Thomas Andrews

InnoQube Switzerland Startup Bootcamp Day 11 with Joanne Filbin: The 🌟 AURA 🌟 of the Product Manager and apply THIS TRICK before you build ANYTHING: AURA of the Product Manager (at startups, usually the founder) ▪️ Obsesses about and represents the user! ▪️ Keeps the team focused ▪️ Optimist (needs to inspire the team) ▪️ Defines success and keeps an honest score ▪️ Polishes soft skills:  communication, patience and time management DO THIS before you start building anything new... 📰 Write a 15-Line Press Release announcing your NEW product as if it were a year from now. ▪️ Do you have a clear vision and purpose? ▪️ Will customers clearly understand your product? ▪️ Does it have the necessary features to be appealing? 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒃𝒔. Thank you, William Kanaan! Alexander Fries Patrick Blumenthal

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Sharing screenshot of a project Excited to share a recent project where I "Search Startups in Switzerland found the decision maker of those companies. This task involves searching on Crunchbase, Google and LinkedIn. Looking for new opportunities (Long and Short) where I can apply my expertise in Searching or Researching. Feel free to reach out if you or someone you know is looking for someone who can extract qualified leads for them for their business. #OpenToWork #ProjectShowcase

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☘ Sustainability isn't a nice to have anymore, it's a must! ⚡However, assessing ingredients sustainability can be challenging. 🏎 We have made it our mission to make sustainable product development faster and easier for brands by leveraging the latest technologies. 🤝 With this in mind, we have started last year an exclusive partnership with the Swiss Data Science Center, a joint venture between EPFL and ETH Zürich, to develop the industry's first AI-driven recommender system for sustainable alternatives. 📅 The first version of our recommender system and LLM search are expected early 2025. 🔬 If you are in procurement, R&D / Innovation, or in a regulatory department, this new solution is for you! More details in the recent SDSC blog post in comment. #Sustainable #sustainablealternatives #chemtech #AI #RecommenderSystem

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To VC or not to VC? Many years ago, my husband Richard Ettl and I attended the ETH Entrepreneur Club events and learned incredibly much from the founders and startups presenting their cases. Two weeks ago, we found ourselves at one of their events again – this time as speakers, to give something back and to support entrepreneurs. We both presented insights to our funding approach – that couldn't be more different! While Richard took the traditional path of raising capital from VCs, I come from a completely bootstrapped environment. But which approach makes more sense? Easy: Circumstances matter! Building a global supply chain company that disrupts pharma logistics (SkyCell AG) requires a lot of capital, while establishing and running data centers (Phoenix Systems) is possible through leasing with banks, as they are established asset backed structures. Both paths have their own advantages and you should carefully consider your choice: ➤ Autonomy & freedom vs. faster growth and more money ➤ No management attention for fundraising needed vs. investors as sparring partners and accelerators ➤ Very small error margin vs. exposures to economic risks #entrepreneurship #ETH #VC #funding

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If you are a founder or funder in Austin on Wednesday, November 6th, join us at Stubb's BBQ 🍖 to hear these six pitches from startups visiting from Switzerland: ​- Magnes AG offers a cutting-edge solution for monitoring walking patterns in patients with neurological disorders. Smart sensors embedded in sneakers collect data during daily activities, and AI generates reports and real-time feedback to prevent falls and freezing. ​- MYNERVA has developed a groundbreaking medical device combining AI and neurostimulation to artificially restore the sense of touch and decrease pain in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. ​- Authena advances supply chains with real-time technology, improving transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. Their eco-friendly IoT devices and AI analytics, developed with leading Swiss universities, offer single-unit visibility for tracking and actionable insights. ​- Auxivo AG, a Swiss exoskeleton spinoff from ETH Zurich, enhances worker safety with wearable exoskeletons that reduce physical workload and injury risk. The company has quickly established itself as a leading developer, launching multiple products in the market. ​- ORamaVR aims to transform global healthcare with advanced XR and deep learning technologies, addressing the urgent issue of inaccessible and unaffordable surgical care by modernizing outdated medical training systems. ​- Biosimo Chemicals specializes in sustainable chemical production using renewable resources and green chemistry. They combine bioprocessing with advanced catalysis to create environmentally friendly, scalable solutions. In partnership with FIESTA. https://lnkd.in/gi6q8ged

