We had the good fortune of connecting with Sylvia Kampshoff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sylvia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I worked as an attorney for top tier US law firms for over six years. Even though I liked the job, I was never passionate about it and always had the dream to build something myself and even more importantly do something in the space I love, what is health & fitness. When I had my son Tristan, it was clear to me that I have to give it a shot now and it was now or never. I never regretted walking away from law and absolutely love what I do, changing peoples lives through fitness.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I studied law at the University of Heidelberg, where I also did my PhD in law. My first experience with the US was during my LLM at Tulane University in New Orleans in 2007. After five years of practicing law in Germany and London, I got the chance to transfer to the Houston office of the big law firm I was working for back than. Moving to the US has been the best decision we could make. I absolutely love Texas, the friendliness of the people, the whether and most importantly amazing entrepreneurial support and spirit you get in Texas. Practicing law taught me a lot of the skills I now need as an entrepreneur and I am happy to have that background, even though it’s not the usual entry into entrepreneurship. Having lived and worked in China, England, Australia, Germany and now the US, helped me to build an international team for Kanthaka, what is a huge benefit for US especially now during a remote world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a passionate runner I absolutely love Memorial Park and all the tracks at the Bayou leading towards downtown. My favorite place to eat is the Uchi on Westheimer. As a big horse lover a must go is the Houston Rodeo, or you visit one of the smaller rodeos around Houston.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We wouldn’t be with Kanthaka where we are now, without the amazing support we got from the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Texas and California, what I am so thankful for. Thank you so much to our first investor, who believed in Kanthaka from the beginnig and was and is an amazing mentor, Victor Koosh. Also I want to thank Sputnik ATX with Oksana and Joe as managing partners as well as One Planet Ops with their amazing CEO Payam, who are the best investors and mentors we can imagine. Most importantly of course we wouldn’t be where we are without the amazing support, encouragement and mentorship during every step of the way by my wonderful husband Philipp Kampshoff.

Website: https://mykanthaka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanthaka_app/?hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-kampshoff-ph-d-19a4b5117/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KanthakaApp/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv3pEaL-Q-y-SW15_D6CKKg
Other: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kanthaka/id1217953157?ls=1

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