It takes a special kind of person to leave a good job in Chicago and move to Germany with three friends to start a business.  But in 2000, that is just what Robert Hein (MBA ’98) did.  Today he is the General Manager and co-owner of 004 GmbH (Beratungs und Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH) www.004gmbh.de/en, which is located in Aschaffenburg, near Frankfurt, Germany.

The company offers all the services related to e-commerce and logistics in the form of a modular service portfolio.  They partner with clients who are seeking to establish an online shop for their product or service, including all back office and logistics operations, or who may simply want to source out a part of their operations.   The company has developed a way to lower the barriers and costs of launching an online business.  The business has grown from the four initial founders to a company of more than 100 employees, and has expanded to serve clients throughout Europe. 

Their newest product is the Gömböc (pronounced as "goemboets"), a three-dimensional body having the fascinating ability to always "swing back" to the same original position, just on the basis of its shape. This is the only shop worldwide where the Gömböc can be purchased.   In June 2006, the company was awarded the BayernOnline Prize in the Corporate Category as an outstanding, pioneering, and successfully implemented internet project.

Hein grew up in Chicago with bi-lingual parents and grandparents.  He has a curiosity and vitality for life that is infectious.  His wife, Manuela  is German, and they have a son, who is four years old.