Showcasing and Celebrating our Swiss Entrepreneurs
THE NEXT GENERATION OF SMALL BUSINESS FOUNDERS MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE Dereck Gibeyo
founder of 2shape SÃ rl the young entrepreneur whose not afraid of taking risks
July/August 2017 CHF 14.50
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Editorial In this issue, our focus is on diversity, showcasing a range of Swiss business founders from many different backgrounds who are working hard to have a positive impact on the world around them. It is our privilege to feature Tsitaliya Mircheva-Petrova, founder of Mums in Heels, and Dereck Gibeyo, founder of Toshape SĂ rl, on the cover.
founder, Mr Gottlieb Duttweiler, through whom we learn that building a successful business requires, at the core, hard work and a strong sense of purpose. Debt collection is also a topic that affects many entrepreneurs, particularly the question of how to follow up non-paying customers. Here, we include an article written for us by Mr Micheal Loos of Intrum Justitia on the legal steps that can be taken as a business owner facing this problem.
We continue to interview many different small businesses and startups across Switzerland who share with us through Q& As their own personal entrepreneurial journey – the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them. In each issue, we endeavor to feature a Swiss pioneer entrepreneur. This month, we look at the story of the legendary Migros
Finally, we have included a global news roundup of some of the most notable headlines in the business world during the last 2 months. Thank you and enjoy the read.
Angelyne Larcher Founder and Chief-Editor
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06 Beneva
08 Yamo
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Mums in Heels
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Aeris Cleantec AG
14 Deliway
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2shape SĂ rl
18 Sportles
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Index 22
Learning from our Legendary Entrepreneurs
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Kickstart Accelerator
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Lea and Jojo
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Ways of Handling Non-paying Clients Interview with Dana Hoffmann
Kitaclub
Essentially Lili
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PWG ZĂźrich
32 Passionz
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House of Shops
36 Quotes
WeWent
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44 46
InKasso Process from A to Z by Intrum Justitia
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Global News Roundup
50 54
Direct Coffee
Impressum
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Raphael Rohner Following the recent relaunch of their retail website, Beneva will soon be releasing their latest product under development, a cactus juice with anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties, and the first of its kind on the market in Switzerland.
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Beneva Beneva is a Thurgau-based startup specializing in the sourcing, developing, designing and distributing of the latest health food products and trends, challenging the offering of the conventional food industry. The company released its hallmark brand, Beneva Blackwater, an activated coal water known for its strong health benefits, earlier this year, which can now be found in over 100 retailers across the country. The founders of Beneva International, Timo Hafner, Umberto Degani and Raphael Rohner, share their entrepreneurial story with us below: Tell us about your business - What do you do, and who are the founders?
How far and beyond are you willing to go for your company?
The vision of Beneva is to provide people in Europe with healthy and trendy products. Beneva believes in providing products that are both good and good for you by helping to support an active, healthy lifestyle. Our three co-founders share the big idea of establishing a dynamic and innovative new economy-company.
I am willing to go to the moon and back. How do you prepare yourself for an important day? I separate my tasks into two categories: high priority and the rest. I prepare very well for high priority days.
As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess?
In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to without any barriers?
A great boss should be willing to make decisions, be passionate, determined, and hungry. The most important quality is their mind-set, especially being able to do whatever is necessary.
The Internet. What have you learned from your journey so far?
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of an employee?
Always ask yourself how much of your energy goes ‘outside’ the company and how much stays ‘inside’. Then, do everything you can to maximise the energy which flows ‘outside’ into the market.
I was always highly passionate and decisive. My vision of entrepreneurship is to change the world, no matter how little or big that change is.
What is your best business advice for your fellow entrepreneurs? Do the work.
www.beneva.me
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Yamo Yamo was founded after two friends, Tobias Gunzenhauser and Luca Michas, chose to eat a vegan diet for one month. During this time, they had to look very closely at the ingredients of products when shopping. Now, the Swiss start-up is supported by a number of nutritional and child-care consultants and is providing parents with the freshest and highest quality food for their little ones with the ultimate convenience. The three founders of Yamo share their entrepreneurial story with us. Tell us about your business, what do you do? Who are the founders?
I guess this is pretty far. How well do you prepare yourself for an important day?
We are one food scientist and two marketers. And we all really love healthy and fresh food. We create the freshest, all organic and natural baby food, all made in Switzerland.
I never want to walk out of a meeting or a pitch knowing I could have prepared better. And there is another important thing: sleep well and eat müesli for breakfast (laughs).
As an entrepreneur you are a boss. What qualities should a great boss possess?
From your perspective, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to without any barriers?
As an entrepreneur you realise how crucial it is to have the best team possible. But for people to live up to their full potential, they need to be empowered. Giving responsibility and letting people learn from their mistakes is very important. Furthermore, I think that honesty is tremendously important. Listen carefully and speak your mind.
In my opinion, the single most important thing is to have great co-founders by your side. We would never have come so far if it wasn’t for that founding team.
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur and not an employee?
What have you learned from your journey? The founding team needs to consist of different kinds of people. And the golden rule for a founding team is: always be brutally honest to each other. It is the only way to manage and cope with tough times.
I wouldn’t say I am destined to be an entrepreneur. But while being employed I came to the conclusion that only entrepreneurship could give me the sense of ownership I was looking for. Of course, even as an entrepreneur, you depend on other people outside of your company. But still, it is you and your co-founders that decide what and how it is done.
What is one piece of business advice you would have for your fellow entrepreneurs? If you don’t know something, ask somebody. You will always find a person that went through the same thing that you are about to go through. We are very grateful to have learned a lot from other entrepreneurs.
How far are you willing to go for your company? I did quit my job, spend all the money I had and see my girlfriend less than I see my co-founders. 8
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Yamo They noticed many additives in the food on supermarket shelves. They were particularly surprised by the long list of unnecessary ingredients in baby food and the fact that these products only expired after 18 months, and wondered how could this be suitable for babies to consume? They shared this observation with their friend and food scientist, JosĂŠ Amado-Blanco, and the three decided to join forces and come up with an alternative.
www.yamo.ch
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Tsitaliya Mircheva- Petrova Originally from Bulgaria and having lived in New York City and Zambia, Tsitaliya was no stranger to starting over in a foreign place. But she found the move to Switzerland very difficult.
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Mums in Heels Since moving to Switzerland and starting her hugely popular fashion blog, Mums in Heels, Tsitaliya Mircheva-Petrova has been on a challenging yet exciting journey of discovery, personal growth and learning, establishing an invaluable network of like-minded women and building an enduring business.
“I started producing my own series of short online films with the humble ambition to tell and share women’s stories of success, overcoming life’s hurdles and living a life on purpose.” One of her film series, “Mums in Heels, became so popular that she decided to rebrand her blog based on the successful series. “I changed the focus of my blog as I was completely annoyed with the general attitude toward mothers, as well as people’s judgment and perception of them,” Tsitaliya said. “I wanted to show that even though motherhood may change your life, it doesn’t change your essence. “If you are a creative person, which I believe every one of us is, motherhood shouldn’t stop you from expressing yourself.” With the success of her blog behind her, the mother of two is now helping other women build their own personal brand. “After starting Mums in Heels, people started asking me how to self-brand themselves, and whether I would be willing to write stories, headlines and create content for social media channels and websites,” Tsitaliya said.
