Blog posts
Articles about startups, technology, innovation and digital business models.
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My favourite podcasts: What I listen to regularly
My personal podcast recommendations on business, technology, startups, investing, current affairs, history and media. read more
22.07.2026
09.05.2026Guest on Burn Rate - the Venture Insider PodcastOn May 2nd, 2026 I was on Max Meister and Dr.'s Burn Rate Podcast. Guy Giuffredi as a guest: We talked about Vibe Coding, Agentic Engineering and our...read more
25.04.2026The Vibe VC: Startup investing in the vibe coding eraMost early-stage startups are still judged based on a pitch deck. This format has established itself for a reason: it creates order, enables comparis...read more
04.02.2025Highly efficient logistics: behind the scenes at TemuThe Chinese e-commerce platform Temu delivers at record speeds at unbeatable prices. It is often claimed that Temu benefits from favorable shipping c...read more
25.05.2024Quick-Commerce Market Overview: The Few That SurvivedThe party mood is over: Quick commerce startups like GoPuff, Gorillas and Getir are closing locations. I have therefore created a constantly updated ...read more
31.01.2024GPT for the Swiss startup sceneIn ChatGPT I created a GPT that can answer questions about the Swiss startup scene. The GPT is familiar with these topics, among others: Swiss startu...read more
20.06.2023Amsterdam: Insight into the dynamic startup ecosystem of the NetherlandsThe Dutch capital has established itself as an important hub for innovative companies and impresses with a large number of tech unicorns. Startups re...read more
15.09.2022Startup coaching in EthiopiaAt the beginning of August 2022, I spent a few days in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. There I coached startups on behalf of the Tesfa Ilg Foun...read more
07.09.2022Executive Master in Art Market Studies UZH 2022In September 2022 I will be able to give lectures at the University of Zurich as part of the Executive Master of Advanced Studies UZH in Art Market S...read more
07.09.2022HWZ CAS Digital Leadership 2022On October 20, 2022, I will be able to teach the module “Startup Methods for Corporate Innovation” in the CAS Digital Leadership at the HWZ Zurich Un...read more
12.07.2022Why I Don't Listen to Voice MessagesVoice messages are inefficient in the vast majority of cases. That's why I've decided that I won't listen to voicemails anymore. Please send me a sho...read more
07.04.2022HWZ Study Tour Tel Aviv 2022I am pleased to be able to organize the study tour of the CAS Digital Masterclass at the HWZ University of Applied Sciences Zurich again this year. A...read more
30.03.2022On Russia's Invasion of UkraineSince 2016, I have been dealing with Ukrainian (domestic) politics and the Ukrainian economy, in particular the lively startup scene and the oligarch...read more
23.03.2022How Startup Clusters EmergeAare Valley, Crypto Valley, Limmat Valley – many regions have taken up the cause of becoming the next Silicon Valley. However, such initiatives are o...read more
05.03.2021Quick-Commerce: GoPuff and Gorillas Clones Conquer the WorldSince Gorillas became Berlin's hottest startup, everyone in the startup scene has been talking about quick commerce: online supermarkets that deliver...read more
22.06.2016Ukraine: The startup scene in OdessaEastern Europe is best known to us for the cost-effective outsourcing of development and less for its own startup scene. So I receive offers several ...read more
10.06.2015When coaches give bullshit advice to software startupsOne thing in advance: I owe a lot to the venture business plan competition and was one of the winners in 2012. That's why I gave a talk on the market...read more
20.05.2015The debate on the new RTVG and the “public service” must be held - but please with an eye to the future!The discussion about the revision of the RTVG is in full swing and is not always conducted objectively. The revision is actually about switching from...read more
06.06.2022Israel: Necessity creates innovation 🇮🇱If there is a startup nation, it is Israel: no other country has more startup investments per capita. The startups in the small country in the desert...read more
14.05.2021HWZ CAS Digital Masterclass in Stockholm 2021In July 2021 I will be conducting a study trip to Stockholm for the HWZ. We will visit exciting startups with the participants of the CAS Digital Mas...read more
23.03.2021Is the Nebelspalter a media startup - or a smokescreen?Markus Somm, Blocher biographer and journalist, bought the Swiss satirical magazine Nebelspalter and converted it into an online medium. Somm never t...read more
11.01.2021GIIN talk on January 13, 2021On January 13, 2021 I will be a guest in the GIIN Talk with Jenny Havemann. The German-Israeli Innovation Network GIIN connects the startup and tech ...read more
20.12.2020Useful helpers in everyday lifeI use many small tools in everyday life that regularly make my life easier. Here you will find my favorite tools: *Affiliate link, from which I recei...read more20.11.2020University of Zurich: A Primer in EntrepreneurshipI was able to contribute several videos to the bachelor's lecture "A Primeur in Entrepreneurship" at the Department of Business Administration at the...read more
