

Swisspreneur Show
Swisspreneur
The Swisspreneur Show is a podcast series of in-depth, candid conversations with some of Switzerland’s most successful founders, business leaders and innovators. By getting to the heart of these leaders’ stories - their successes, their failures, their must-have advice and greatest regrets - we hope to both inspire and guide the next generation of Swiss entrepreneurs. Each episode deconstructs and showcases one person’s personal and professional background and provides advice and recommendations for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs in Switzerland.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 10, 2024 • 41min
EP #452 - Pascal Weber: Why AI Will Free You From Repetitive Work
Pascal Weber, co-founder and CEO of Manukai, shares insights from his journey in AI after earning his PhD from ETH. He discusses the accidental invention of neural networks and the significance behind Manukai's name, merging manufacturing and continuous improvement. Weber highlights AI's potential to enhance CNC machining efficiency and free workers from repetitive tasks, enabling them to focus on creativity. He also addresses the competitive landscape of AI startups and the intricacies of fundraising for innovative tech.

Nov 7, 2024 • 31min
EP #451 - Nicole Kleger: Why Lab Grown Meat Won’t Kill You
Timestamps:
8:20 - The current state of the lab meat industry
14:10 - Does lab meat have the same nutritional value & taste?
15:40 - Sallea’s go-to-market strategy
17:45 - When all your partners are also startups
20:30 - What happens to the farmers?
This episode was sponsored by NordPass. Use code “swisspreneur” at checkout to get 30% off Business and Teams plans.
About Nicole Kleger:
Nicole Kleger is the co-founder and CTO at sallea, a biotech startup enabling the cultivation of high-value, textured whole cuts of (lab) meat and fish. She holds a PhD in Materials Science from ETH and has been a Sports Instructor at Akademischer Sportverband Zürich since 2015. She started sallea in 2022.
sallea’s propriety scaffolds enable the cultivation of whole cuts of meat and fish, as opposed to the thin layers currently being produced. This in turn will enable the sale and consumption of these products in a non-processed way: we’ll be able to eat a lean fillet of lab meat, instead of eating lab meat sausage or ground lab meat. Furthermore, sallea’s scaffolding platform allows each of their customers to pre-define the texture, nutritional value, taste, and other key attributes of the end product.
They are currently raising CHF 2.2M in external funds.
This 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.

Nov 3, 2024 • 53min
EP #450 - Gzim Hasani: Building A Holistic Financial Advisory Company
Timestamps:
2:14 - Why go into banking in 2008?
10:52 - Working with college students and retirees
20:00 - How does smzh make money?
24:41 - Sponsoring events to acquire new clients
44:20 - Getting to 60K clients
This episode was co-produced with smzh.
About Gzim Hasani:
Gzim Hasani is the CEO of and a partner at smzh, an independent financial advisory company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. He holds a MSc in Banking and Finance and started his career working for Credit Suisse and Julius Baer, before venturing into entrepreneurship. In 2018, Hasani left the bank and founded Impegno & Partners, before then taking over smzh in 2019.
smzh’s goal is to join all types of financial advisory in one, thereby truly putting the customer in the driving seat, by allowing him or her to make holistic decisions. They offer advice in the areas of finance and investments, pensions, mortgages, insurance, real estate, and tax and law. smzh’s vision is to offer the best possible advice to all clients.
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.

Oct 30, 2024 • 47min
EP #449 - Jürg Jost: Time-of-Flight Tech, from Here to the Moon
Timestamps:
8:03 - Time-of-flight technology
15:43 - Whom do semiconductor companies sell to?
19:14 - Changing from CEO to CTO
29:54 - Managing investor expectations
32:54 - Going to the moon
Check out our FREE go-to-market masterclass with Ankita Mehta and Soumya Dash.
About Jürg Jost:
Jürg Jost is the founder, former CEO and current CTO of the semiconductor manufacturer Spacetek Technology. He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Berner Fachhochschule BFH. Prior to starting Spacetek, Jürg worked as Head of Electrical Engineering Space Research & Planetary Sciences at the University of Bern.
Spacetek designs and builds time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF-MS), bringing space technology to Earth. Their focus is semiconductor manufacturing and the issues of process engineers, end-users (foundries) and OEMs (wafer fab equipment). In 2023, Spacetek closed its seed financing round with Swisscom Ventures and the Moonshot Fund (from Spectrum Value Management), and they also accelerated their commercial developments with leading semiconductor manufacturers.
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.