“Four years ago I started a fashion blog with the very genuine need to understand and share the psychology, theory and philosophy of fashion,” Tsitaliya said. “In this process I evolved and became a mother, a little bit of a photographer and more of a searcher and adventurer.” Originally from Bulgaria and having lived in New York City and Zambia, Tsitaliya was no stranger to starting over in a foreign place. But she found the move to Switzerland very difficult. “For some time, I felt isolated and miserable, but I decided to stop whining and decided that I had to either make it work or leave,” she said. “I felt that I should, first, start doing what makes me happy and fulfilled, which is creative writing. “Second, that I should connect with other creative, aspiring, sassy women.
I felt that I should, first, start doing what makes me happy.
“I then became a branding consultant in addition to a blogger and freelance journalist.” Through her consultancy, Tsitaliya now works with both individuals and companies providing a range of brand services including styling, photoshoots, video storytelling and events. “My journey is not over yet, and I continue to learn new things every day,” Tsitaliya said. “I used to hate the business side of things and wanted only to be a creator, but now I love the business part as much as the creative side of it.”
“Third, that I should enjoy my life, but also have a purpose and sense of direction.”With more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and writing for a number of Swiss publications on fashion, Tsitaliya decided to start a blog, then named the “Style Diaries”, as a way to share her lifestyle and values and help women feel better about themselves. “I learned that imperfection is a captivating and charming mix of vulnerability, innocence and making mistakes,” she said.
www.mums-in-heels.com
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Aeris Cleantec AG lows. I think you need to be the kind of person that thrives on that. Once you start, it’s all about surviving; no more fear is involved, you just DO to live.
Tell us about your business - What do you do, and who are the founders? We focus on highly-efficient air purification solutions (hardware and software) with our own products as well as OEM services. Our core markets are China and Mexico, with plans to expand to the US and other Asian countries later this year.
How do you prepare yourself for an important or challenging day? That’s the beauty of a start-up, you rarely know which day might be a challenging one. I would say 90% of the time it catches you off guard. It’s a weird feeling and the reason why running a start-up is such a rollercoaster ride. As much as you try to plan, predict and prepare, the amount of uncertainty you deal with is too great. You can be having an amazing day and envisioning your company taking off, but 10 minutes later, a tiny detail changes, causing operations to stutter to a standstill, and then suddenly you get the feeling the company is going to die the next day. Although this might seem a little bit over the top, but it does happen every once in a while.
The company was originally founded in May 2014 by Pierre Bi, Constantin Overlack and Kevin Steiner. Shuo Wang joined the team as co-founder in mid-2015. Kevin left the company in 2016. What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of an employee? For me, it became apparent that I wanted to work in a start-up after having been employed at a German car manufacturer. The lack of responsibility, vast amount of people, and slow pace of the job made me realize that I needed something else.
A start-up is unpredictable, and that’s the beauty of it. You must be prepared and give it your best every single day.
It was a gut decision to become an entrepreneur, but I haven’t regretted it for a single moment. I wake up every morning having no idea what will happen, what crises await, or if I’ll have to spontaneously fly somewhere. However, the unpredictability is something I thrive on, and I don’t think any other “normal” job could offer that.
How far are you willing to go for your company? Does moving to China, only seeing your family and friends every 4 to 6 months, and averaging about 6 to 8 flights per month count? The company becomes your friend, enemy and family all at the same time. Running a start-up has become an addiction. I can’t imagine a life without it now. I think I’ve had to make some tough sacrifices during this three-year-long journey, and so have my co-founders and team members. Since I’m still in the midst of it all, it’s hard to say if it is all worth it. But, currently, it sure feels like it is.
What were your biggest fears when you thought about starting your own business? Surprisingly, I didn’t have much fear. What helped a lot was that I trusted, and still trust, my co-founders blindly. Starting your own business is indeed a rollercoaster ride and you will enjoy the highest of highs, but will also have to face the lowest of 12
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What have you learned from your journey so far?
What has been the biggest achievement for you in the last 12 months?
The most important things are: • How finite things are and how fast life can pull you back down to the ground • Hard work and persistence pay off in the end. A good company isn’t built in a day • Don’t believe all the unicorn stories you read on crunchbase.com. They only show half the picture • Be flexible and adapt • Love what you do • Have the right people around you that support you
There are quite a few. I guess the overall feeling of having launched three successful products and having built an international team of 15 people in the last 12 to 16 months as a group of college graduates, who had no idea what they were doing in the beginning, is pretty cool.
As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess? I personally believe you should be a leader rather than a boss. As a start-up, you usually offer low pay in a high-risk environment. I like to think that our employees don’t work for us, but rather chose to work with us. You should inspire people, make them believe in your vision, and give them a chance to evolve daily.
Do you have any regrets when you think back on your entrepreneurship rollercoaster? Not really, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t make any mistakes. In fact, we made lots, especially at the beginning, but, overall, I would do most of the things the same way again. We learnt from every mistake we made and would not be where we are today if we hadn’t had made them. What are the negative sides of having your own company? You are under constant pressure. Every mistake you make hurts. You can’t complain to anyone, and no one will fix your problems for you. I’m not sure if that’s a negative or not, but it does create some stress.
We had times where the whole team stayed at the office till 2 am, just to get the job done. These were great experiences, and the team always grew closer together afterwards. Of course, it can’t go on like this forever, but it does show how committed everyone is.
What would you say to someone who is hesitant about starting their own business? If you really want to do it, commit to it. You can’t build a successful company part time. In a startup, hesitation can kill you.
www.aeris.ch
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www.deliway.ch
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Deliway Brothers Nathan and Mathias Gilson are meeting the lunch demands of office workers across Geneva with their new online restaurant concept deliway.ch. The start-up, established in 2016, represents a new model in online food delivery services. Each day, their chef prepares a selected menu of items which are then delivered directly to customers by electric bike couriers during set lunch hours, enabling their customers to receive freshly-prepared food at a low cost, and fast. Now firmly established in Geneva, the company plans to expand its operations to other cities in Switzerland.
Tell us about your business - What do you do, and who are the founders?
How far are you willing to go for your company?
We are two developers working on the online platform deliway.ch. Deliway is a virtual restaurant. It’s a food delivery service that proposes a daily menu of different dishes, freshly prepared in the morning by a chef.
We would like to develop Deliway in other cities like we did in Geneva. In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to?
The business model is inspired by the famous start-up ‘Munchery’, which was created to make food delivery ultra-accessible to the consumer. Instead of delivering food from different restaurants like ‘Deliveroo’ or ‘Smood’, we produce our dishes in one big kitchen located in the centre of Geneva, and we successively deliver to our clients in the same area to cut transport costs.