26.10.2020Blick TV: Innovative news TVBlick TV has been live since mid-February 2020. I've taken a quick look at it since then and am of the opinion that Ringier is doing a lot of things ...read more
20.05.2020HWZ: CAS Digital Masterclass in StockholmIn June 2020, I organized and led a startup study tour to Stockholm for the CAS "Digital Masterclass" together with Manuel Nappo. We were allowed to ...read more
20.05.2019HWZ: CAS Digital Masterclass in Tel AvivIn May 2019, I organized a startup study tour to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem together with Manuel Nappo from HWZ and Jenny Havemann from GIIN. Further inf...read more
19.12.2018Klazz wins the EdTech Contest 2018 in Abu DhabiMy language travel startup Klazz won the “Lifelong Learning” award at Krypto Labs’ EdTech Contest 2018 in Abu Dhabi. I was able to meet exciting inve...read more
09.12.2018Klazz in the top 5 of the EdTech Startup Contest in Abu DhabiKlazz, the language travel startup that I co-founded, was chosen from over 800 startups as a finalist in the top 5 of the EdTech Innovation Startup C...read more
26.11.2018Next Floor: Accelerator for tourism startupsWith Klazz I have been active in the EdTech and tourism environment for some time. I came across the Next Floor Accelerator in Salzburg, which is bac...read more
20.05.2018HWZ: CAS Digital Masterclass in TallinnTogether with Manuel Nappo and Prof. Dr. Jan Pieper, I lead the CAS Digital Masterclass study trip to Tallinn. From June 27th to 30th, 2018 we will d...read more17.04.2018April 24, 2018: Services & Operations Management, University of ZurichOn April 24, 2018, I will give a guest lecture on platform management at the University of Zurich as part of the “Services & Operations Management” l...read more
13.03.2018Productivity and focus in startupsI haven't written a blog post in almost a year. That can only mean one thing: I'm very busy and focused on my startup. To improve my productivity and...read more
20.04.2017Startup expert at the World Tourism Forum Lucerne 2017On May 3, 2017 I will be a startup expert for travel startups at the Word Tourism Forum Lucerne Lean.read more
17.03.2017Unfair: No unemployment benefits for failed foundersIn his latest blog post, the well-known business angel Roland Zeller raised a problem that is practically not talked about in Switzerland: If a start...read more
12.02.2017March 6, 2017: Internet Briefing - The hottest trends and startups in Silicon ValleyOn March 6th, 2017, I will be giving a talk about Silicon Valley as part of the internet briefing starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Crowne Plaza in Zuric...read more
01.02.2017WordPress: The perfect tool for MVPsAccording to Lean Startup theory, every entrepreneur should check the assumptions critical to success as quickly as possible - first qualitatively wi...read more
01.02.2017February 28, 2017: ZHAW Alumni - Limmat Valley vs Silicon ValleyOn February 28, 2017, I will be giving a lecture together with Claudio Schneider from Lend at the Hotel Glockenhof Zurich on the topic of “Limmat Val...read more
23.01.2017April 26-29, 2017: Future Workshop in TallinnAt the end of April, I will be conducting a four-day workshop with the Master of Science students at the Swiss Fernfachhochschule (FFHS) in Tallinn. ...read more
16.01.2017January 23, 2017: Founder Institute - How to Start a Startup in ZurichOn January 23, 2017 I will take part in a panel discussion at the Founder Institute, where I am also a mentor. The event on the topic “How to start a...read more
10.01.2017February 2, 2017: Introductory Talk: The Experiences and Challenges of Two FoundersTogether with Alan Frei (Amorana), I will give a keynote speech on the topic of entrepreneurship at the lecturers' meeting of the Department of Econo...read more
28.11.2016How startup PR worksSince I landed on Cédric Bollag's influencer list, emails from startups wanting to be featured on my blog have skyrocketed. The startups or their PR ...read more
23.11.2016Cédric Bollag: List of Zurich startups, investors and influencersCédric Bollag from Global Tech Box has put together a Google Spreadsheet with all Swiss and Zurich startups, investors and influencers. Thank you at ...read more
16.11.2016Silicon Valley: The days after the electionIn the run-up to the US presidential election, most tech leaders in Silicon Valley spoke out in favor of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, with o...read more
21.10.2016November 17, 2016: HWZ meets Silicon ValleyThe HWZ Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration is conducting a study tour to Silicon Valley in November. The study trip als...read more
12.10.2016Free support for startups in SwitzerlandIn the meantime, there are many contact points for Swiss founders looking for free support for their startup. Since the various support organizations...read more11.10.2016November 11, 2016: The Practice of Entrepreneurship, University of ZurichOn November 11, 2016 I will give a lecture in the seminar "The Practice of Entrepreneurship" with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kaiser. I connect via Skype from S...read more
