How Dr. Kerstin Oberprieler Gamified a Six-Figure SaaS Exit

Introduction

PentaQuest began when Dr. Kerstin Oberprieler noticed that most reward systems focus only on numbers: sales, targets, productivity. She believed that recognizing everyday actions, helping a colleague, sharing a learning resource, applauding good ideas, could reshape company culture. That spark led her to test a low-tech leaderboard at a local office.

Origin of the Idea

Growing up in a multicultural home made Kerstin fascinated by what drives behavior. She studied psychology and business, then discovered gamification. Instead of diving straight into software, she built a physical board with points for positive actions. It was a hit: teams wanted in, managers saw real engagement shifts.

Validating the Concept

Rather than risk heavy development costs, Kerstin ran pilot sessions with sticky notes and magnets. Workers saw a live tally of peer recognition and asked for their own versions. This quick proof of concept gave confidence to invest in a digital product.

Building the Platform

With feedback in hand, Kerstin tackled software development, even with zero coding background. She learned user experience basics, cloud hosting, and found developers to help. The first release let managers define behaviors, assign points, and track team progress on dashboards.

Scaling and Growth

To find customers, Kerstin leaned on her personal brand. She gave a TEDx talk in Canberra and joined the local innovation network. Winning a government contract provided credibility and steady revenue. She spoke at events, wrote articles, and forged partnerships. Word spread fast in HR circles.

Overcoming Obstacles

Cash flow was tight early on, so every expense was under a microscope. Explaining gamification took patience, some saw it as a gimmick. Technical bugs popped up as the user base grew. As a female founder in tech, Kerstin sometimes faced bias, but she let results speak.

Decision to Sell

After six years, a new chapter began. With a baby on the way, Kerstin listed PentaQuest on Flippa. More than 30 buyers surfaced within days. She weighed offers not just on price, but on the buyer’s vision for the product’s future. A six-figure deal closed two weeks before her due date.

Life After PentaQuest

Kerstin shifted into consulting, helping teams use behavior design without full in-house tools. She’s writing a book on culture change and gamification, sharing real-world lessons alongside theory.

Conclusion

PentaQuest shows that even a fresh idea tested on a wall can become a digital business that sells for six figures. It proves that understanding people, validating quickly, and building credibility are key to SaaS success.