In a recent episode of the EGN Podcast (autopromotion) our host Efe von Thenen sat down with Ertan Özdil, founder and CEO of weclapp, to talk about building one of Europe’s most innovative ERP platforms — and the personal journey that made it possible.
The passion started early
For our guest, software wasn’t just a career. It was destiny. He started coding at age 9, choosing the keyboard over soccer fields, driven by the thrill of creating something from nothing. Decades later, that same passion fuels weclapp — a cloud-based ERP platform now used by 40,000+ users in over 30 countries.
But his journey was far from smooth.
Five years, 50 developers, no revenue
When Ertan Özdil founded weclapp in 2008, he knew building an ERP platform wasn’t a weekend project. It would require millions in investment, years of development, and belief — even when there were no results. Backed by a financial investor, weclapp had a budget of €150,000 monthly for five years straight, employing over 50 software developers. Then, just before their product hit the market in 2012, the funding was pulled. The team was downsized from 50 to 7 overnight.
“It was the hardest moment of my life,” our guest recalled. “These people built the platform with me, day and night, for years.”
But oddly enough, that reduction turned out to be a blessing. The smaller team became faster, more focused, and by 2013, weclapp began acquiring customers rapidly.
A platform for everyone
What makes weclapp stand out? Simplicity and accessibility. While traditional ERP providers made implementation feel like corporate surgery — consultants in suits, five-figure onboarding fees — weclapp turned that model upside down.
“We democratized ERP,” said Ertan Özdil. “Now, any small business can launch their own ERP system within minutes.”
Their product is API-first, built for cloud, with scalability and multi-industry use cases in mind. The idea: SMBs don’t need complexity — they need clarity, connectivity, and control. That approach won weclapp two major awards at the E-commerce Germany Awards 2025, scoring the highest points ever recorded at the event.
Resilience, reinvention, and the human side of leadership
What truly sets our interviewee apart is not just his tech vision, but his grounded perspective as a leader.
From nearly going public in 2022 , to eventually selling part of the company to a Dutch software group, Ertan Özdil has weathered the ups and downs of scale-up life. Through it all, he’s stayed true to his core: resilience and authenticity.
He credits much of his mindset to his father, a Turkish immigrant who moved to Germany in the 1960s with no money, no language skills, just a desire to give his children a better life.
“He didn’t understand software,” Ertan Özdil said. “But he understood how to solve problems. That’s what I’ve always tried to carry into my business.”
What’s next for weclapp?
With over 7,800 active customers, a thriving team, and a global footprint, weclapp is proof that true innovation starts with belief. And that belief, in the face of every obstacle, is what drives lasting success. But what about its future? With AI reshaping the software landscape, the founder is cautious but optimistic.
“We’ve had an AI team for four years, but we’re not chasing hype. AI must make a real difference for our users. Otherwise, it’s just noise.” He said in our interview.
weclapp is now focusing on AI agents that improve customer experience and internal operations, without sacrificing usability.
Want to hear more insights from Ertan Özdil? Watch the full talk below:
Can’t watch? No problem. It is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcast.
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