I think the best asset of an entrepreneur who launches something on the web is to have good skills in coding. What have you learned from your journey so far? I have learned that everything is the result of a lot of work, and there is no such thing as an easy business.
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of an employee?
What is your best business advice for your fellow entrepreneurs?
I don’t think becoming an entrepreneur is a destiny, but more an opportunity. Being an entrepreneur is fascinating but very risky; whereas being employed is safe, but less exciting.
The best advice I can give is that every market linked to the web has great potential.
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2shape Sàrl “I left my job because I wanted to be 100 % focused on what I had on mind,” he said. “I’m a risk taker and I’ll go as far as necessary to get things done the way I want them.
“Setting up the whole process, from the first click on the website to the delivery, took more energy than I thought. “This also includes being able to cover a large geographical area without losing money and trying to make things easier for the customer.” To help him grow the business, Dereck recently recruited two business partners, Jama Osman, specializing in B2B, and Bryan Lumpini, a marketing specialist.
“With that, I submitted my resignation letter.” Since resigning from his job as a Sales Advisor in Neuchatel last August, Dereck has been helping busy people live a healthier lifestyle based on good nutrition. Through his platform 2shape.ch, clients are able to select a nutritional plan with meals that are prepared by an in-house chef each morning and delivered directly to the client. His clients include individuals and small businesses across a large part of French-speaking Switzerland as well as Bern.
“For me, it was important these two people have an entrepreneurial mind as the starting phase of the business is more about struggling than earning,” he said. “It is also important to know that I build this company with my own cash, without loans from banks or investors. “The fact that I invited two partners means that they put something on the table as well.” Now serving clients in cantons Bern, Neuchatel, Vaud and Fribourg, Dereck and his team would like to grow Toshape Sàrl as a national franchise, with imminent plans to expand to other cities in Switzerland.
Dereck has long known he would one day start his own business and, since he was a child, has thought up ideas that could have a positive impact on the world around him. “When I was younger, I always wanted to create things, to change things, or to improve existing ones,” Dereck said. “So, I simply started to think about ways I could impact and change people’s lives. “I’ve always wanted to build my own legacy and to create opportunities for other people.” Dereck came up with the concept of Toshape Sàrl based on a need to reconceive how we manage our lifestyles and time.
“My goal is to provide the product and service to a large number of private hospitals and re-education centers,” Dereck said. “I want Toshape to be a long-term solution for healthcare services.
“It is up to each of us to shape our lives,” he said. “We mold our health much more than we can imagine based on the fact that nutrition is our first and primary medicine.” While he knew quitting his job and starting Toshape would mean an initial loss of income, Dereck found it very challenging to set up his initial business framework. “The toughest challenge was to organize the logistics,” he said.
“I’ve also made contact with doctors to see how I can help people with diabetes.” When asked what his main achievements have been so far, Dereck replied, “nothing”. “You can ask me the same question when thousands of clients claim that Toshape has changed their lives. “Then, my answer will be crystal clear.”
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I told myself that there was no such thing as half-risks, that I needed to feel things and fully live them.
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Sportles One of her greatest successes since launching her online boutique and showroom in 2016 has been partnering with wellknown retailers across Zurich, allowing her to connect more closely with studios, retailers and customers.
www.sportles.com
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Sportles After moving to Switzerland from New York and with a lengthy career in highend retail, SPORT.LES founder, Megan Herak, saw the opportunity to introduce the concept of athleisure wear to the Swiss market. Tell us about your business What do you do, and who are the founders?
may come from. I have also learned to seek advice, take on mentors, read books, and do whatever it takes to grow and gain an edge.
SPORT.LES (Lower East Side) is an E-com concept offering athleisure and active-wear designs from Switzerland and abroad. During the last 16 years, I worked in the fashion industry, with the past four years in the active and fitness industry. After moving to Switzerland, the opportunity to introduce the athleisure concept to the Swiss market came to fruition after having to constantly order my favorite designer athleisure wear from NY and LA.
Becoming a member of the community, giving back and helping others that are on the same journey is a personal mission of mine, which pays off in unexpected ways. What would you say to someone who is hesitant about starting their own business? You have to find a way to block the fear and not let the “what if� dominate your thoughts. You should also always celebrate the small successes and reflect on how far you have come.
Do you have any regrets when you think back on your entrepreneurship rollercoaster?
What is the biggest achievement for you within the last 12 months?
I have no regrets. I remain open with an inquisitive mind, and always seek to grow while learning from my mistakes along the way. The rollercoaster is real, with big ups and downs. What I have learned from this entrepreneurial ride so far is that I’ve gained tremendous confidence in my abilities to overcome challenges.
Since April 2016, we incorporated the business, built the e-commerce site ourselves, curated 26 designers, partnered with four shop-in-shops in Zurich, and the list of achievements go on. Working with the community has been the biggest highlight. It has allowed us to connect with clients, understand their needs and educate our concept. It has been a pleasure to work with great partners in the Swiss market.
What were your biggest fears when you thought about starting your own business? The most common is fear of failure. Not knowing the local language increases the level of anxiety. Yet here we are, one year later, and it feels like our business is starting to gain ground.
What are the negative sides of having your own company? It can never be shut off. Launching a start-up is very hands on. You have to figure out how to keep it all moving, while having the pressure to succeed at the forefront.
What have you learned from your journey? I learned that it is ok to ask for help, wherever it
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WeWent WeWent is an online marketplace to list, discover and book unique group events and activities. In response to an increasingly digital world, WeWent founders, Ola Potrykus-Majewska and Bilge Apak, set out to revolutionize the concept of team-building activities by transforming them into meaningful experiences that allow human connection. With a background in HR, Ola understands the importance of an engaging work environment and how team-building events can help to build engagement and productivity. She shares her entrepreneurial story with us here. start-up with everyone; be at the right place – a meetup or online group – and you will see so many opportunities appearing. The whole journey is better than doing two master degrees. It’s all learning by doing. It will be worth it even if your idea fails in the end. The knowledge and experience you gain is irreplaceable.
Do you have any regrets when you think back on your entrepreneurship rollercoaster? We have no regrets. Is it tough? Of course, it is, every minute of it. But do we regret it? Absolutely not. We work hard, but we have a goal and we really believe in our message. We believe in investing time in the people you care about, be it your colleagues, your family, or your friends. Time well spent will always return as a reward or a memory that is a source of fondness forever.
What has been the biggest achievement for you within the last 12 months? Going live in November 2016; having our launch event; a growing network of 50+ providers in Switzerland and Germany; our first bookings; and our growing team. We also started partnerships with other companies.
What were your biggest fears when you thought about starting your own business? I suppose, you always wonder if you have what it takes. Would it be too much to manage a family, a corporation, and start-up? We think everyone has untapped potential, and you only realize it by going out of your comfort zone. For us, when it was just an idea, our biggest fear was establishing the company and managing its operations. The way we see it, everything starts with the first step. Be brave enough to take that first step, and the rest will roll. As long as you love what you are doing, the passion fuels you to fight against your fears.
