Several dozen companies go through our programs for entrepreneurs every year. But few of them have such a long and one could even say true story that started and still continues with us. This is the company Mamavis healing care s.r.o., which went through our Startup Go business incubator, won the Startup Go Grill, was awarded as the 3rd most innovative company in the Ústí Region, uses our Platinn mentoring program for faster business growth and also won the Ústí Region's IBM Company of the Year 2022 region. Well, that last win is not ours. However, this only shows how Martina Štefániková is constantly working on her project and expanding it.

Martina, we congratulate you once again on the 1st place in the competition IBM Firma 2022 of the Ústí Region. What does such an award mean to you?

Thank you. Of course, I appreciate the award in such a prestigious competition as IBM Company of the Year of the Ústí Region. It is probably unnecessary to say that I was honestly surprised when I had the opportunity to carefully watch the presentations of the other participants in the final ten. A company that writes its own successful history. However, Governor Jan Schiller expressed it nicely in his opening speech. That the winners are all who gathered at the festive evening at Větruša! Like ship captains who steer their ships through the turbulent waters of recent years, not exactly easy for business. I felt a friendly atmosphere of belonging and mutual sympathy throughout the evening.

I also take the award as a sign that we are on the right path with our startup. I appreciate the win immensely, it is a reward not only for me, but for the entire team of our company Mamavis. He selflessly cooperates with me and helps me.

During the "thank you" after the announcement, you mentioned that the plastic does not belong to the Priessnitz wrap. Does this mean that many people apply this healing method incorrectly?

Yes, even though Priessnitz's wrap has become popular among people, it is commonly used at home with plastic wrap, which is not suitable. Priessnitz himself used waxed fabric to prevent water from seeping from the inner part into the upper insulated part. The water did not penetrate it, and at the same time it remained breathable. Artificial steaming occurs when plastic wrap is used. It is expertly described by the chief physician of the Priessnitz Spa in Jeseník MUDr. Novotný on the mamavis.cz blog. Therefore, if you want to make a self-help wrap, it is necessary to use only two layers, i.e. wet and then dry.

I can't help but ask - has the Covid pandemic helped your Priessnitz Wraps business?

During the covid pandemic, we recommended Priessnitz wraps to people as a natural support for medication treatment and to achieve beneficial relief. After all, together with us, general practitioners also did this in the public space. At the same time, the truth is that we definitely did not see this time as an opportunity for astronomical price increases, similar to what we could witness with protective masks and respirators. As a company, we are trying to "write" a different story, so in an effort to help, we dedicated part of our production capacity to sewing masks. Like many others. We were also able to obtain financial donations from a partner private foundation fund for several nursing homes and children's homes, enabling us to provide them with the necessary wrap kits for free.

You and Mamavis went through our business incubator and are currently in the Platinn mentoring program. How do you remember the business incubator now? Could you remember what he helped you with the most at that time?

Of course. At the beginning of my "entrepreneurial story", when I was a mother on maternity leave with an open business license, I did not realize that I could even need similar services offered by ICUK. But I was lucky, as many times later on people. My faithful companion Milan Drábek then brought me to you at ICUK, saying that I need exactly what you offer for start-up companies. Since then, I actually have two loyal companions. Milan and ICUK. The contact with you first of all led me to be able to see my mother's business plan in the necessary context. As a so-called startupist, I learned the entrepreneurial craft in order to move my idea forward. I am also grateful to the Innovation Center for helping us become visible. After graduating from the incubator, I received my first recognition; I won the Startup Go Grill competition. And later we took 3rd place in the Innovation Company of the Year competition of the Ústí Region. Through ICUK, I gained a lot of useful contacts with skilled people, and I still work with a number of them today. Some of them were students at the time, for example Anička Jánská (currently Kadlecová).

How does Mamavis look now after all these years? What has changed the most for you over the years?

It can be said that we are ripe for rebirth. Until now, we followed the path of a family business, we kind of spread our wings - at the time. Simply "the art of small steps". And now the time has come to try to change course to global business. I believe Priessnitz's Mamavis wraps have it and so does our team! After all, the victory in the IBM company of the year competition of the Ústí Region obliges us to take such a bold step, doesn't it?

At the same time, I believe that our journey will continue to include the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, the story of the world-renowned naturopath Vincenz Priessnitz, as well as counseling, stories and fairy tales for children through the Mamavis Association.

And now to Platinn - how is this program currently helping you grow your business?

Involvement in Platinna is related to what I talked about a moment ago, i.e. the intention to build Mamavis healing care as a real global company. ICUK really helps us significantly for this. Whether it is cooperation with Pavle Kováč, who combines a professional approach with a friendly and self-sacrificing approach, or with quality mentors. We learn from them how to do the right things right. For example, from Martin Mikulášek to build a network of sales representatives. And one of the lively topics is the establishment of cooperation with the Research Institute of Balneology in Mšené. We are preparing a joint project that will add a so-called scientific, medical, biochemical approach to the current natural healing, physiological approach to our Priessnitz wraps. Simply put, today we know well that the wrap helps and why. However, it is equally important for us to have a scientific basis for what happens specifically in the skin cells at the place of its application on the body when using the wrap. Or perhaps when using water other than tap water, for example with the possibility of using an active medicinal substance. All of this will help us keep innovating the packaging to serve people even better.

Would you share with us the nearest challenges that await you in the company?

Of course, it is Žofín where the final competition Company of the Year 2022 awaits us. Keep your fingers crossed for us 🙂 Furthermore, it is the strategic development of the company, and we are also involved in the events of our association Mamavis, with educational lectures for adults and children, and together with the Priessnitz health spa, we are also preparing an edition booklets of fairy tales based on stories from the life of the world-renowned natural "water" doctor Vincenz Priessnitz. He was also a great person and a capable businessman, despite all the difficulties and obstacles.

Martina, thank you for your time and we wish you many more successes!