The first fully online interpreter agency
Sunday December 24, 2017. That is the day that I (Kristian) and Jaap (my stepfather) made the decision and started Tolk2Go.
In 2017, I was “promoted” from IKEA meatball creator to “Operations Executive” at a (what I didn't really know then) Blackhat Affiliate Marketing company. I called it a promotion because as a drop-out I got an office job anyway.
The job was exciting and everything was new and I worked in the office! But still… After a while at this company, something started to gnaw at me.
My father was in a different situation. He was almost done with his distinguished career at IBM and was about to retire. He also had his own Google AdWords marketing company. But there was also something gnawing at Jaap. To stop the mysterious gnawing, we brainstormed together about ideas for an online business.
After many brainstorming sessions, we decided to each develop their own app. I would make a dating app. Jaap decided to make an interpreter app based on the experiences of my mother Svetlana. My mother has been a sworn interpreter and translator since 1998. Because of my mother's experiences as an interpreter and the inside knowledge, Jaap (and I too) thought: That could be fairer and better than the approach of the existing interpreting agencies.
So we decided to go our separate ways. I was sorry. I would have liked to do it together. Fortunately, I received a Whatsapp from Jaap on Sunday 24 December: “Hi Kris, Your idea to do Uber for interpreters ... is a good idea. Let's discuss the details tomorrow ”. My answer: “Hey. Oki! 🙌 ”.
Eleven months later, the website www.Tolk2Go.com was finished and we opened with 50 freelance interpreters.
Now after 2 years and many assignments later, but also setbacks such as COVID19, we are still growing. More than 400 freelance interpreters have already joined us. Things are going so well that we are redesigning the website with useful functions for our clients and interpreters. We are improving the interpreting app and will soon release an app for our clients.
We are very satisfied and so are our customers and interpreters. Read their rave reviews at Reviews.io/company/Tolk2Go.
The word drop-out reminded me of this song by Kanye West:
Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire, even through the fire