19.09.2016Digital Festival: By far the best Swiss conferenceThere are few or no events for the people of us that make it worth traveling to Zurich from abroad. With one big exception: With the first edition of...read more
11.08.2016Dear Zurich, we need to talk.Conversations that start like this rarely end well - usually at least one person gets hurt. I'll try anyway. Dear Zurich, I really like you. You are ...read more
27.07.2016Startup location: San Francisco or Berlin?Exactly a year ago I looked into the location selection of startups. At that time I came to the conclusion that Zurich was definitely not the right l...read more
04.05.2016Impressions from the Bay Area and Silicon ValleyFor the last few days I've been traveling in the Bay Area, which includes San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Never before has a trip inspired me so mu...read more
29.03.2016Shanzhai: Chinese-Style InnovationI had my first contact with Shanzhai about seven years ago when I spontaneously ordered an "iPhone mini" online for a handful of dollars. Not that Ap...read more
16.03.2016Kickstart Accelerator: Things Are Heating UpOn the surface, everything is going well at the Kickstart Accelerator, which was launched under the umbrella of Digital Zurich 2025: it has just been...read more
04.02.2016Digital Festival 2016: Zurich will become the digital capital in autumnFor years in Switzerland there was a deadlock when it came to major events in the startup and tech scene. There were a few events for founders and te...read more
02.02.2016Founder Stories with Oliver FlueckigerInterview by Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier with Oliver Flueckiger about Rayneer Source: founderstories.ch - many thanks to the Swiss Start Up Factory!read more26.01.2016Kickstart Accelerator: Are accelerators of any use?The Kickstart Accelerator will be launched in Zurich this evening, and last week the first batch of the Swiss Start Up Factory started with six proje...read more
14.01.2016Corporate startup relations: There is room for improvementWhile the wave of corporate accelerators and incubators has long since leveled off in Germany, in Switzerland it has only now become fashionable, wit...read more03.11.2015November 13, 2015: The Practice of EntrepreneurshipOn November 13, 2015 I will give a lecture in the seminar "The Practice of Entrepreneurship" with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kaiser. Further information about ...read more
26.10.2015Lean Day 2015: The Most Important LessonsLast Tuesday, Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier, Managing Director of CTI Invest, invited people to the first Lean Day. Thanks to Jean-Pierre, I had the opport...read more
26.10.2015CTI Module 2 - Business ModelOn October 27th and November 3rd, 2015 I will be a co-speaker at the CTI Module 2 - Business Model at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern...read more
19.10.2015blogstone – Stefan SteinerStefan Steiner is the Managing Director of the IFJ (Institute for Young Entrepreneurs) and blogs at irregular intervals about the Swiss startup scene...read more
15.10.2015Coach at the FinTech Startup Weekend ZurichShort preview: The first FinTech Startup Weekend will take place in Zurich from October 23rd to 25th, 2015. I'm happy that I can be there as a coach....read more
12.10.2015Lessons from a Year of Startup ConsultingIn the past few months I have advised a number of startups on topics such as financing, growth strategies and operations. In this blog post I share m...read more
04.10.2015#hackzurich: Zurich as a vibrant tech cityAnyone who knows Zurich's somewhat sedate startup can hardly believe their eyes this weekend: day and night, developers are coding apps, brainstormin...read more
24.08.2015Spoiled for choice: the ideal startup nameEvery startup needs a name when you start talking about it with other people - but at the latest when the launch is approaching. Unlike a baby, the n...read more
29.07.2015Only idiots don't start businesses in Berlin?Last Saturday, the Tages-Anzeiger published a double page about startups in the economics department. The main article by Barnaby Skinner was entitle...read more
15.07.2015Why Watson is the most exciting Swiss media startupI recently came across an article in the SonntagsZeitung in which I was asked about my media usage behavior. At that time I mentioned that - in addit...read more
02.07.2015I'm looking forward to the first Swiss Lean Day!Generations of Swiss startups have learned how to successfully pitch and write financial plans from Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier, Managing Director of CTI...read more
16.06.2015My Top Five Startup Lessons from Running a MarathonAlmost exactly two years ago I ran a marathon alone. The long-term consequences of this marathon still concern me today, and I learned a lot about my...read more
