EP #505 - Wiktor Bourée & Charlotte Ducrot: The Pivot that Makes or Breaks Your Startup

Jul 2, 2025

Wiktor Bourée, co-founder and CEO of Technis, and Charlotte Ducrot, Head of Scaleups & Growth at Innovaud, dive into the crucial topic of pivoting in startups. They share Technis's fascinating journey from analyzing sports surfaces to providing innovative smart flooring solutions. The pair discuss the challenges of team alignment during pivots, common mistakes startups make, and the emotional toll of adapting to market demands. Their insights shed light on the importance of communication and community support in successfully navigating these transformative processes.

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ANECDOTE

Origin Story of Technis

Technis started from a casual coffee discussion about cheating in tennis and evolved into a startup focused on smart tennis courts.
The initial idea came spontaneously from personal tennis experiences and a startup contest opportunity.

INSIGHT

Pivot Sparked by Unexpected Client Needs

Pivoting can arise from unexpected insights like new use cases of existing technology.
Technis adapted from sports-focused smart flooring to people counting, proving flexibility is key in startups.

ADVICE

Lead With Transparency, Not Ego

Remove ego to lead effective pivots and keep team spirit.
Share doubts transparently with your team to build trust and maintain motivation.

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Timestamps:

05:58 - From tennis courts to security

11:43 - Getting the team onboard with a major pivot

19:40 - Staying focused vs staying flexible

27:57 - What are the biggest pivoting mistakes startups keep making?

This episode was co-produced with Innovaud, the innovation and investment promotion agency for the canton of Vaud.

This episode was sponsored by Relai. Get started with Bitcoin by downloading the Relai app today, and profit from 10% less fees by entering code SWISSPRENEUR at checkout.

(Disclaimer: Relai services are exclusively recommended for Swiss and Italian residents.)

About Wiktor Bourée & Charlotte Ducrot:

Wiktor Bourée is the co-founder and CEO of Technis, a software company that centralizes data on a single platform, allowing businesses to make informed decisions with accurate and up-to-date information. He holds a MSc in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from ETH and worked for companies like Saint Louis Sucre and BASF before starting Technis in 2015.

Charlotte Ducrot is Head of Scaleups & Growth at Innovaud, the innovation and investment promotion agency for the canton of Vaud. She holds an MA in International Affairs from the Geneva Graduate Institute and worked for companies like Swisscontact and the WEF before joining Innovaud in 2022.

During their chat with Merle, Wiktor and Charlotte discuss the evolution of Technis, a startup that pivoted from analyzing sports surfaces to providing smart flooring solutions for various applications. They explored the challenges and dynamics of making such a significant shift, including team trust, investor relations, and the importance of adaptability in the startup environment. The discussion also highlighted the future aspirations of Technis in the digitalization of physical spaces and the lessons learned from their journey.

The cover portrait was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartportrait.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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