What are the negative sides of having your own company? We prefer to call it “challenging” as opposed to negative. Having your own company is not for the faint of heart. It’s a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, and needs a lot of self-motivation, especially when you are a woman entrepreneur. Furthermore, leading a team and conducting business as a woman is already quite challenging, but a lot of role models and mentors helped us along the way. Keeping a work/life balance is a struggle, and here we have to count on the support of our partners.
What have you learned from your journey so far? That you should just do it. Also, your network is your treasure chest! Talk about your idea/
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www.wewent.com
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Learning from our Legendary Entrepreneurs The story of the Migros Founder Gottlieb Duttweiler
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By Joanna Schuurman
ore and more entrepreneurs today are seeking to achieve social change through for-profit business endeavours, but where financial gain is not the only goal. Whether to develop small solutions that go some way to protect the planet, establish new, more socially-equitable forms of trade, or simply provide a good or service that brings long-term benefit to a particular market segment, the next generation of entrepreneurs are striving to find meaning in their work. Often termed “value-driven entrepreneurship” in academic circles, look no further than the Swiss retail empire Migros and its founder, Gottlieb Duttweiler, known affectionately as “Dutti”. Migros is arguably one of the world’s first and most successful examples of a value-driven enterprise. In 1941, Duttweiler sacrificed about $3.75 million of his own wealth by turning his home estate into an amusement park – now an international research institute – and by “giving the business back to the people”, transferring his hugely successful grocery business to a number of national and regional divisions. In doing so, he created one of the biggest and most exemplary cooperatives in history. Today, Migros is owned by its 2 million members and is firmly rooted as a social institution in Switzerland, maintaining a number of strong values and principles which were mandated in the cooperative’s founding charter. They represent a unique corporate governance model, comparable somewhat to a nation’s constitution, espousing ideas such as the belief in the good of man, the importance of public transparency and access, and ensuring the greater good is prioritised over that of the business. Migros’ current reports state its primary goal is “to improve the quality of life of all of its customers”. Duttweiler started a small grocery business in 1925 by selling food items out of converted Ford trucks on the streets of Zurich. His business model was built on low margins and high turnover, selling his wares 30 to 40 per cent lower based on his low-cost distribution system. This novel concept of grocery trucks was popular among Zurich housewives and his business continually grew, opening his first physical store in 1927 as well as setting up more “stores on wheels” across the country. He also drastically expanded his product offering. Within just a handful of years he had become a major threat to the existing grocery establishment, effectively introducing the concept of the “supermarket” to the nation by the 1950s.
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Today, the Migros Group has a stake in nearly all industry sectors, firmly maintaining its stronghold as the largest retailer in Switzerland and with the largest share of employees. Migros Group’s diversification is no doubt a legacy of Duttweiler’s business acumen, who was forced to move into other markets in the face of bullying and aggression from the established forces who felt threatened by his supermarkets’ rapid growth. When manufacturers of national brands chose to boycott Migros, Duttweiler built his own manufacturing plants producing his own brands. When competitors drastically reduced the prices of items sold by Migros, Duttweiler broadened his product line and opened new stores around the country. And when competitors organised themselves politically and pushed an “emergency ordnance” through Swiss parliament prohibiting the expansion of chain and department stores, including the broadening of product lines, in an attempt to block Migros, Duttweiler diversified into travel and tourism. This proved to be a critical decision to Migros’ future growth strategy that would since see the company expand into banking, clothing, furniture and homewares, training and education, gasoline stations, and many other sectors. What Duttweiler started as cheap, all-inclusive “Hotelplans” in the 1940s to keep his business alive in response to industry pressure and blockades became the second-largest travel company in Switzerland. The opening of Migros Club Schools in 1944 was another remarkable move by Duttweiler in growing the Migros empire and building social capital. The fact Migros is still the only retailer in the world that produces a large part of its product line in its own manufacturing plants is also perhaps a legacy of Duttweiler’s resilience. No better demonstration of this was his retaliation against industry pressure by building up his own manufacturing capabilities in the 1940s and effectively taking out the “middle man”. Enshrined in Migros’ founding charter is a strong emphasis on cultural investment, known as the Culture Percentage, to give the general public full access to a range of cultural and educational services, as well as complement the Swiss government’s historically strong social support system. Quite unique to Migros is that contributions are taken straight from the company’s bottom line and directed to a variety of notable projects each year. Maintaining Duttweiler’s focus on social capital, Migros has also become known as an environmental leader in Europe, greatly increasing the efficiency of its water and power usage, installing photovoltaic systems and investing in sustainable food processing. Any large corporation today has set quotas and budgets for sustainable development goals, and many companies provide a fair amount of lip service to the contributions they make to the community and environment. Duttweiler’s legacy, though, has been one of true value-driven entrepreneurialism that has allowed him and his company to achieve real social change – not through quotas and PR manifestos, but by creating a solid, sustaining business that he no doubt believed had a greater purpose and could deliver real benefits to the people. It is arguably this sense of purpose and belief – combined with strong business sense – that allowed him to endure the challenges he faced when he first set up his “stores on wheels”, and pushing it to become the 27 billion Swiss franc operation it is today. More than 50 years after Duttweiler’s passing, Migros has surely succeeded in maintaining the vision of its founder. As the next generation of entrepreneurs in Switzerland seek meaning in their work, the case of Gottlieb Duttweiler shows us that there is no more powerful tool for creating a successful business than a strong sense of purpose.
Content provided to Swiss Entrepreneurs Magazine by Migros Pressestelle www.migros.ch
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Kitaclub Kitaclub.ch is an online platform with a Switzerland-wide directory of childcare centers and providers of child care. Through the platform and its easy-to-use interface, parents can easily and quickly locate a childcare provider for their children, simplifying communication between parents and nurseries. Established in 2014 by three experienced Internet entrepreneurs, Kitaclub is now the leading Swiss childcare website. Co-founder Pierre Moret shares his entrepreneurial story with us.
www.sportles.com www.kitaclub.ch
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Tell us about your business What do you do, and who are the founders?
How far are you willing to go for your company?
The original founders were the core people from three small Internet-related companies, active in design and concept, development, and investment and consulting. Today, the show is run by myself, Pierre Moret, and on the development side by Peter ‘Pesche’ Siska. Both of us are from the original founders team.
Far and beyond. How do you prepare yourself for an important day? Shower-power! I usually start and plan my day under a hot shower, knowing that I might have to trash it (the plan, not the shower) half-way if there are any inevitable surprises. As dumb as it might sound, every day is, or might become, important.
Pierre is our Internet-dinosaur; he had developed and co-owned Immopool.ch (now Homegate.ch) back in the previous century. Pesche is fresher; he’s always at the leading edge of technology at Gridonic, the development company he co-founded.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to?
As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess?
Nowadays, the obvious answer is ‘the Internet’. Sinalco would be nice, too.
