Growth stories, finding the right career paths and financing with and without hurdles were the topics of the inspiring first part of this year’s Swiss PropTech Day.
Mario Facchinetti, representant of the international network Swiss PropTech, welcomed more than hundred participants – with a gratifying female quota of 17 percent – on this once a year held special occasion for the proptech industry in Switzerland. The number of proptech enthusiasts more than tripled in 2018 and showed the rising of ideas within this sector as well as the need of networking and consultancy in solving day by day problems in the startup field.
Roberto D’Elia, co-founder of the swiss startup Sobu, gave insights into the shaky business of young entrepreneurship these days, followed by an Q&A with two VC companies (Venturing Swiss Post, Ringier Digital Venture) and one business angel, Lukas Weder, former co-founder of eat.ch moderated by Thomas Dübendorfer, president of the Swiss ICT Investor Club.
Having had a proper BBQ outside of the event’s host EMPA and their future building NEST in Dübendorf the afternoon started with a brainstorming workshop with EMPA-CEO Reto Largo.
One-on-one talk opportunities followed in the exhibition area. Swiss PropTech members presented their business ideas at the PropTech Boulevard and consulting corners helped out in areas like ICO (Initial Coin Offerings), Recruiting, Legal issues, Fiduciary support and the meaning and chances of innovation portals these days.
Valerie Riedo, Project Manager Open Innovation at Swiss Post, later spoke about searching and finding new business ideas for the big national postal and logistics company. And back to the start of this successful business and networking event co-founder of getyourguide.com then talked about the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur and riding a crazy rollercoaster at the same time.
Swiss PropTech Day 2018 ended with an eye opening guided tour for all participants through the research laboratory NEST and its newly innovations from the construction industry and the whole real estate world within one extraordinary building followed by a joint after-work drink.