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Great chatting with Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, Aeva Black and Luis Villa about open source security at #TechCrunchDisrupt2024. Open source has become the lifeblood of software and a public good. There are no easy, silver bullet solutions to this massive problem. Companies like Chainguard and Tidelift have taken on some of the burden of remediating vulnerabilities in open source. Government agencies like Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are shining a spotlight and creating frameworks for securing open source. The expectation is that anyone integrating open source in their commercial product will be responsible for its security. But I also believe that open source has a role to play in securing open source. We need open source frameworks and tools to help the many solo open source maintainers improve the security posture of their projects. If you are working on open source to secure open source, apply to the Sequoia Capital open source fellowship https://lnkd.in/gm7jfsGx Dan Lorenc Sebastián Ramírez Montaño Samuel Colvin

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🔥 Startup Spotlight 🔥 I had the pleasure of working with Martino Corti of UMAMI an aquaponics urban farm in Zurich tackling one of the biggest challenges in the food industry: producing great-tasting food with fewer resources. Their innovative system grows Microgreens, Herbs, Mussels and Sauces, while using no fertilizers, 89% less space, and 90% less water than traditional farming. Since 2019, UMAMI has generated revenue, with microgreens sold primarily through Migros, Coop, and restaurants. Today, we reviewed their pitch deck, and while it’s one of the best I’ve seen this summer, I always challenge founders to go beyond the numbers. ✨ Great leaders tell stories, not just numbers. ✨ I shared my "mini-stories" technique with Martino—a method I’ve honed after reviewing 500+ pitches annually. Mini-stories help founders address critical VC questions with impact, distilling complex points into powerful narratives about business scalability and leadership. Stay tuned for more insights on how I craft mini-stories that answer the question: Can you take your startup to the promise land — $100 M company valuation and how fast? 💬 Drop a comment if you have a burning question about pitching to investors or investor decision-making! #startups #pitchdeck #storytelling #entrepreneurship #vc #businesscoach #founders #climatetech #foodtech

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Are you winning the hiring race in Austria? Vienna’s tech scene is exploding, with startups scaling at lightning speed and established companies doubling down on innovation. But with this rapid growth comes a massive challenge—the competition for top tech talent! The question I hear from many in the industry is: How can you stand out to attract and retain the best developers, engineers, and innovators? Here’s what’s changing the game: 🔹 Speed to Hire: Companies that streamline and make quicker decisions are landing the top candidates before they’re even on your radar. With the demand being higher than supply, the companies that adapt fastest will be the ones that thrive. 🔹 Remote and Hybrid Flexibility: Yes, its the ever ongoing argument, but we are seeing that if your company isn’t embracing hybrid or remote options, you may be missing out on a large pool of talent. 🔹 Employer Branding: Companies need to create a strong, authentic employer brand that resonates with tech professionals—think innovative projects, flexibility, and a commitment to personal growth. What strategies are you using to stay ahead in the recruitment race? And do you currently use an international agency to help you?

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I’ll be speaking with Jing Wu at the Web Summit Rio at the Swiss Tech Pavilion on Wednesday at 11:30 AM, hosted by Swissnex. Our chat about "It's Not Only About GPT - How AI is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Nutrition," aims to shift the focus from the hype surrounding platforms like #ChatGPT to the practical impacts of AI in agriculture and nutrition. I'll delve into how we at SUIND are crafting AI solutions that address real-world challenges in sustainable farming and food systems. Learn about the journey from AI technologies to tangible, effective tools that enhance crop production in a sustainable way. Join us for a dive into the transformative power of AI beyond the buzzwords! #AgriTech #AI #sustainability