At Kitaclub, we don’t see ourselves as “bosses and employees”. Strategic decisions are made by everyone in our core team, and tactical and daily business ones are my responsibility.
What have you learned from your journey so far? I had to grow out of my original IT-guy costume and learn totally different skills, mostly on-thejob. This keeps things interesting and challenging. The costume might’ve changed, but the outfit hasn’t.
We’re all passionate about Kitaclub. Our small structure allows us to keep things open and non-hierarchical. My official title is ‘MfA’ (‘Meitli für alles’ aka ‘a person of all roles’), so I doubt I can fully answer that question.
What is your best business advice for your fellow entrepreneurs?
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur, instead of an employee?
The entrepreneur’s life is not a smooth, straight, boring highway, but rather a curvy, bumpy, surprising backroad. It can (and probably will at some point) be hard, but the rewards are huge (we’re not talking money here). Becoming an entrepreneur isn’t everybody’s thing, but if it’s tickling you, go for it and give it your all. It’s better not to succeed while trying than to regret not having tried.
I developed and sold my first software as a teenager. After graduating from EPFL, I started working at a major bank’s IT department, but left after only a few years to found my own Internet company in 1998. From then on, there was no turning back.
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Lili’s tips for starting your own business 1) Have courage 2) Do your homework 3) Make your calls 4) Find out what you can about the industry you are interested in 5) Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and work hard at what you do 6) Learn from others who have been there and done it 7) Ask questions and seek answers 8) Study, learn, be open, be strong 9) Do what you love 10) Be yourself and customers
www.essentiallylili.com
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Essentially Lili Business owner and mum Lili Giglia is no stranger to multi-tasking, raising a young family, looking after the home and studying, all while building a small business.
Like many successful enterprises, Lili decided to establish her skincare brand, «Essentially Lili», based on the need to find a solution to a problem – and wanting to share her experience with others.
psoriasis, menopause, congestion, and headaches. “As a teenager I stopped going to university and didn’t leave the house for two months,” Lili said. “My body was covered in weeping and bleeding eczema from my head to my thighs, with a swollen face to match.”
After suffering from eczema for many years and using products from big-brand companies, Lili began making a nourishing face balm at home to treat her condition – and it worked. “One morning, I thought, why not see what others think of my face balm and we’ll go from there,” she said.
Lili was then introduced to all-natural skincare through an aromatherapist in 2004, who was able to help her find a blend of ingredients that her skin responded well to. “The journey I took for my personal well-being was long, hard and painful, but I came out the other end better than ever,” Lili said. “I want to help others to not suffer like I did. “I want to help them feel confident again and have the courage to feel beautiful from within, so they don’t need to cover or hide themselves behind their makeup.”
“So, I went to a women’s breakfast in Zurich where I introduced myself and my products. “My first customer contacted me because of the samples I handed out.” Essentially Lili’s products are 100 % natural, made using essential oils, vegetable oils and plant-based butters like cocoa and shea. After testing interest in her product, Lili decided to start small, step-by-step, and always learning as she went.
Since starting her business in 2015, Lili has built up a large clientele, launched her website and attracted a huge Facebook following where she shares advice, testimonials, photos and events. “My kids often say that I’m always working, but I’m a sole entrepreneur trying to make a difference and trying to do a lot of it myself,” Lili said. “I hope that, one day, we will find the right balance, and my family will also benefit from my studies and hard work, as well as enjoy the products I make for them and others.
“I only made little batches as I was figuring out labels, recipes and setting up a Facebook page as a diary of events, Lili said. “People began asking for other products – for the face, for oily skin, for the feet, for their kids, for menopause and more.” Loaded with these requests, Lili decided to enrol in various London-based schools to study holistic skincare and aromatherapy.
“The most wonderful thing is to receive messages from customers who say, “Thank you Lili for giving me my life back!”.
Since completing four diplomas while running her business, the solo entrepreneur is now helping clients across Switzerland and abroad treat problems like eczema, acne, rosacea, dry and cracked feet,
“These kinds of testimonials make all the hard work worthwhile.”
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PWG Zurich PWG (Professional Women’s Group) is an international career networking platform for women founded in 1983. PWG helps women create an inspiring, international career network through monthly evening events in Zurich, which include talks from industry experts, networking events and company visits.
When was PWG founded? Who are the founders?
Tank,a group of entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs, share ideas and advice. In our monthly meetings, we cover relevant topics such as personal branding, design thinking, the future of organisations. We also focus specifically on entrepreneurs through our association with WEConnect. WEConnect is an international organisation connecting women-owned businesses with qualified buyers.
PWG was founded just under 35 years ago by a group of professional women based in ZĂźrich who found there were few opportunities to meet up with other professional women. Most of the events organised for women at that time were during the day, assuming that women were not working!
The buyers are typically looking to introduce more diversity to their supply chain. WEConnect certifies the women-owned business, and educates women entrepreneurs on supply chain and procurement requirements of corporations.
The group has grown from strength to strength but the aims remain the same, to be an inspiring professional career network for professional women in ZĂźrich. We achieve this by valuing the diversity of our members from all different career paths in an open and warm atmosphere, and provide opportunities for learning and development.
To join your program what qualifications are required? How do you apply?
How do you assist entrepreneurs? Are there any other services that you offer entrepreneurs?
Every woman is welcome to join the PWG. We encourage women from all career paths, backgrounds and value diversity.
About half our members are entrepreneurs and the other half are working in an organisation. The PWG connects together these groups, creating opportunities for networking.
What advice do you have in regards to achieving success in business? Success in business comes through having a strong and supportive network. At PWG, we believe we can help woman build that network and develop skills that make their business a success. Be bold. Be brave.
PWG has helped many women have the courage to start their own business with support and encouragement. Our Idea Generator Think
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www.pwg-zh.com
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Passionz The Lausanne-based consultancy PassionZ assists entrepreneurs in the Frenchspeaking part of Switzerland with developing their own business through a range of services including workshops, coaching and consulting, and networking. The consultancy works closely with individuals to discover what they are truly passionate about and help them find meaning in their work, just as PassionZ co-founders, Sophie Comte and Paul Duvoisin, have done during their careers so far. Sophie shares her entrepreneurial story with us here:
www.passionz.ch
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Tell us about your business What do you do, and who are the founders?
How do you prepare yourself for an important day?
PassionZ Entrepreneurs is a Swiss association that helps solopreneurs surround themselves with the right experts for their budget who share their values.
In no special way. Every day is equally important. I need to check my agenda each evening to plan for the next day. If I need to give a presentation, I practice in the morning; trying to master it as well as possible.
Paul & I met more than 15 years ago at high school. Paul went to study law at the University of Lausanne and I studied business at the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. Although working in different fields, we made the same observation: it was difficult to see that some of our friends who studied to become lawyers, doctors, etc., didn’t have enough business courses available to them. So, we thought we could help, and started PassionZ in January 2017. As an entrepreneur you are the boss, what qualities should a great boss possess?
It’s better to give a half solution and already ask for feedback rather than wait for the perfect solution.”
