Swisspreneur Show
Swisspreneur
How ETH Zurich Became a Startup Machine: Frank Floessel & Vanessa Wood (#549)
MAR 11, 202649 MIN
How ETH Zurich Became a Startup Machine: Frank Floessel & Vanessa Wood (#549)
MAR 11, 202649 MIN
Description
<p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>7:59 - ETHs Modernization in Supporting for Founders and Startups</p><p>21:03 - Growth of Spin-offs and Startups at ETH</p><p>29:52 Identifying Gaps in the Ecosystem</p><p>35:43 Metrics for a Healthy Ecossystem</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Episode Description:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode we’re joined by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-wood-a9186311/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Vanessa Wood</a>, Vice President for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">ETH Zurich</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-floessel/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Frank Floessel</a>, Head of ETH Entrepreneurship. Vanessa oversees how ETH connects its research with industry, government, and society, such as partnerships, intellectual property, and spin-offs. Frank brings the perspective of a founder and operator: after studying electrical engineering at ETH, he co-founded <a href="https://tempobrain.ch/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Tempobrain </a> before returning to help shape the next generation of entrepreneurs at ETH.</p><p><br></p><p>In the conversation, we explore how ETH is transforming its approach to entrepreneurship, making the spin-off process faster, clearer, and more founder-friendly. They also go into why deep tech could be Europe’s opportunity to compete globally again, with institutions like ETH producing the research and talent needed to build the next generation of companies. They then discuss the structural challenges still facing Europe - including the lack of late-stage liquidity and strong public markets compared to the U.S.</p><p><br></p><p>We also dive into the founder mindset behind successful startups. Vanessa explains why great technology alone doesn’t build a great company - founders also need to understand customers, markets, and how to assemble teams that can turn research into real products. Frank shares his own journey from ETH student to founder and back to the university, highlighting how successful entrepreneurs often return to support the next generation. Together, they discuss how ecosystems like ETH grow stronger over time as experienced founders reinvest their knowledge, networks, and capital into future startups</p><p><br></p><p>The cover portrait was edited by<a href="http://www.smartportrait.io/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> www.smartportrait.io</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Don’t forget to give us a follow on<a href="https://x.com/swisspreneur" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong> </strong></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/swisspreneur/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Instagram</strong></a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/swisspreneur" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong></strong></a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/swisspreneur" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Linkedin</strong></a>,<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@swisspreneur" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong> TikTok</strong></a>, and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Swisspreneur" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong> Youtube </strong></a>so you can always stay up to date with our latest initiatives. That way, there’s no excuse for missing out on live shows, weekly giveaways or founders' dinners.</p><p><br></p>