Meet Paul Rathmann, a medical doctor visiting Variment from Germany

Meet Paul Rathmann, a medical doctor from Germany. He is currently doing an exchange program with Variment as a part of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. 

Paul reached out to us a few months ago expressing his interest in working with us. After several meetings, we identified that we shared common interests in building solutions to enhance communication in healthcare. Paul is now based in Tromsø and will be working with Variment until January 2027.

1. Tell us about who you are and what you are working with.

My name is Paul and I am a medical doctor with a passion for education, transfer of medical knowledge and clinical competence. As a self-employed medical lecturer, I guide international doctors and medical students through their exams. I have ten years of clinical work experience in different positions – at a university hospital, in transfusion medicine and at a rehabilitation clinic.

2. You are participating in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE). What is EYE and why did you choose to participate?

EYE is an EU-funded exchange program to support new entrepreneurs in their first years as they build their own business. The main idea is to collaborate with a more established start-up or company to get insights into how to develop a business idea of your own. After registration one can choose an experienced partner and business owner from another country for up to six months. If both sides agree to work with each other, the exchange can start. The EU will co-finance it.

I chose EYE because it is a great opportunity to extend my knowledge. And I am excited to work with Variment! Furthermore, I like the idea of gaining experience outside my home country, in another system and culture. As a physician I have gathered medical knowledge, but so far I have little experience of what it means to build a business.

3. What will you be doing during the EYE program?

The EYE program is designed to give value to both sides – the "new" entrepreneur and the experienced business owner. I will bring in my medical and didactic knowledge and my clinical experience to support Variment in developing new scenarios and extending the fields it covers. Variment can teach me how to handle emotions in medical conversations – one of the most important aspects of treatment. In return, I will get guidance for my own business idea, too. I would like to develop it further and to launch a product of my own.

4. You will be living in Tromsø for the next six months. Why Norway? How did you find Tromsø so far?

I chose Norway because it is open to innovation and new technology. It has a vibrant start-up scene in the medical field. And of course the nature is impressive! Living north of the Arctic Circle is an exciting experience, too. In winter, the sun does not rise at all for a couple of months. Tromsø is a city in a truly unique situation – and from my first impressions, I like it a lot! Surrounded by fjords and mountains, it is the centre of the whole region. Alongside one of Norway's largest universities and its position as a tourist hotspot, it offers a rich cultural life and stunning scenery. And of course the northern lights in winter!

5. What are you looking to achieve by the end of the program?

I would like to develop new scenarios for health professionals with Variment – and to get a clearer idea of how I could bring my business idea into reality. This will be an exciting time, working on both paths in parallel – which is what the EYE program intends. I am really looking forward to it!

Read more about the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program here.