LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/majaschaefer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/majaschaefer)
Executive Overview
Maja Schaefer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Zowie, an AI-driven customer service automation company specializing in eCommerce support solutions. Under her leadership since founding the company in 2019, Zowie has quickly grown into a prominent startup, recognized both in the Central European and global technology ecosystems.
Professional Experience
Zowie (2019–Present)
- Role: CEO & Co-Founder
- Business Focus: Zowie delivers AI-powered chatbots and automation-first customer support systems tailored for eCommerce brands. The company’s platform automates responses to customer inquiries, eliminates repetitive workload in customer support, and is explicitly positioned to turn customer support interactions into sales opportunities.
- Key Achievements:
- Secured nearly $20 million in funding, including a $14M Series A round led by Tiger Global and participation from Google’s Gradient Ventures in 2022.
- Selected as a Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe 2025 company.
- Listed among the top AI startups in Europe’s V4 region, and featured in several prominent industry rankings, including CRN’s “10 Hottest AI Startup Companies of 2022”.
- Recognized for rapid revenue growth and successful expansion into international markets; Zowie’s first client was a publicly listed multinational, and the company continues to onboard global brands.
- Offices in New York (headquarters), with significant operations in Warsaw, Poland, supporting both US and European client bases.
Previous Ventures
- Codeheroes: Prior to Zowie, Maja co-founded and led Codeheroes, a custom software development agency. This background provided operational and leadership experience in software delivery and scaling service organizations.
Early Career
- IBM: Maja began her professional journey at IBM, gaining foundational experience in technology, operations at scale, and organizational leadership.
Education and Technical Background
- Academic Credentials:
AGH University of Science and Technology
Field: Computer Science
- Other Highlights:
Former President of a scientific group connecting business and technology (2008–2011).
Awarded a scholarship for academic achievements during university studies.
Market Recognition and Thought Leadership
- Forbes 30 Under 30: Named among Forbes 30 Under 30, further validating her impact and visibility in the tech/startup ecosystem.
- Industry Recognition: Featured in the Top 100 Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Poland (Vestbee, 2022).
- Speaker Engagements: Regularly appears at major industry events (e.g., Infoshare), presenting on international sales building, technology automation, and startup leadership.
- Media Presence: Widely covered in technology press and business media, cited for insights on AI-enabled customer support and the evolving role of automation within sales processes.
- Awards: Recent company and personal recognitions, including company-level awards dedicated to customer success in Poland (LinkedIn post, November 2024).
Strategic Insights
- Growth Orientation: Zowie under Maja’s leadership is actively expanding across global markets, and scaling partnerships with prominent brands, emphasizing rapid internationalization and SaaS growth strategies.
- Venture Capital Connections: Strong ties to venture capital, with public collaborations and interviews alongside VC partners, demonstrating experience in startup fundraising and investor relations.
- Product Vision: Positioned at the intersection of AI, automation, and sales enablement within the eCommerce vertical—core focus areas for many technology vendors and partners.
Additional Information
- Location: Based out of New York with substantial presence in Warsaw, Poland.
- Notable Quotes: "Most of the questions that customer support service teams deal with are repeatable and time-consuming," highlighting the value proposition Zowie delivers through automation.
- Noteworthy Partnerships: Initial and ongoing traction with multinational, publicly listed enterprise customers indicates trust and scalability of Zowie’s technology.
Contact and Visibility
- LinkedIn: [Maja Schaefer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/majaschaefer)
- Public Events and Media: Frequent participant and speaker at technology summits, startup events, and venture capital podcasts/interviews.
Summary of Fit
Maja Schaefer’s profile illustrates a data-driven, growth-focused technology executive whose track record in AI-driven SaaS, international market expansion, and successful startup fundraising aligns with organizations and partners targeting digital transformation in customer experience and eCommerce. Her leadership at Zowie provides proven, actionable entry points for both technology partnerships and enterprise customer engagement.
