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My Career Journey
Where I share the details of my career path from the outset to the present, highlighting the milestones, challenges, and experiences that have shaped who I am today.đ
2005
In my final years at university, I found myself fascinated by the rapidly growing world of computer networks. Determined to dive deeper, I completed Microsoft’s MCSE certification. Soon after, a classmate introduced me to Farineh San’at Company, and that’s where my journey truly began. I joined as a Network Administrator, helping build and expand the company’s infrastructure with modern technologies. This first step into a large, professional environment was an incredible experience, laying a solid foundation for the rest of my career.
2009
After several years working in computer networking, I felt it was time for a change. I decided to move into the world of web design. I started from scratchâlearning, doing internships, and freelancing to get hands-on experience. As my skills improved and my client base grew, I rented an office and launched my own web design agency. Over time, the business evolved through various partnerships and name changes, eventually becoming Pediland in 2014.
Initially, I managed everything on my own, handling all aspects of website creation. As the client base expanded, I grew the team to four members. Together, we provided complete web solutions to over 60 clients across various industries. I led the team in everything from UI/UX design and front-end development to graphic content and copywriting. I worked closely with clients, transforming their needs into actionable plans, and delivering high-quality web designs.
2013
Joining Rocket Internet was a pivotal decision that allowed me to be part of the early stages of Bamilo, a leading e-commerce platform inspired by Amazon and competing directly with Digikala. As the Product Manager, I worked on adapting and localizing the platformâs user interface and experience for the Iranian market. This role refined my technical skills and provided valuable insights into international business practices and large-scale product development. The intensive training by experienced European mentors and the opportunity to collaborate with teams working on parallel projects was an invaluable experience that shaped my career.
Since joining Bamilo, I have continued supporting small and emerging businesses through freelance consulting alongside my full-time roles. My focus at Pediland shifted toward consulting and mentoring individuals eager to enter the startup ecosystem but lacking the necessary knowledge and experience.
2014
Joining Rocket Internet was a pivotal decision that allowed me to be part of the early stages of Bamilo, a leading e-commerce platform inspired by Amazon and competing directly with Digikala. As the Product Manager, I worked on adapting and localizing the platformâs user interface and experience for the Iranian market. This role refined my technical skills and provided valuable insights into international business practices and large-scale product development. The intensive training by experienced European mentors and the opportunity to collaborate with teams working on parallel projects was an invaluable experience that shaped my career.
Since joining Bamilo, I have continued supporting small and emerging businesses through freelance consulting alongside my full-time roles. My focus at Pediland shifted toward consulting and mentoring individuals eager to enter the startup ecosystem but lacking the necessary knowledge and experience.
2016
After a year and a half at Bamilo, the startup excitement began to fade as it transitioned into a more structured organization. I knew it was time to pursue my own entrepreneurial journey. In late 2015, I left Bamilo and took several months to rest, reflect, and focus on personal growth. During this time, I expanded consulting services at Pediland and prepared myself for my next venture.
In April 2016, I co-founded my first serious startup. With a clear vision and drawing on all my prior experiences, my goal was to create a unique user experience in the specialty beverage market with Tearink, focusing on tea, coffee, and herbal spirits in Iran.
At Tearink, I embraced the challenge of leading product design and management, crafting a user-centric product strategy that resonated with our target market. Working closely with the team, we continuously refined the product, ensuring every feature delivered value and met our customers’ needs. This hands-on journey in product management sharpened my skills and reinforced my passion for creating products that solve real-world problems while offering exceptional user experiences.
2017
After failing to secure investors for Tearink, my motivation to continue working in Iran dwindled, especially given the uncertain economic and political climate. Like many young Iranians at the time, I made the difficult decision to migrate. Having traveled to Europe over the years and being somewhat familiar with Germany, I decided to seek job opportunities and migrate to Germany through a work visa.