03.06.2015Between Startups: Regrouping for the Next VentureYesterday I went on a bike ride (my Facebook friends already know) and I'm writing this text in the sun at the outdoor pool. What else does an entrep...read more
23.05.2015Recommended Reading: May 23, 2015We have to stop comparing ourselves with Silicon Valley Christoph Räthke suggests eliminating the statistical outlier Silicon Valley from the conside...read more13.05.2015Recommended Reading: May 13, 2015Eight crazy weeks with GoButler GoButler was founded in February 2015 and has experienced enormous growth in the first eight weeks. Gründerszene.de t...read more07.05.2015The most important ingredients for a startup are love and knowledge - both are available at the Swiss Start Up FactoryYesterday I was invited to the official kick-off event (motto: "Our Time Is Now") of the Swiss incubator Swiss Start Up Factory in their new premises...read more28.04.2015Recommended Reading: April 28, 2015Key Revenue Metrics for SaaS companies Christoph Janz explains the KPIs of Software as a Service startups. When I talk to SaaS startups and take a lo...read more24.04.2015Recommended Reading: April 24, 2015Unfair Salary: Why It Works At first glance, Google's salary model looks unfair because not all employees in the same position earn the same amount. ...read more21.04.2015HWZ Start-up on May 7, 2015 with Oliver Flueckiger, founder of RayneerOn May 7, 2015, I will give a lecture at the HZW in Zurich in the HWZ Start-up series on the topic of failure as a success factor: an insight report....read more21.04.2015Recommended Reading: April 21, 2015Bye bye, Social PM – we learned a lot from you! Robert Szilinski failed with his startup Social PM and shares his ten most important learnings on Grü...read more12.04.2015Recommended Reading: April 12, 2015Why corporations often fail as start-up helpers Wirtschaftswoche explains why incubators run by large companies often fail and, in contrast to Y Comb...read more
08.04.2015I wanted to call for a startup hub for Zurich - and the coworking space beat me to itIt has been bothering me for a long time that there is no real startup hub in Zurich: a place where very fresh startups can easily get a job, network...read more05.04.2015Recommended Reading: April 5, 2015Parasocial Interaction on Social Media: Do You Know Me? The post is a bit older, but timeless. Carta author Till Westermayer thinks about parasocial ...read more
03.04.2015Founders need confidence in their own abilitiesMany people have (business) ideas, but very few actually implement them. And even fewer people found a startup for their ideas because the risks are ...read more30.03.2015Recommended Reading: March 30, 2015Holidays in the City of God Very interesting, if somewhat brief, report from Michael Heim in Switzerland on Sunday, who spent three weeks on holiday ...read more29.03.2015Recommended Reading: March 29, 2015Business models - the day before yesterday, yesterday & today A good presentation by Matthias Schrader on digital business models where the focus is ...read more
28.03.2015The Swiss startup scene lacks a good online magazineUnfortunately, the Swiss startup scene is lacking in a number of things: There are not enough risk-taking investors in this country, there is a lack ...read more28.03.2015Recommended Reading: March 28, 2015Andreas L. The BILDblog comments on the disgusting reporting about the Germanwings co-pilot Andreas L.: What has happened in the past few days is lar...read more27.03.2015Interesting articles March 27, 2015The term news has lost its value Udo Stiehl uses the reporting on the crash of the Germanwings Airbus A320 as an opportunity to discuss the term "new...read more
26.03.2015April 20, 2015: Talk at the University of St. GallenOn April 20, 2015, I will be giving a seminar at the HSG in St. Gallen "Decisions and actions under uncertainty - entrepreneurial opportunities and r...read more
26.03.2015Bootstrapping.me - Fabian WesterheideFabian Westerheide worked at early stage VC PointNine Capital and now has his own startup in Berlin. On his blog, Fabian shares valuable tips from hi...read more
26.03.2015svenruoss.ch - Sven RuossSven Ruoss is the digital expert at Watson and regularly analyzes digital business models and social media concepts.read more
26.03.2015Geeky business - Marcus KuhnMarcus Kuhn is an internet entrepreneur from Zurich and a good friend of mine. On his blog Geekybusiness he writes sporadically about technology, sta...read more
07.03.2015Startupolic - Sébastien FlurySébastien Flury is an internet entrepreneur from French-speaking Switzerland and regularly writes articles and best practices about the startup scene...read more
13.03.2013From startup to successful company using the example of comparis.ch and RayneerMr. Richard Eisler from comparis.ch (www.comparis.ch) and Mr. Oliver Flueckiger from Rayneer (http://www.rayneer.tv) report on their experiences duri...read more
29.11.2012TV 2.0 Summit 2012: TV Channels, Brace Yourselves!On November 29, 2012, I gave a talk about the television landscape of the future at the TV 2.0 Summit in Zurich.read more