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𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩’𝐬 𝐑&𝐃 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐁𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞! If you’re a startup working on innovative projects, the 𝐖𝐁𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 offers extra funding by allowing higher tax deductions on R&D costs. This can be a game-changer, especially if your costs are significant. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤? Under the regular WBSO scheme, companies can deduct 32% of R&D costs 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 €𝟑𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎, and startups can take this even further! With the 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞, you can 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝟒𝟎% of your R&D expenses—an 8% higher rate. For example, with €350,000 in R&D costs, a regular company would deduct €112,000, but as a startup, you can deduct €140,000. That’s an additional €28,000 in savings! 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐟: • Your business is in its first three years • You’ve claimed WBSO for no more than two calendar years 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐭? Try our WBSO Calculator to instantly estimate how much extra funding you can unlock for your R&D projects! https://lnkd.in/g-w6BVjt

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Last month, we at World Fund announced our investment in Faircado. I’ve written a ‘why we invested in’ blogpost, looking at why we led the deal - and what excites me about this startup. Founded by the brilliant Evoléna de Wilde d'Estmael 🌱and Ali Nezamolmaleki, Faircado is an AI-powered browser extension that makes sustainable choices more accessible and mainstream for millions of consumers online. Our collective closets overflow with items we no longer need but that others could use. We need to embrace a circular economy, and Faircado can help us break this ineffective cycle - perpetuated by awful brands like SHEIN - by helping us make better buying decisions online. You can read the full piece here: https://bit.ly/4coXxYy

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+5,000 followers on Linkedin! 🎇 👀   Since leaving Amazon two years ago, I'm incredibly grateful for the sheer number of amazing people I have crossed paths with - from sellers and partners at numerous industry events, to investors and fellow founders. I am glad to have you all along with me for this crazy ride.   To celebrate this milestone I'll share some thoughts on KPIs, and the frameworks behind defining the milestones we are actively trying to achieve. My learning since founding Ecomtent is incredible discipline is needed to anchor the entire company around 2-3 core metrics.   In my previous role, leading a team of PMs at Amazon, I was guilty of the inverse of this. On my team, each PM tracked several individual KPIs we set at the beginning of the year, specific to their program. The goal was to give individuals ownership. However, the result was a laundry list, and different team members across the organisation optimizing for different things. Tech prioritisation was a nightmare.   A better framework is one Primary metric, and 1-2 additional secondary metrics. The Primary metric should be a monetary measure - revenue or profitability. Secondary metrics should be more business-specific, inputs to drive this primary metric. For example, in its growth stage, Airbnb had a primary metric of revenue, but the secondary metrics of beds on the platform and responsiveness of hosts. There are a thousand different ways teams across the company could help to drive up these two secondary metrics - initiatives and innovation on product, sales, marketing. Team and individual goals should be structured to contribute to these 2-3 KPIs.   Your KPIs also should reflect the overall strategy. By strategy, I mean specific trade-offs you are consciously making - betting on X and not Y. For example, at Ecomtent, one of our initial secondary metrics was # managed product listings to build defensibility. This dictated our behaviour, e.g. spending dev time building a robust product that could handle catalogues with hundreds of thousands of SKUs; and our pricing. However since filling a patent, our strategy has evolved. We fired this KPI and replaced it with reducing churn. This meant listening to customers, and from their feedback dedicating resources to improving our lifestyle image generation models to ensure it remains best in class in a competitive market. It also meant delighting and surprising customers with innovations such as 'auto prompting' to improve image quality. Since firing # managed product listings, and focusing on reducing churn, we have been able to move the dial on this KPI with a reduction of -51%.   I could imagine as Ecomtent grows, that we grow our number of secondary KPIs from two to 5 or 6. But I vehemently believe discipline is needed, that KPIs should be set by leadership, monitored on a weekly basis by the entire company or business unit and fired if the strategy or landscape shifts. Do you agree? Should large teams fire their KPIs? 

