Swisspreneur Show EP#538 - Panagiotis Martakis: Scaling Deep Tech in Switzerland Without Losing Focus
Jan 7, 2026
Panagiotis Martakis, the Founder and CEO of Irmos Technologies, discusses his journey from civil engineering to pioneering data-driven monitoring for critical infrastructure. He explains how Irmos' innovative sensors and software extend the life of bridges while addressing significant information gaps. Martakis shares insights on navigating funding challenges, the importance of focus in early-stage startups, and the support offered by the Swiss ecosystem. He envisions turning localized bridge data into extensive benchmarks across Europe, showcasing the transformative potential of deep tech.
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Monitoring Demolitions To Get Real Data
- Panagiotis built low-cost sensors during his PhD by monitoring buildings and bridges slated for demolition to collect real-world data.
- This approach let him validate models cheaply and sparked the idea to commercialize monitoring technology.
A Conference Chat Turned Into First Contract
- Panagiotis met engineers at a conference who had doubts about crack severity on a prominent bridge and invited them to ETH.
- That interaction led to a project with the federal owner and became Irmos's first contract.
Visual Inspections Aren't Enough
- Visual inspections produce local, inconsistent information and rely heavily on inspector judgment.
- Panagiotis argues owners need portfolio-level, comparable data to prioritise maintenance effectively.