Swisspreneur Show

Geri Kirilova, Partner at Laconia and venture capital expert, shares insights from her journey in the B2B software space. She discusses Laconia’s unique investment strategy, emphasizing strong unit economics and capital-efficient growth. Geri explains why cold emails are favored over warm intros, challenging conventional networking norms. The conversation touches on the distinct challenges faced by Swiss startups compared to their U.S. counterparts, highlighting the need for a supportive ecosystem to thrive.

Wendy Jordan, co-founder and former COO of Encuentra24, shares her transformative journey in creating Central America's top online marketplace. She discusses the serendipitous inspiration leading to a property database and the challenges of bootstrapping for a decade. Wendy emphasizes the significance of partnership in overcoming obstacles and the innovative advertising strategies that fueled growth. She also reflects on her transition to mentorship and investment roles, advocating for gender equity and the importance of authentic leadership in entrepreneurship.

Simon Michel, CEO of Ypsomed and member of Switzerland’s National Council, shares his journey in the medtech industry. He discusses the evolution of Ypsomed from its roots in insulin delivery to broader chronic care solutions. The conversation dives into the challenges of balancing R&D in Switzerland with manufacturing abroad, the strategy behind going public, and the necessity for political involvement to support entrepreneurs. Michel also reflects on maintaining Swiss values while pursuing global expansion.

Thomas Schori, Co-founder and CEO of tide ocean, transforms ocean-bound plastic into useful products. He discusses the journey from the Swiss watch industry to sustainable waste management, highlighting the urgent issue of plastic pollution. Thomas emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable value chain and effective recycling processes. He also shares insights on building a dedicated international team and navigating startup financing. Moreover, he reflects on the value of awards in validating business models and the need for a circular economy around plastics.

Manuel Hartmann, Founder and CEO of SalesPlaybook and former Tesla employee, dives into the critical topic of trust in sales. He shares insights on the 'speed of trust' and highlights how AI-driven practices often erode this essential quality. Manuel discusses the need for authenticity in sales communication and the role of CRM solutions in fostering trust. He also addresses the competitive landscape shaped by companies like HubSpot and emphasizes how genuine care and problem-solving can restore trust in sales relationships.

Gian Reto à Porta, a serial entrepreneur and business angel, delves into his journey from co-founding the fintech Contovista to establishing NORM, a climate tech startup. He shares insights on the stunning 33x returns for Contovista investors and discusses the importance of achieving product-market fit in startups. Gian emphasizes the urgency of energy efficiency in the building sector, driven by upcoming regulatory changes. The conversation also touches on the motivations behind starting NORM and the challenges in the climate tech landscape.

Alessandra Agnello, Principal at ACE Ventures, discusses her remarkable transition from oil trading to venture capital. She shares insights on the importance of understanding risk and prioritizing customer engagement over seeking funding. Alessandra emphasizes that not every startup is suited for VC money, highlighting the need for a solid growth structure. She also touches on how AI might shape the future of business funding and reveals how building honest relationships with investors can lead to success in the startup ecosystem.

Victoria Ransom, co-founder of Wildfire and Prisma, shares her insights on building a strong company culture. She discusses the unique aspects that define an uncopyable culture and emphasizes the importance of hiring effectively and fostering a sense of belonging. Victoria highlights the need for transparency and resourcefulness, showcasing how Wildfire succeeded against bigger competitors. She also delves into the tough decisions leaders must make for cultural integrity and how the founders' values shape the company ethos, especially in remote settings.

Joel Roos and Ben Simon, co-founders of VAY, share insights on pioneering motion tracking technology that revolutionizes digital fitness coaching. They discuss their thrilling journey from a startup in Zurich to being acquired by Bowflex, delving into the challenges of share distribution and the pivot to a B2B model in healthcare. The duo emphasizes teamwork and mentorship, navigating the emotional highs and lows of the acquisition process, and how strategic partnerships facilitated their impressive growth in the competitive fitness tech landscape.

Timestamps: 3:26 - Getting an MBA or building a startup? 8:44 - Guy’s irrational love for Apple 14:05 - Giving startups advice in exchange for stocks 22:00 - What makes a remarkable person? About Guy Kawasaki: Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of the Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College. During his chat with Silvan, Guy recalled his “religious experience” witnessing Mac products at work for the first time, explained why he thinks MBAs may be a hindrance to your entrepreneurial success, and also reflected on why becoming remarkable means giving up a work-life balance. On his podcast, Remarkable People, he’s interviewed the likes of Tim Ferriss, Gary V, Jane Goodall and Neil Degrasse Tyson. He makes no advertising money on his podcast and in fact spends 1-2K on producing each episode, but is glad to do so: there’s no other hobby that could bring him as much joy as this one (except, perhaps, surfing). The cover portrait was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartportrait.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to give us a follow on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, so you can always stay up to date with our latest initiatives. That way, there’s no excuse for missing out on live shows, weekly giveaways or founders' dinners