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Would you pay $200,000 to freeze yourself for the future?🥶 A German startup, Tomorrow Biostasis, is making headlines with an ambitious and futuristic service: cryopreservation. For a staggering $200,000, they promise to freeze your body after death, preserving you in hopes that future technology might one day bring you back to life. This concept isn't just science fiction anymore—it's becoming a reality! But here’s the big question: Is this a revolutionary leap toward eternal life, or just a high-tech dream? The possibilities are mind-boggling, from curing incurable diseases to exploring a future world centuries from now. Imagine waking up in a world where today’s problems are mere history. The ethical, philosophical, and scientific implications are immense, and it raises a fascinating debate about the future of humanity. Would you consider taking the plunge into the unknown? 🤔 #austinbaby #copypitch #linkedin #businessstories #futuretech #cryopreservation #germaninnovation #tomorrowbiostasis #longevity #biotech

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From Micro-Managing to Delegating: My Journey as a Founder As many founders would agree, your start-up is your baby, and like any parent, you are fiercely protective of it. It took me almost a year and a half to understand the power of delegation. I believed no one could do what I could do for Pravaah. While that belief held some truth, I had to set aside my ego and accept there were many things I couldn't—or shouldn't—be doing. From small tasks like order management to client interactions, I wanted to handle it all. A pivotal conversation with a friend hit me like a hurricane: my micro-managing was hurting us rather than helping us grow. Determined to change, I began building my team. A year and a half and many mistakes later, we are now a team of six women who expertly manage their own departments: - Warehouse and Order Management - Accounts - Customer Service - Partner Management - Business Expansion And there's me, constantly learning from these stellar women and guiding them in creating a collaborative vision for Pravaah India's future. #buildingpravaah

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Your Valuation = Numbers from today X A Narrative about tomorrow #Storytelling

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🌟 Binary Stars is Back! 🌟 For those who missed the first edition with Harm de Vries, Paul Lasserre and Léo Dreyfus-Schmidt, Binary Stars is Fly Ventures's virtual conference dedicated to the latest advancements of Software Engineering and AI in Europe. For this second edition, we're super happy to partner with the awesome Antoine Moyroud (Lightspeed), Roosh Circle and AI HOUSE to deep dive into AI reasoning. 🧠 AI REASONING ? ! ? 🧠 With Zachary Gleicher (Deepmind), Rolf Pfister (Lab42, supporting the ARC Prize), and a yet-to-be-revealed third speaker, we'll ask the big questions : - What’s objectively achievable by the best AI models in terms of reasoning? - Are we stuck with LLMs making basic errors (how many Rs in Strawberry?), or are there breakthroughs on the horizon? - While benchmark performances have improved, has reasoning *genuinely* advanced, or it is all tricks still? - What did the Transformer architecture contribute to reasoning problems, and have we reached its limits? - What are the main research avenues pushing reasoning forward today? ... Join us on Nov 8th => register on binarystars.org!

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How Pagedeck helped an alpaca brand turn yarn into gold... 🏔️ The Scene: A startup with alpaca wool products  🎯 The Goal: Find the right customer niche(s)  🛠️ The Tool: Pagedeck The Strategy: → Create 6 targeted landing pages → Launch diverse Facebook ads → Identify winning ad metrics → Quickly duplicate & tailor pages Target Audiences: → Skiers → Hunters → Backpackers ...and more! The Magic Formula → Winning Ad + Tailored Landing Page = Customer Conversion Key Takeaway: With Pagedeck, this brand quickly tested and refined their strategy, turning targeted landing pages into high conversions.

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I could have never imagined, being in a picture together with Lukas Schleuniger, and Daniel Gutenberg - riding a pink unicorn! I am thrilled to share that our investor team just got even stronger! We are delighted to welcome the renowned SUPER-ANGEL-INVESTOR Daniel Gutenberg onboard alongside our lead investor redalpine and Oyster Bay Venture Capital BackBone Ventures Roland Brack. Grateful to Startupticker.ch for featuring our news! Link in the comments below. #startup #fundraising #switzerland #unicorn #beverage #venturecapital

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