Oct 23, 2024 • 43min
EP #448 - Gaëlle Andreatta: The Alchemists Turning Metal into Foam
Timestamps:
4:38 - Gaëlle’s craziest year
9:56 - Turning metal into foam
16:34 - High innovative customers
25:23 - Hiring people as a 6 month year old company
29:03 - Having the team be 2/3s women
Check out our FREE go-to-market masterclass.
About Gaëlle Andreatta:
Gaëlle Andreatta is the co-founder and CTO of apheros, a startup manufacturing metal foams for thermal, catalysis, and battery applications. She holds a PhD in Physics from Pierre and Marie Curie University and an MBA from ETH/HSG. Gaëlle worked for companies like Oxford Nanopore Technologies and CSEM before co-founding apheros in 2023.
apheros’ novel metal foams offer unprecedented properties due to their extremely high surface area and low density. The best way Gaëlle has of explaining how metal gets turned into a foam to people with little scientific background is through the metaphor of making meringue. apheros makes metal foams in a way that is “similar” to how you would froth your egg white. They foam their metal, shape it, and then use very high temperatures to set the shape. Their metal foam is useful for cooling down certain materials (in a similar way to how liquid cooling works), for kickstarting certain chemical reactions, and for ensuring the current collectors in lithium ion batteries work optimally.
apheros is currently working closely with between 60 to 70 customers, and in talks with a dozen more. Their team is 2/3s women, which Gaëlle attributes not to any conscious decision on their part but to the fact that both co-founders are women, which probably encourages female applicants to apply.
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.

Oct 20, 2024 • 48min
EP #447 - Stefan Schärer: Building and Exiting a PropTech Startup in Switzerland
Stefan Schärer, co-founder and former CEO of the proptech startup Houzy, shares his journey from real estate newcomer to CEO. He discusses the significance of SEO in user acquisition and successful revenue streams. The challenges of operating in Switzerland's small market and the excitement of being acquired by UBS and Baloise are key highlights. Additionally, Schärer reflects on his current role as President of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, where he aims to innovate the sport and engage the community.

Oct 16, 2024 • 1h 9min
EP #446 - Fabio Ronga: The Hard Road to a $300M Valuation
Fabio Ronga, co-founder and CEO of beqom, shares his journey from corporate roles at Hyperion to building a successful cloud-based compensation management solution. He discusses the importance of market validation and the unique advantages of Switzerland as a headquarters. Fabio emphasizes the significance of instilling strong company values and the evolution from a hands-on CEO to a strategic leader. The conversation culminates in insights about the transformative impact of their recent $300M investment and the crucial dynamics between leadership and investors.

Oct 9, 2024 • 37min
EP #444 - Priyanka Dutta Passecker: What If You Healed Chronic Wounds With a Spray?
Priyanka Dutta Passecker, co-founder and CEO of Healiva, discusses her extraordinary journey from neuroscience to biotech. She highlights the staggering statistics surrounding chronic wounds and the critical need for innovative solutions. Priyanka reveals how Healiva utilizes codfish enzymes in a groundbreaking spray treatment for chronic wounds, aiming to make personalized therapies affordable. She also shares her experiences as an immigrant entrepreneur and the complexities of navigating the biotech landscape.

Oct 6, 2024 • 47min
EP #443 - Andreas Krümmel: Insurance in Switzerland, From the 80s Until Now
Timestamps:
6:05 - The value chain of insurance companies
14:26 - Why having a strategy is essential
20:22 - Is Switzerland digitized enough?
24:22 - Is digitization a generational issue?
35:15 - Being a board member at smzh
This episode was co-produced with smzh, your independent go-to partner in all matters relating to finance.
About Andreas Krümmel:
Andreas Krümmel is the former CEO at Generali Switzerland and a current board member at SMZH, an independent partner in all matters related to finance, insurance, real estate, tax and law, for both private and corporate clients. He holds an MBA from HSG and spent 20 years working in insurance, for companies like Winterthur Group, AXA and Generali.
During his chat with Silvan, Andreas discussed his key leadership principles (which boil down to simplifying things to the maximum, and listening before deciding), reminisced over Switzerland’s slow digitization process from the 80s until now, and reflected on the role insurtech startups are playing in today’s landscape.
The cover portrait was edited by www.smartportrait.io.
SMZH: tailor-made .holistic. for you.smzh is an independent financial services provider who is assisting both private and corporate clients with individual advice in the areas of finance & investments, pensions, mortgages, insurance, real estate and tax & law. Through a 360° Check-Up, smzh ensures that you receive customized and comprehensive financial planning according to your initial situation and with a view to achieving your wishes and goals, as well as being accompanied by our experts during implementation.
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.

Oct 2, 2024 • 39min
EP #442 - Alessandro Ofner: How This Microcapsule Tech Can Change Pharma, Cosmetics & Cuisine
Timestamps:
6:45 - What is microencapsulation used for?
13:58 - Choosing a use case vs covering operating expenses
21:53 - Why trust matters most in B2B
27:04 - Why hire an external CEO
28:50 - Founders take themselves too seriously
This episode was sponsored by NordPass. Use code “swisspreneur” at checkout to get 30% off Business and Teams plans.
About Alessandro Ofner:
Alessandro Ofner is the co-founder and co-CEO of Microcaps, a startup developing breakthrough technology to naturally encapsulate ingredients and fragrances into visually appealing micro-capsules. He holds a PhD from ETH and started his company in 2018, as soon as he finished his postgraduate studies.
Microcaps’ use cases range from nutrition (natural encapsulation of nutrition products to protect ingredients and improve performance), to cosmetics (encapsulation solutions for ethanol-free perfume and serum products) and pharmaceuticals (a patented approach to sustained release with oral and injectable application). To protect their product, they’ve successfully applied for 11 different patents, which makes it so that their partners don’t have to worry about copycats.
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.