Yessica Klein
8 min read
09 November 2025
Sven Efftinge has spent his career building tools that empower others, first as an open-source contributor and then as a founder of developer-centric startups such as Typefox and Gitpod. His latest venture, Parfinity, moves in a completely new direction: fragrance. “After years in tech, I wanted to challenge myself with something unfamiliar,” he says. “It’s still about building a great product. But now I’m selling to people, not just to teams.”
Sven’s startup journey began in Kiel, where he still lives and works. Despite building globally recognized tools and remote-first teams, Sven has remained rooted in northern Germany. “I grew up near Kiel, studied here, and built all my companies here,” he says. “I love being close to the ocean. It’s calm, it’s grounded. That balance is important to me.” While he admits the regional startup ecosystem is not as global as Berlin or Munich, he sees that as a strength. “It’s not about hype. It’s about building things that last.”
He co-founded Typefox in 2016 to develop custom engineering tools, working with global clients like Meta. From there, Gitpod emerged – a product designed to run full developer environments in the cloud. Backed by investors from London to San Francisco, Gitpod grew into a fully remote company with 70 employees worldwide. With Parfinity, Sven is now applying that same product mindset to a new domain: designing an online-first perfume experience rooted in clarity, sustainability and tech-driven convenience.
What made you switch from developer tools to fragrance?
I’d already done most of what excited me in tech. I wanted to learn something completely new. Consumer goods, logistics, B2C marketing – that was all unfamiliar. But I could still bring everything I’d learned about product quality, automation and user experience. It’s a different industry, but the mindset is the same: build something so good that people tell others about it.
What has the reception to Parfinity been like so far?
Really positive. People love the idea and the experience. Recently, someone called just to say thank you. No issue, no request, just appreciation. That kind of feedback is very encouraging. It shows that the mission resonates.
How has your approach as a founder changed over time?
I used to get overwhelmed by uncertainty. Now I’m more used to it. It still feels like a roller coaster, but I’ve learned how to manage the stress. Meditation helps. Perspective helps. So do good people. I’ve always invested in coaching, and I surround myself with people who are better than me in most things. That’s how I grow.
“When I dive into something new, I want to understand it deeply. That’s what gives me energy.”
What’s the biggest difference between founding a B2B and a B2C company?
In B2B, even if the user loves your product, they still have to convince a decision-maker to buy. With B2C, your customer is the decision-maker. That’s a big shift. But the fundamentals are the same: be authentic, build something excellent, and make sure people love the experience. If you do that, they’ll share it. That’s how you grow.
How do you approach long-term planning for your startups?
I’m not a big planner. That was actually a challenge when raising funding for Gitpod: investors wanted a ten-year, billion-dollar vision. But I prefer to stay grounded and focus on the next six months. With Parfinity, I don’t need to make grand projections. I can stay real, stay focused, and grow step by step.
What advice would you give to new founders?
Find a cofounder who complements you, not just a friend. It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make. And be willing to invest in your emotional health. You’ll need tools to deal with the pressure. It doesn’t go away – you just get better at riding it out.
How do you deal with feedback and leadership dynamics?
When you’re a founder, people often hesitate to criticize you. But you need honest feedback. That’s why I try to build a team culture where everyone helps each other grow. There are no hierarchies, just a shared drive to do great work.
“A company is just its people. Hiring well is everything.”