In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to? The business toolbox we provide! In our toolbox, we have specific sales and marketing workshops, networking events, coaching programs, strategy advice, and mindset keys to keep you sane even during the difficult times. What have you learned from your journey?
The perfect boss doesn’t exist, but, personally, I would say a great boss should have great resistance to stress, and be authentically passionate about what they do.
We need to get out and take risks! There is a need for what we aim to do at the association. Now, we need to understand how to provide that help in a better format.
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur, instead of being an employee?
What is your best business advice for your fellow entrepreneurs? Try, get feedback, learn, improve, and start over again! Also, it’s better to give a half solution and already ask for feedback rather than wait for the perfect solution.
After 10 years of being an employee, I realized that the more freedom I had in my jobs the better I felt, since I could express my own creativity, share my ideas, and be successful. It is very difficult for me to work for someone who doesn’t share the same values as me. I need to have a clear purpose and a clear vision on how I am going to have an impact.
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House of Shops House of Shops is a virtual department store selling p roducts and experience vouchers from a selection of independent retailers, designers and manufacturers in Switzerland, founded by English/French couple Camilla and Jean-Franรงois Carrier.
www.houseofshops.ch
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House of Shops Since starting in late 2016, their platform offers an extensive range of unique products for consumers, which they are continuing to grow while balancing family and life commitments. They share their entrepreneurial story with us here. As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess?
How do you prepare yourself for an important day?
We currently only have each other to manage. We really try to listen to each other’s ideas and generally we divide the tasks equally between us, so that each one can work in their area of expertise. Trust and respect are crucial.
We do our homework and make sure we are well informed. Of course, we still get butterflies in our stomachs, but we try to be ourselves.
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of an employee?
In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to?
Someone once told me that anything worth doing in life is a little bit scary, and that sometimes you should just jump.
Camilla has always dreamt of being self-employed and started her first business in London when she was 26, and has managed a couple of others too since then. Jean is naturally drawn to the social side of entrepreneurship, as he loves to meet people and is completely passionate about selling our idea. We made some big changes to our working lives when our second son was born in 2015 with health issues, but it wasn’t until the end of 2016 that we decided it was the perfect time to start House of Shops. It was an idea we had thought about for a long time, and it had always seemed insurmountable, but we’re absolutely delighted that we made the leap.
A good network is vital, and access to other entrepreneurs is indispensable. It’s the best way to see what is happening around you, and exchange ideas, recommendations, and contacts. What have you learned from your journey so far? As well as the more technical aspects, such as how to build a fairly complex website and market it, we’ve learned how to work together and balance our business and home life. With three small children and a busy schedule, we occasionally have to say, “Let’s not talk about House of Shops tonight”.
What is your best business advice for your fellow entrepreneurs?
How far are you willing to go for your company?
If you have an idea, start with small achievable steps to get yourself running. Don’t wait until you feel that everything is perfect, just launch it. You’ll always need to fine tune and alter the way the website and business run.
We live and breathe this business. We often send messages and scour the Internet late into the night. We’re absolutely passionate about this project, so we give 100%. It’s really a joy to discover some of the wonderful businesses out there and to meet the fantastic people behind them. 35
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Bureau Duplex Communications expert Lisa Giacobini teamed up with graphic designer Laurent Allemann to form Lausanne-based creative agency Bureau Duplex. Since its establishment in 2015, the agency has worked with a range of local clients including Canton Neuchatel, Good Life Coffee Company, Centre MÊdical Lausanne Ouest and AC Energies. Lisa shares her company’s entrepreneurial story with us here.
www.bureau-duplex.ch www.sportles.com
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Tell us about your business What do you do, and who are the founders?
As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess?
Duplex is a creative agency founded in March 2016 by myself and Laurent Allemann. Laurent is the graphic designer and art director, while I plan communication strategies and write communication content. We both worked for big national and international companies before opening Duplex.
Currently, there are only two of us, but we work in networks with other small companies (video, web, photo). We think that being a great boss means you have to stay open and listen to your employees’ ideas. It’s also important to allow some freedom for your employees so they can be motivated and creative.
We had known each other for about 1 to 2 years before, one day, we realised that our skills were very complementary. We were a couple who wanted to change our lives – to be free from the hierarchy and mundanity of the companies we had known until then. That’s how Duplex was born. Now, we are a couple of partners.
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of being an employee?
It’s important to allow some freedom for your employees so they can be motivated and creative.”
Our goal with Duplex is to offer our clients a vision through design and content. We make strategies that we apply with very strong creative ideas. We never give up the aesthetic part of our job. We want all our work to be to a very high standard, as well as creatively fresh. One of our specialities is to build things with our own handcrafted materials, and then do installations. We love DIY and handicraft.
Being an entrepreneur was a consequence of our need for freedom, and now we are starting to love this game. We also have other ideas to develop… so stay tuned! How far are you willing to go for your company? The hardest thing to do when you have a company is to set boundaries - it’s a real problem. Currently, we are trying to create some limits, but it’s complicated.
How do you prepare yourself for an important day?
They ensure that we create personal, unique, and truly authentic pieces. It’s also fun and we love this playful approach. We feel that communication doesn’t need to be so serious; it needs to be fresh, fun, and creative. Therefore, we work a lot.
In no special way. Every day is equally as important for us. What have you learned from your journey so far? So many things. We have learned that we must keep inventing all the time, and continue to be open and curious.
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Kickstart Accelerator The second edition of Kickstart Accelerator is well underway with selected start-ups from across the country participating in an intensive 11-week program which could see them take away 25,000 CHF worth of grants as well as top mentoring, shared office space and fast-track access to industry partners. We talk to Kickstart Accelerator’s Program Manager, Patricia Schlenter, about this year’s edition.
www.kickstart-accelerator.com
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Can you tell me about Kickstart Accelerator When was it founded, and who are the founders?
companies, including leading financial corporations such as: UBS, Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen; Switzerland’s largest ICT provider: Swisscom; the two largest food retailers: Migros and Coop; the insurance company: AXA Winterthur; as well as the global consultancy firms PwC Switzerland and EY.
Kickstart Accelerator was launched by digitalswitzerland in 2015. The cross-industry association is driven by the goal to make Switzerland a leading digital innovation hub in Europe. The first edition of Kickstart Accelerator took place in autumn 2016. The program is operated by Impact Hub Zurich, which is part of the largest network of entrepreneurship and innovation centers across the globe.
Have a great team with different skills with whom you can work well together.
In the meantime, Kickstart Accelerator has grown bigger. Originally, the accelerator started out with four verticals and one location, namely Zurich. Already in the second year, Kickstart Accelerator has increased their scope. The four verticals, Food, Fintech, Smart Cities and Robotics & Intelligent Systems, will take place in Zurich again, however, there is now an additional EdTech vertical in Lausanne (in cooperation with EPFL and operated by venturelab) as well as a Healthcare vertical in Basel (in partnership with BaseLaunch).
