Raphael Stange

CEO at Nitrado | Multiplayer Servers for Game Studios and Players

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

As CEO of Nitrado, and previously an Executive Board Member at Share Now and part of Sixt’s global leadership team, I thrive on navigating complex, cross-border challenges across three continents. I’m passionate about building and empowering teams, inspiring them to take initiative and own outcomes. I’ve delivered strategic impact, high growth, and strong financial performance in fast-paced, EBITDA-focused environments. I feel most at home in customer- and tech-driven companies and bring an entrepreneurial mindset to everything I do. Ventures I co-founded continue to scale successfully.

Experience

  • CEO at Nitrado
    Mar 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 4 mos

  • SHARE NOW (Full-time · 7 yrs 2 mos)
    • Chief Marketing, Customer Service and Sales Officer (CMSO)
      Jan 2020 - Feb 2023 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      Joining as a C-level executive during a period of financial decline, I helped lead the turnaround of an unprofitable B2C business following the departure of the founding CEO and CFO, and shortly after the exit of their successor. I drove consistent double-digit EBIT growth, tripled the customer base from 1.2 to 3.4 million by building in-house performance marketing teams, and reduced support costs by ~50% through strategic outsourcing and organizational redesign. Together with Product, Tech, and BI, I launched new B2C and B2B offerings that drove an 80% increase in total revenue. Revenue per user rose by 40%, supported by the rollout of marketing automation, app attribution, and the industry’s first carsharing loyalty program. I established regional B2B sales teams across Europe, tripling B2B revenues. I repositioned and integrated brands post-merger, transforming car2go into the premium brand Share Now. These strategic initiatives significantly strengthened the company’s financial profile and appeal to acquirers - directly contributing to the successful exit via sale to Stellantis.

    • Chief Marketing and Sales Officer (CMSO)
      May 2019 - Dec 2019 · 8 mos

    • Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
      Jan 2016 - Apr 2019 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      At that time car2go Group GmbH

  • remote control productions GmbH (1 yr 5 mos)
    • Director Operations (COO)
      Aug 2014 - Dec 2015 · 1 yr 5 mos

      Joining during a phase of rapid expansion driven by a major production contract ("Angry Birds Epic"), I supported the founder in scaling the organization without compromising operational performance. I introduced a streamlined recruitment and onboarding process, increasing both hiring speed and talent quality. To access top-tier tech talent, I established a new subsidiary in Helsinki - resulting in a 50% year-over-year increase in developers and product managers. I also implemented a structured product development process with cross-functional leadership involvement. To diversify revenue, I launched a new subsidiary, "Gamify now!", focused on gamification and business apps. In its first year, the unit generated €1 million in B2B revenue through new client acquisition.

    • Managing Director GamifyNow!
      Aug 2014 - Dec 2015 · 1 yr 5 mos

      Spin-off from remote control productions GmbH

  • SIXT (Munich Area, Germany)
    • Senior Director Marketing Operations
      Dec 2012 - Jul 2014 · 1 yr 8 mos

      Appointed by the owning family to succeed Konstantin Sixt, outgoing Head of Online Marketing (promoted to the Board of Sixt SE as CSO), I joined at a pivotal moment: the CEO, Erich Sixt, had just initiated the US market entry, and the carsharing JV with BMW (“Drive Now”) was underperforming. Sixt's customer acquisition was overly focused on per-transaction metrics, lacking a long-term view on customer lifetime value. Key tools such as paid social acquisition, affiliate programs, and marketing automation were missing. I introduced a bid management platform and an acquisition attribution model - optimizing spend allocation across Search and Display, resulting in double-digit revenue growth year over year. I implemented Oracle CRM marketing automation, linked to the Sixt Card and SME bonus program, significantly increasing uptake of personalized offers. Additionally, I helped refine Sixt’s global marketing strategy, with a particular focus on scaling US operations - now Sixt’s largest market outside Germany.

    • Director Marketing Operations
      Jul 2012 - Nov 2012 · 5 mos

    • Head of Online Marketing
      Dec 2011 - Jun 2012 · 7 mos

  • G+J Entertainment Media (part of Gruner + Jahr) (Munich Area, Germany)
    • Head of Marketing & Product Management
      Oct 2010 - Nov 2011 · 1 yr 2 mos

      At that time publisher of kino.de, video.de and special interest magazines Blickpunkt:Film, Videomarkt, Gamesmarkt and Musikmarkt

    • Head of Marketing
      Dec 2008 - Sep 2010 · 1 yr 10 mos

      At that time publisher of kino.de, video.de and special interest magazines Blickpunkt:Film, Videomarkt, Gamesmarkt and Musikmarkt

    • Senior Marketing Manager
      Jun 2008 - Nov 2008 · 6 mos

      At that time publisher of kino.de, video.de and special interest magazines Blickpunkt:Film, Videomarkt, Gamesmarkt and Musikmarkt