In August 2017, I left Tearink and began preparing for this new chapter. During that time, I received an offer to consult on launching an online real estate marketplace in Turkey. I moved to Turkey as a stepping stone before migrating to Germany, hoping it would be a good trial run for my eventual migration. In November 2017, I left Tehran and moved to Istanbul. The Turkish market was vastly different from what I knew of Iran and Germany. Although Istanbul was vibrant and captivating, its startup ecosystem didn’t sway my decision to continue my journey toward Germany. While advancing the project, I kept searching for opportunities in Germany until I connected with SEVEN displays, one of the top five companies in Germany specializing in the production and printing of portable exhibition equipment, with all sales conducted online. After several interviews, I was thrilled to receive their job offer, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
2018
In October, I received my German work visa and made the move from Istanbul to Cologne, eagerly starting my new role at SEVEN displays just days after arriving. At SEVEN displays GmbH, I took on the challenge of enhancing their online shop, focusing on making it more user-friendly and fully optimized for mobile. As my first international product management experience, I was filled with enthusiasm to bring my ambitious vision for the product to life. However, when COVID-19 struck, our plans took an unexpected turn. Despite the challenges, we managed to redesign the website to work seamlessly on all devices, significantly improving the customer experience. Although the pandemic eventually cut our project short, the journey was invaluable, and the lessons I learned continue to shape my work today.
By December 2020, despite the company’s best efforts to retain staff, downsizing became inevitable, leading to many layoffs. Faced with uncertainty and concerns for my family in Iran, I made the difficult decision to return home.
2021
In February 2021, I returned to Iran, determined to be by my family’s side during the challenging days of the pandemic. I resumed my work as a consultant and mentor, collaborating with both old and new clients while trying to adapt to the tough circumstances in Iran.
Yet, the part of me that craves the challenge of creating and optimizing a product wasn’t at peace. I decided to bring one of my ideas to life, an idea I believed was well-suited for the Iranian market. I found a technical co-founder, and together we launched ‘Masirat’âa marketplace for one-on-one online services like coaching and consulting. We completed the product development phase and launched the product, but its introduction coincided with the events of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. Society was deeply impacted, and investors who were in the final stages of negotiation pulled out.
Using personal funds, I tried to keep the company and the team alive, but unfortunately, in December 2022, I had to shut down the company and let all employees go.
2023
This was one of the toughest times in my career. Even after several months, the country remained unstable, making it impossible to plan for the future. The poor state of the internet, increased filtering, and the wave of workforce migration created a discouraging environment for startups.
On one hand, I was attending therapy sessions to avoid falling into depression, while on the other, I wasâas alwaysâsearching for solutions. Then, I received an email from SEVEN displays expressing interest in resuming the unfinished website projects as conditions improved after COVID-19. They offered me the chance to collaborate again, but since my visa had expired, I had to go through the application process once more. In April, I returned to Germany and settled in DĂźsseldorf, restarting my job at SEVEN displays. The excitement and energy returned to my professional life, and I regained my drive and enthusiasm for tackling challenges in digital product managementâthe work that excites me most. The projects were successfully completed, and management’s goals were achieved.
2024
I am Pedram, an Iranian entrepreneur and Product Manager with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. At 40 years old, I relocated to Berlin to gain a deeper understanding of its vibrant digital ecosystem. Berlin is an inspiring city where I hope to launch my own startup. In this regard, I am focusing on gaining international experience, expanding my network, and connecting with potential co-founders and operational teams.
Currently, I am working as a Product Manager and seeking new and challenging opportunities to grow. I am enthusiastic about learning, meeting new people, and expanding my professional network. I am eager to collaborate with international startups and founders to leverage my expertise in digital product design and management to help them achieve their business goals. My LinkedIn profile is up to date, and I would be happy to connect if you are interested in working together.
I am passionate about entrepreneurship and developing innovative solutions to enhance and simplify people’s lives. With extensive experience in the Iranian startup ecosystem, I am excited to launch my own international startup in Germany at the earliest opportunity. Currently, I am working on a project called Koochaa, which aims to support the Iranian diaspora worldwide in integrating more seamlessly into their new countries and communities. As we are still in the early stages, we are actively seeking talented team members and co-founders.