In order for someone to join your program, what qualifications are required, and how do you apply? Founding teams can apply given that they have a minimum viable product, or a working prototype, in addition to having the commitment to build a business, and the desire to scale and learn.
The program is open to the best international start-ups within the following six verticals: FinTech, Food, Smart Cities, Robotics & Intelligent Systems, EdTech and Healthcare. It’s still possible to apply for this year’s EdTech vertical in Lausanne. Deadline for applications is July 10th.
How do you assist young entrepreneurs? What other services do you offer entrepreneurs?
Applications for the verticals are now closed. Can you give any advice that you strongly believe in, regarding business owners who want to succeed?
For 11 weeks, 50 start-ups come to Switzerland where they are provided with co-working space, seed funding, as well as direct access to leading corporate partners, investors, and experts. Moreover, they get a chance to win up to 25,000 CHF worth of grants. Throughout the program, the start-up founders join well-structured workshops and receive high-quality mentoring.
First and foremost, have a great team with different skills with whom you can work well together. I can’t stress it enough: KYC - know your customers! Know how, and through which channels, to reach them best. The reality is that no matter how brilliant your product or service is, without customers, there is no turnover, and no turnover means no business.
Kickstart Accelerator takes no equity, charges no fees and provides start-ups with the possibility of attaining a proof of concept trial with one of the leading corporate partners. This huge network is a big benefit of the program; Kickstart Accelerator is backed by some of Switzerland’s biggest
Lastly, no matter how many times you hear ‘No’, believe in yourself, in your team, in your idea/ product, and keep on pushing!
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Lea and Jojo Lea and Jojo is the story of two children, a 3-year-old and a 9-year-old, intent on discovering the world around them and all off its beauty. Considering the future world their own children, Lea and Joshua, will live in, Tania Schenkel and Karin Ivaldi established the Swiss brand Lea & Jojo, offering a collection of children’s raincoats made from recycled plastic bottles with the ultimate goal of preserving the planet’s natural resources.
www.leaetjojo.com
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Lea and Jojo The Fribourg-based brand is continuing to expand their range and are selling their unique products internationally via their online shop and selected stockists. Tell us about your business What do you do, and who are the founders?
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of an employee?
Lea & Jojo offer an alternative to the standard production techniques of the textile industry. Digital printing on fabric, eco-friendly waterproofing, and recycling are all areas of activity for tomorrow’s industry. We wanted to find alternatives that could empower us to allow the innovations of this industry to surpass the next stages of marketing.
As far as we can remember, we have never been conflicted in what we do, and continue to be employees as much as entrepreneurs. How far and beyond are you willing to go for your company? We go as far as our values and integrity allow us to. You can do almost anything without any Machiavellianism. Our business is based on respect and honesty, and we would certainly not go against these values.
So, we decided to tackle one of the most polluting segments of the textile industry, and one of the most complicated, since it is linked to the seasonality of fashion: creating a line of raincoats made from 100% recycled polyester, using digital printing, and ecological waterproofing materials.
How well do you prepare yourself for an important day?
We are mothers concerned about the legacy that we will leave to our children. We are also eager to offer an alternative to the traditional consumption of fossil fuels in the textile industry.
We meditate on the reasons why our adventure exists, and we leave the pressure aside. It’s a matter of people and humanity; it’s David versus Goliath, so we relativize and then we are ready.
As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess?
In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to?
A great boss should bring their employees together, and knows how to bring out the best in everyone by allowing them to express their own creativity. It’s also having a vision and knowing how to share it with the rest of the team.
In our business, assistance with foreign trade would be a plus. What have you learned from your journey so far? That it is never too late.
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Ways of Handling Non-paying Clients Interview with Dana Hoffman, Organillicious 28 June 2016
How do you follow up with a client who is late with payment?
How would you describe the payment system in Switzerland?
I’ve definitely had times when people haven’t made the payment ahead and have then come to class, or they haven’t bought the money to class. For this reason, I give about 3 reminders ahead of class. It becomes very uncomfortable otherwise if you have to communicate with a client about a late payment. When they are late, an email reminder is usually enough but there have been times where I’ve had to pick up the phone and just say “listen, I’m still waiting for the money” and I find the client is just as uncomfortable as I am. It’s very easy to ignore an email. People are not able to keep up with their emails, I’m not able to keep up with my emails.
I know there are certain rules but I’m quite in the dark on what they are exactly. It is definitely very trust-based in Switzerland so you assume they (clients) will make their payment. I have found it helpful to have terms and conditions listed on my website at the very least and then you have a legal fall back if anything goes wrong. For my cooking classes, which are public, I have the conditions where a box must be ticked on the website, before they can attend. For private clients I have a contract directly with the client. What is your preferred payment model?
It’s not intentional. Usually, they are occupied or it has slipped their mind.
For the cooking classes, people pay ahead of time. For my private clients, they also pay ahead of time where the program or service that I am offering is outlined to them. I do this for 2 reasons:
When it comes to chasing up money, it also really depends on the amount, as just approaching a lawyer to talk about it will cost you. It is quite a conundrum because you are starting a business and you are small and it is hard to try and figure out what to do exactly.
1) To know the payment has been made 2) So that clients go into the program knowing exactly what they’re signing up for.
Usually it’s just not worth it. But I’ve been very lucky I’ve never needed to take further action.
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Contact
Where can I get more information? Just get in touch with our customer service and our colleagues will help you with all questions concerning collection services. 044 806 85 57 or kundendienst@intrum.com We are looking forward to be hearing from you Intrum Justitia
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InKasso Process from A to Z by Intrum Justitia Collection solutions Content provided to Swiss Entrepreneurs Magazine by Michael Loss Head of communications Intrum Justitia AG It may not always seem so easy to get in contact with a collection agency – especially if you’ve never dealt with getting external help on bringing your funds back in. Who does what? How do I get there? And what does it cost? Intrum Justitia offers services in so-called claims management in Switzerland since 1971. With over 4,000 customers, the company, which is based in Sweden, is the largest supplier in this sector on the Swiss market and the Intrum Group is the world leader in Credit Management Services.
such as letters or by e-mail, but also by phone, we try to persuade your customers to pay their still outstanding debt. How do we do that? Intrum operates on behalf of its customers and maintains very high ethical principles. We act only wherever we are allowed to act at all times and keep friendliness, respect and a supporting mind set up at all times. Our top priority is to support the consumer, who ultimately has to pay for all these services, both your goods for which he has not yet paid you, as well as the collection services themselves. Switzerland to this day carries the so called “polluter pays” principle. Wherever it makes sense, we offer instalment options and have an open ear even for very personal and special agreement requests by your customers.
What is collection all about? Debt collection comprises the entire chain of actions someone may undertake to get money back they are owed. This might be as simple as writing a letter from one private person to another, asking for the outstanding amount to be paid. It might also be a reminder by a telecommunication company to a customer or a debt enforcement action (German: Betreibung). A collection company like Intrum Justitia offers all these actions and many more from the customer’s admonition, through our own reminder steps and also the legal representation before the courts in the procedure of the debt enforcement action - everything, so that you get your legally owed money back.
