User Support –
The Regulators

Daniel works in user support and is currently demanding the re-introduction of liquorice to the office.

Marketing –
The Advert Angels

Ulli: “studiVZ, schülerVZ, and meinVZ display adverts so that they can remain free to use. Anni, Melli and I are kept on our toes by a constant stream of technical and creative challenges, and by Mila the dog – who likes to sit on our chairs. We seem to have become experts in iFrames, php script and xml files, just don’t come too close with that enormous XL table!”

Ulli works in our marketing department and is currently one foot tall, very hairy, and barking. Wait! That’s Mila …

Software-Engineering –
The Programmers

Simon: “If studiVZ Ltd. were a big ship we’d be in the engine room. But instead of oil cans, we’re running around with laptops, making sure the zeros and ones stay where they should.”

Simon works in software engineering and is one of the early members of the studiVZ Ltd. team. He is currently wondering how much fresh coffee he can drink in one day.

Graphics – The Designers

Caro: “Basti and I are responsible for the graphics for studiVZ, schülerVZ and meinVZ – anything that appears in colour. Banners, corporate designs, presentations: it all comes through us. I like working here because everyone is so full of energy and fun.”

Caro works in the graphics department, is proud of her banners, and is currently convinced that chocolate is a medical cure for stress.

Human Resources –
The People People

Stefan: “We are always searching for the very best people for studiVZ Ltd.. The most important thing is that they feel they belong here. If someone feels at home and fits in with our culture they’re going to love working for us!”

Stefan is the head of HR and is currently thinking he should ask himself for a pay rise.

System Administration –
The Server-Cowboys

Martin: “We manage the servers in our ‘little server farm’, an appropriate name given that they’re a bit like animals: running fine for months and months, then suddenly breaking down for no apparent reason. Luckily we have a cupboard with some secret remedies. It can be a hard job, but it’s very rewarding.”

Martin is the head of System Administration; his team does everything conceivable to keep the platforms running smoothly. He is currently ‘down on the farm’ with his wellys.

Management - The Captains

Marcus, Dennis und Michael: “The three of us are on the bridge, steering the studiVZ Ltd. ship along. We make decisions about new projects, work to have an efficient structure, and help to keep our network on the right track. The company’s rapid growth means the bridge is never boring.”

Marcus, Dennis and Michael are the management team for studiVZ Ltd.. Working in the same room, they are constantly discussing one thing or another with the staff. They are currently trying to learn flag semaphore.

schülerVZ –
The Loveable Brats

Oliver: “schülerVZ is our little baby, and though it keeps us up day and night we’ve enjoyed watching it grow. It’s taken us back to our school days – our favourite word is now “muuaahahh”, and we spend a lot of time thinking about new badges. We’re also trying to make up for the fruit we didn’t eat back then – it‘s delivered by the tonne. Though we have a lot of fun, we also work extra hard to protect both our users and the platform because of their age. A secure network and a big smiley team!”

Oliver is the head of schülerVZ and is currently in the process of turning the office couch into his second home. Olli – budge over.

The Communication Team – The Talkers

Dirk: “studiVZ Ltd. has a huge business relations network. We’re constantly on the phone to journalists, business partners, and anyone else, to provide them with information, organise press conferences, and arrange interviews. I’m lost without a mobile stuck to my ear!”

Dirk is head of the communications team and is currently the owner of the most annoying ring tone in the office.

studiVZ – The Big-wigs

Annette: “studiVZ is a great product to be involved with. The network has helped people get in touch, stay in touch, and find out more about others. There’s now a whole generation of studiVZ users. We monitor and care for studiVZ very closely and work hard to keep it healthy and strong.”

Annette loves studiVZ. She’s always on the lookout for interns and is currently jogging around the office.

V und Z – The Computer Mice

V and Z have a dream life in our offices – there’s always something entertaining going on, and they don’t have to wait very long for food! Following generous donations from the staff last year they have now moved into a 5-star villa, which has everything they could possibly need. Truth be told, we’ve noticed they’ve got a bit lazy. Since they organised an official boycott of the running wheel, we’ve had to keep an eye on their weight.

V and Z enrich our daily lives with their antics and have become office mascots. They are currently plotting an ambitious pumpkin seed theft

Internal IT –
The studiVZ Ltd. Doctors

Matthias: “Together with my assistant doctors Rico and Willi, I’m responsible for planning, installing, and maintaining everything in the company that runs on electricity. Whether someone needs a WLAN cable or an internal intranet, we’re the men for the job! We work hard to ensure that Murphy’s Law is rigorously enforced here – much like the rest of the company.”

Matthias is in charge of internal IT. He is currently growing a bit of a belly, and a thick skin.

Finance and Accounting –
The Number bods

Jenny: “We are responsible for the finance side of things. We work alongside the legal team and HR to make sure the staff can put all their energy into the VZ sites. We’re normally in the background, but when money is needed it’s amazing how quickly people are able to find us.”

Jenny works in the finance team and is currently very happy with her job: she loves spending other people’s money.

meinVZ – The Newbies

Tom: “meinVZ is a natural growth for us – it’s not just students and pupils who want to communicate with each other over a network. That’s why we’ve introduced a platform for people who've left university. As the younger older-brother of the other platforms, meinVZ is our baby – we hope he'll grow into a friendly giant.”

Tom is the head of the meinVZ Team. He is really happy that, thanks to the connection between meinVZ and studiVZ, he can now keep in touch with students and non-students at the same time.

Backfabrik – where it all happens

The Backfabrik lies in the very heart of Berlin and provides us and another 50 companies with a roof over our heads. The enormous lift in the middle can’t keep up with our movements, so you can find us constantly running up and down the stairs at the back. Together with the fresh fruit which we seem to have on tap, the big red building is great for our health – he’s friends with the fitness centre next-door.

The Backfabrik used to provide the whole of East Berlin with fresh bread. We hope that the ideas we come up will be just as popular - but spread much further!

studiVZ Ltd – Our Home

There are 120 of us here at studiVZ Ltd., all working hard through the day and night to keep our platforms in tip-top shape.