08. November 2007
Today I had two premiers: my first Venturekick (
www.venturekick.ch) jury session and my first encounter with the iPhone. Venturekick is the result of an idea that came up during the
SF START UP TV show. Beat Schillig, head of the Institut für Jungunternehmen in St. Gallen, and an old friend of mine (since I learned how to start up a business at his institute) was able to find two foundations willing to support scientists with makeing business out of their inventions. As Venturekick jury members we attended and assessed presentations by 8 teams who have a business idea each, with university background and who want to take their idea to the market. It was a fascinating job to learn about all these innovations, discuss their potentials and whether we as jury members believe these teams and ideas are going to fly. Or at least if they should get a second chance. Those who got the best results receive 10'000 CHF and will be invited to the next round where they can receive 20'000 CHF. All in all they can make 130'000 CHF, because the finalists receive 100'000 CHF onto their company's account. By that point they need to have founded their company at least on the paper. I can't help but dealing with start-up challenges is always inspiring to me. The presentations consumed the whole morning but unfortunately I can't give any more details. Everything is confidential - again, like so often in my work.
Not confidential however is the jury composition and their equipment. I met another Mac use, Mehdi Jacques Aminian (on the picture next to me) who asked me right away if I had this thing that was lying on his table. «Oh my gosh, it's an iPhone!» was all that I could say at this moment. I tried it out and now it is clear, despite of hesitating for a while: this is going to be my next phone.
The picture shows Dr. Silvio Bonaccio, director of ETH transfer, Mehdi Aminian, Innovation and Valorisation EPFL and me.