & Fragrances
High-Performance Materials
Intermediates
Monomers
Monomers & Polymers
Oleochemicals
Packaging
Pigments & Dyes
Purification Agents
Ready-to-Use
Reference Material
Resins
Solids
Solvents
Surfactants
Further product groups are categorized in specific subgroups. Product groups and further subgroups can and should be combined with industry filters.
You may also combine all search options: For example, use the search bar and then apply industry filters and product group information to limit the search results.
Can’t Find the Product you’re Looking for?
We started CheMondis back in 2018, so our marketplace is still relatively young. In case you can not find the product, you are looking for, we are happy to personally help you find what you need. Please enter the search term you are looking for and provide your e-mail address. Our customer support will reach out to you.
Further enjoy an abundance of services varying from personal on-boarding to individual, on-demand product searches. Take advantage of our one-on-one customer service and contact us today. We are here to help you find the right product for your specific needs – make CheMondis work for you.
Using Product Search Efficiently as a Seller
In order to make your products more accessible for buyers, suppliers must understand how the CheMondis product-search functions. There are three easy steps, which you can follow, in order to make your products more accessible on the CheMondis marketplace:
Choose Product Groups and Sub-groups
Link your product to relevant product groups and subgroups. By doing so, customers searching for a particular product group will come across your product automatically(E.g.: Solids, Resins).
Select Industry Filters
Users searching by industry-filters can select the industry within which they wish to find products. Link your product to proper industries, to make your product more accessible (E.g.: Agriculture, Construction).
Formulate Product Decriptions
Our search bar extracts data directly from product descriptions. If you want to make your offer more accessible for buyers, make sure to formulate your product descriptions.
To avoid a high number of technical or product-related questions, make sure to have an appropriate product description and up-to-date safety and technical data sheets in place. This creates trust among buyers and suppliers.
Now it is up to you
What do you think of the CheMondis product search? Is it helpful? What is most helpful to you? And which other features could be useful on the marketplace? Let us know and leave a comment in the section below!
Thank you for taking the time to read the CheMondis blog.
