Math, German and English during the day, production plans, investor discussions and software roadmap in the evening. While other ninth graders play Fortnite, Dominik Schkalei is building a startup out of his childhood bedroom. The 14-year-old is the founder of Nudaim3D, a 3D printing service from Daun – a small town in the Eifel.
The young person, who regularly shares his everyday life on LinkedIn, suddenly became famous because he was recently looking for an investor via LinkedIn. Uwe Schüder, also known as Flying Uwe and founder of Smilodox, became aware of the student: The fitness influencer and entrepreneur in turn shared Dominik’s story on LinkedIn and suddenly made the young founder visible.
A 14-year-old who doesn’t just build his own startup? That didn’t go uncommented for long.
Flying Uwe: “That even motivates me”
Flying Uwe came across the 14-year-old’s LinkedIn post by chance, he says in an interview with Gründerszene. And I was immediately thrilled. “I generally think it’s really cool when young people dare to do something,” says the fitness influencer. Dominik stands out, especially compared to his peers. “At his age, most people play Fortnite or play on the Playstation. But he’s already very creative and on business.”
Schüder therefore shared Dominik’s post with his community, thereby setting off a reach dynamic. This came as a complete surprise to Dominik Schkalei. When he scrolled through his notifications and suddenly saw the fitness influencer’s post, he had to check whether it was really about him. “It was a very surprising feeling,” he says. “A YouTuber I used to watch is posting about me. It’s pretty surreal.”
What Nudaim3D actually does
What is Schkalei’s startup about: Nudaim3D develops 3D printed NFC keychains with company logos that are intended to replace classic business cards and giveaways. If you hold a smartphone to the trailer, a stored URL opens.
“If the phone number or domain changes on a business card, you can throw everything away,” says the 14-year-old. “With NFC chips, you just change the URL.” Additionally, a customizable microsite is created. Restaurateurs can store digital menus or stamp cards there, service providers can store their contact details, and trade fair exhibitors can store their offers. The target group is primarily trade fair exhibitors and service companies who want more than ballpoint pens with a logo.
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From 3D game to advertising startup
It all started with creativity, not with business. The teenager initially developed 3D games and modeled figures and at some point he didn’t just want to see them on the screen. “I wanted to be able to touch my things,” he says.
His parents supported him and bought a 3D printer. A hobby quickly became more. When he later looked for advertising materials for his own 3D service, he realized that the market didn’t convince him. “I wanted to create something that would stay in your head.”
Founded at 14 – officially allowed for him
What many people don’t know: Dominik Schkalei wasn’t allowed to start his company simply because he is a minor. Thanks to court approval, he gained full legal capacity at the age of 13.
“I use this business skill every day to accomplish projects that others sometimes think are impossible,” he says. “Thanks to court approval, I can sign contracts, take on investors and conduct normal business activities – things that are otherwise simply not possible for minors.” Contracts, investors, customers, all of this is legally clean.
School, startup, flood of news
The 14-year-old’s everyday life is tightly scheduled: school in the morning, and he takes care of his business in the afternoon and evening. If such a LinkedIn post goes surprisingly viral, hundreds of messages, new contacts and first orders suddenly arrive.
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“Then you’re overwhelmed,” he says openly. His strategy: start, prioritize, work through. It’s not completely stress-free, but it’s doable. “It’s compatible if you really structure yourself.”
This is how he copes with his everyday life, school and his startup:
- Set priorities: Between school, family, friends and startup, nothing works without planning. Lessons and school performance form the basis; the startup runs alongside fixed time windows. In particularly intensive phases, he sets clear daily goals and works through them step by step.
- Try things: Test, make mistakes, learn. “Don’t be put off, just do it,” he says.
- Stick with it and be patient: Success doesn’t come overnight. “Except maybe on LinkedIn,” he says with a grin. It is important to network with more experienced people and not give up.
“Age has no relation to quality”
For Flying Uwe, Dominik is more than just a viral LinkedIn story. What particularly impresses the fitness influencer is the 14-year-old’s mentality. “He simply crosses his inhibitions,” says Uwe. “He has no fear, he has a goal, follows it from his heart and just goes through with it coldly.”
This attitude reminds the entrepreneur of his own youth. “I started kung fu when I was 14 and immediately had goals,” he says. Even back then he wanted to motivate people. “That’s why I can totally identify with it.”
Uwe has even less understanding for the skepticism of some observers. “‘Oh, way too young’ – why way too young?” he says. “It’s awesome. He’s already further than everyone else.”
The 14-year-old knows that his age is polarizing. “A lot of people judge people based on their age,” he says. “Age has no relation to quality.” He uses justified criticism to make improvements. Blanket skepticism won’t get him anywhere.
Flying Uwe sees it similarly. “When is the right age?” asks the influencer. “No one knows.” The decisive factor is the idea, benefit and implementation – not the year of birth.
Shortly before the market launch, looking for investors
Technically, Dominik Schkalei’s startup is about to launch on the market. The key fobs are almost finished, and the first version of the software should be available by the end of February. Now the 14-year-old is publicly looking for a co-investor. An investor is already on board.
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The goal: 100,000 euros to expand production capacities and scale through advertising agencies. “I’m looking for a general investor,” he says. So someone who complements you professionally, for example in software or product development.
He thinks big: in a year he wants to be listed with his own printing farm in the largest advertising agencies in Germany.