The company

    Born in practice. Built for practice.

    SMARTCHILLI was born where large events with many participants have to be organised — and where analogue processes quickly hit their limits.

    The origin

    Two companies. One blind spot in the industry.

    The idea for SMARTCHILLI grew from the collaboration of two companies with complementary expertise. Together they recognised that scheduling, communication and collaboration in the event, hospitality and temporary-work industries — despite digital point solutions — were often fragmented, slow and error-prone.

    In 2020, SMARTCHILLI GmbH was founded in response. From the start, the goal was not just to build yet another tool, but a shared digital ecosystem.

    A chili merging with a circuit board — symbol for the connection of industry and software
    Founded
    2020
    SMARTCHILLI GmbH
    Our path

    From pain to platform.

    Before 2020

    Two worlds collide

    softwareproduktiv GmbH (digitalisation & software development) and STAFF RENT SR-Zeitarbeit GmbH (workforce organisation for major events) work together — and see daily how scheduling, communication and collaboration fall apart in events, hospitality and temporary work.

    2020

    Founding of SMARTCHILLI GmbH

    Out of practice grows a promise: not yet another tool — but a shared digital ecosystem that brings event organisers, staffing providers and employees onto a single platform.

    2021 – 2024

    Federal funding for SMARTCHILLI Flow

    In the German federal Innovation Programme for Business Models and Pioneering Solutions (IGP), SMARTCHILLI prevailed in a highly competitive selection process. Funding: up to €300,000.

    2026

    New ownership structure

    softwareproduktiv GmbH sells its shares in SMARTCHILLI GmbH to Frank Spiegelhoff personally. He leaves softwareproduktiv GmbH and focuses 100% on SMARTCHILLI from then on. Entrepreneurial responsibility is now bundled even more clearly with the two founders.

    Today

    An ecosystem for the shift

    Planning cockpit, integrated communication, documented tasks and interactive workforce dispatching — built for the reality of operations, not for PowerPoint.

    The founders

    Two perspectives, one mission.

    Portrait of Frank Spiegelhoff

    Frank Spiegelhoff

    Co-founder & Managing Director
    SMARTCHILLI GmbH, Köln

    At SMARTCHILLI, Frank is responsible for the digitalisation of complex business processes, building scalable software solutions and the agile development of custom software for companies across many industries.

    Portrait of Thorsten Rensing

    Thorsten Rensing

    Co-founder & Managing Director
    STAFF RENT SR-Zeitarbeit GmbH, Cologne

    Thorsten brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience from the events industry. With his team he has organised the staffing of several thousand events — including major events with up to 30,000 guests.

    Golden award with a German ribbon next to a laptop with a dashboard — symbol for the IGP funding
    Funding
    up to €300,000
    Public funding

    Recognised at federal level.

    The project SMARTCHILLI Flow was awarded funding in 2021 in the Innovation Programme for Business Models and Pioneering Solutions (IGP) of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs. Term until 2024.

    SMARTCHILLI prevailed in a highly competitive selection process. Goal: expand the platform into an integrated digital ecosystem for planning, communication and collaboration around events.

    IGP funding
    approx. €300,000
    Funder
    Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs
    Award & duration
    2021 – 2024
    Project
    SMARTCHILLI Flow

    What was built with the funding

    • Shared planning cockpit
    • Integrated communication
    • Documented tasks
    • Interactive workforce dispatching

    Want to build with us?

    As a customer, partner or team member — SMARTCHILLI lives from people who understand shift reality.

    Open roles karriere@smartchilli.de