How long does an outstanding amount take to be paid on average? You cannot say that in general, as far as it depends on claim size and industry. Each case may be slightly different from the next one and ultimately always depend on the consumer and his personal financial situation. There can be serious economic difficulties behind it, or a customer might quite simply be unwilling to pay for something they bought. We recommend a consequent escalation path with case hand over after two reminders and before day 90 (after invoice). This guarantees the best collection success rate.
How does it begin? Once the contract has been set up – and there are several possibilities to do just that – everything begins with the case opening. For example by you handing an open claim over to us, which you have already twice or more unsuccessfully reminded your customer for. We will then continue your efforts according to the contractually agreed conditions. In the so-called General terms and conditions model, for example, it is stipulated that your customer will be contacted by us at the earliest 80 days after the first invoice. Afterwards we will send reminders for the still open claim – in writing
How much money will I get back? You pay a success rate as soon as your customer has settled the debt (no cure no pay). With a consequent case hand-over before day 90 in combination with amended general terms and conditions you don’ pay any success fee (only the polluter pays principal is applied).
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George Clooney*
UPCOMING EVENTS Body and Soul Festival, 3-5 July, Technopark Zurich, www.technopark.ch/atemlos Venture Kick Zurich, 4 July, Zurich, www.venturekick.ch Networking Grill Event, 5 July, startup space, Schlieren Zurich, www.ifj.ch EO Unlimited 2017, 5-8 July, Renaissance Zurich, www.eounlimited2017.com 16th SECA Private Equity & Corporate Finance Conference, 6 July, SIX ConventionPoint, Zurich, www.seca.ch Matchmaking event for jobseekers and startups, 17 July, Café Auer, Impact Hub Zurich, zurich.impacthub.ch Smart Energy 2017, 25 August, Aula Francois-Xavier Bagnoud, HES-SO, Sion, www.booking-corner.com Hack the City 2017, 2 September, Officina Chiasso, www.hackthecity.ch Swiss Future Technology Forum 2017, Dubendorf, www.sftf.ch/2017 Hack Zurich, 15-17 September, Zurich, www.hackzurich.com
Travis Kalanick* «Uber» 48
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Global News Roundup EU agrees to more support for venture capital and social enterprises, 30 May 2017
deal which will allow the e-commerce giant to expand into hundreds of physical stores. Uber founder Travis Kalanick resigns as CEO, 21 June 2017
Small and growing companies and social enterprises will enjoy better access to finance, thanks to EU rules agreed to in May by the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission.
Travis Kalanick stepped down as chief executive of Uber this month, the ride sharing service he helped found in 2009, after pressure from shareholders.
Rocket-based Delivery Hero plans for biggest German IPO of the year, 6 June 2017
George Clooney to get up to $233 million for the sale of tequila label Casamigos, 21 June 2017
Berlin-based food-takeout business Delivery Hero AG has announced plans for Germany’s biggest initial public offering of the year to fund an expansion.
George Clooney has sold his tequila label Casamigos to liquor giant Diageo for up to $1 billion, a label he founded with friends back in 2013. The iPhone celebrates its 10th birthday, 29 June 2017
Blockchain startup Stratumn completes series A, 8 June 2017
The iPhone, a product which has revolutionised the telecommunications industry, this month celebrated its 10th birthday.
Blockchain startup Stratumn has raised €7 million in a new Series A round. Rocket-based Delivery Hero plans for biggest German IPO of the year, 6 June 2017
Blue Apron IPO has a rocky start, 30 June 2017 Meal delivery business Blue Apron opened for trading at $10 per share this month, well below the expected range of $15 to $17.
Berlin-based food-takeout business Delivery Hero AG has announced plans for Germany’s biggest initial public offering of the year to fund an expansion.
* George Clooney to get up to $233 million from the initial sale of his Casamigos tequila. Source: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP.
Japan government fund backs 500 startups, 16 June 2017
* Caption: Travis Kalanick resigns from Uber following months of chaos. Source: Danish Siddiqui/Reutersso, www.hackthecity.ch
In order to remain competitive, Japan is ramping up efforts to encourage foreign venture capital firms to become more involved with its entrepreneurs. Amazon to acquire WholeFoods in $13.7 billion bet on groceries, 16 June 2017
Swiss Future Technology Forum 2017, Dubendorf, www.sftf.ch/2017 Hack Zurich, 15-17 September, Zurich, www.hackzurich.com
Amazon.com Inc. will acquire Whole Foods Market Inc. for $13.7 billion, a record-breaking
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Direct Coffee Through their start-up Direct Coffee, social entrepreneurs and husband and wife team, Marie and Michael Tuil, are importing specialty coffee from smallholder farmers in Ethiopia to realize specific social projects in the coffee-growing region. Each package of coffee that is sold in Switzerland supports one of the farmers’ children in a project of their choosing. Marie shares their entrepreneurial story with us here.
www.directcoffee.net www.sportles.com
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Tell us about your business What do you do, and who are the founders?
How far are you willing to go for your company?
One year ago, we decided to quit our jobs. Michael was working as a strategy consultant specializing in Africa for BCG, and I worked as a freelance journalist for the various German publications writing about economics, business, and society. Since 2016, we’ve become full-time social entrepreneurs. I am responsible for creativity and communication, while Michael is the deal maker and number cruncher.
To Ethiopia and beyond.
As an entrepreneur you are the boss, so what qualities should a great boss possess? For us, inspiration is key. We try our best to inspire our team to be as passionate about Direct Coffee as we are. The social aspect of our business makes this particularly important – we sell a product with a story, and need to engage all people involved in our business within this story.
How do you prepare yourself for an important day?
The more time you spend upfront perfecting things, the less time you’ll have to adjust from what you have learnt.
We’re not perfectionists. That doesn’t mean that we don’t prepare ourselves, but we are also confident in being able to handle situations spontaneously. We have too many things on to do to be able to prepare for each of them perfectly. It’s more important to be fit, energetic, and focussed on the important day ahead. In your opinion, what is the most important thing or service that every entrepreneur should have access to? A network, because a good network can open your access to anything you might need.
What made you realize that you were destined to be an entrepreneur instead of an employee?
What have you learned from your journey so far?
Michael always knew he wanted to start his own business that solves a social problem in an entrepreneurial way. When his best friend passed away, he realized that life was too short to wait for your dreams to come true. At that time, I came up with the idea of Direct Coffee. It took only two emails, and the decision was made. One month later, we went to Ethiopia to select the coffee, meet the farmers, and find partners for the social projects.
For us, being an entrepreneur means learning every day. As we started by bootstrapping we had to do a lot of things on our own. What is your best business advice for your fellow entrepreneurs? Don’t hesitate too long; bring your product or idea to the people, even if it’s not perfect yet – in any case you will learn a lot from their feedback. Also, the more time you spend upfront perfecting things, the less time you’ll have to adjust from what you have learnt.
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