About Us

Igor Karpachev is a passionate, inclusive senior leader with over 20 years of experience in business, technology, innovation, and people management. He has delivered results across international enterprises, mid-sized companies, and startups.​

Igor excels in Program Management, Digital Transformation, Strategic Partnerships, and Cross-functional Collaboration. He emphasizes rapid technology adoption for maintaining a competitive edge and believes people are at the heart of every success story.​

With a background in innovation initiatives in CH/E.​

Expertise includes: ​

International career, expert in acquiring consumer insights, developing great customer experience and successful go-to-market strategies.

Expertise includes: ​

• Marketing​
• Networking ​
• Pitch​
• Sales Strategy for a Service​
• Sales Strategy for a Product​

Matteo Sorci is an Innovation Manager at Idiap Research Institute with over 20 years of experience in AI and startup mentorship. He excels in translating AI research into industry applications and guiding startups from inception to market. Matteo holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from EPFL and has led numerous high-impact AI projects worldwide.​

Expertise includes:​

• Artificial Intelligence & Affective Computing​
• Emotion Modeling & Analytics​
• Advanced Computer Vision Techniques​
• Machine Learning & Deep Learning​
• Mentorship & Entrepreneurship in Tech

Two decades in Finance Marketing, Business Development and Proposals (DD).​

Mentoring mid-management women, entrepreneurs and founders since 2016. Angel investor since 2016.​

Founder, 2023, of the Collective W safe place to empower women to understand and make their own investment.​

Founder, 2024, of the CW Business Angel Investors group  focusing on impact and sustainable investments to answer the 21st century challenges.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Fundraising, Due Diligence​
• Asset Management​
• Marketing​
• Sales Strategy for a Product

His current venture is a suite of digital platform solutions to increase the market share of impact investments, sustainable consumer products and laboratory testing solutions. ​

Dhanesh is also mentor, advisor to several Swiss and European tech start-ups, mentor / judge at MassChallenge, Venture.ch, Tech4Regeneration (EPFL Innovation Park) and active contributor to several other innovation ecosystem networks. Formerly, has spent first 20 years of his career at corporates in senior positions where he was the global IT head.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Product Development​
• Tech – Software, Tech – AI​
• Sustainability

She works with Start-Ups to help grow these companies with Sustainable Products, particularly in FinTech, RegTech, Green Energy, and Blockchain through our mentorships.​

In Expertise includes: ​

• Change Management​
• Public Speaking​
• Negociation​
• Financial Advisory​
• Strategic Planning​
• Research Skills

With a track record of founding multiple startups and facilitating successful exits, I now help B2B, and SaaS companies realize their growth potential through:​

Expertise incudes: ​

• Sales - B2B​
• Sales Strategy for a Product/Sales Strategy for a Service​
• Marketing​
• Pitch​
• Story Telling​
• Team & Organization Management​
• Mindset & Motivation​
• Product Development

Lorenzo from Geneva, managed 9x startup accelerators in 3 continents, strategic consulting and open innovation with large corporations. Recent focus on deep climate tech ​

startups designing and executing the Go-To-Market strategy alongside fundraising activities. Supporting emerging VC funds on deal flow, investments and operations.​

Ex Curator of the Geneva Hub Global Shapers Community​

in Geneva, former Startup Grind Co-Director and Aiesecer.​

Passionate about decentralized ecosystems, deep tech, sustainable change and frugal innovation. ​

Expertise includes: ​

• Technology​
• Business Development and Go-to-market strategy​

Sensile Technologies is a forerunner provider of IoT for the oil, gas, and chemical industries. It was founded in 1999 at the EPFL and was sold to the WIKA Group in 2020.​

La Forge is the incubator for very young companies on the Innovation Park of the EPFL. I act as a mentor for them.​

Expertise includes:​

• Human Resources, Product Development, Sales - B2B, Sales Strategy for a Product, Sales Strategy for a Service, Tech - IOT​
• Team & Organization Management, Tech – Hardware, Tech – Software, Mindset & Motivation, Strategy, Finance, Pitch, Networking, Story Telling, Sustainability​

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He collaborates with the Chamber team to the business development of Italian clients interested in matchmaking with Swiss partners.​

Co-Founder of a venture studio in the life sciences sector. Listed on Euronext Growth Milan.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Fundraising & Investment​
• Mindset & Motivation​
• Strategy, Pitch, Sales Strategy for a Product, Networking​
• Product Development, Team & Organization Management​

Isabella Blengini, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Economics at EHL, teaching microeconomics and hospitality economics in the bachelor’s and online MBA programs. She earned her PhDs from the University of Milano and Boston College, followed by a post-doc at the University of Lausanne. She has been a visiting fellow at MIT and interned at the Boston Fed. Her recent research focuses on how exchange rate fluctuations impact the Swiss hospitality industry, aiming to provide actionable insights for industry practitioners. Other work includes studies on monetary policy, foreign currency debt, and portfolio allocation under uncertainty.

Experienced investor and mentor, with 30 years of business experience in the toy, education, and computer hardware industries. Expert in sales & marketing, finance and logistics, as well as business strategy and HR. Founded multiple business ventures over the years, with three successful exits.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Sales & marketing, ​
• Finance and logistics ​
• Business strategy and HR

I have a strong track record of driving profitable growth through organic strategies and M&A in both Fortune 500 firms and private companies. My global experience has honed my ability to lead high-performing teams focused on growth, cost management, cash flow, and optimizing asset footprints. ​

Expertise includes:​

• General Management, P&L Management​
• Corporate & Business Strategy​
• Growth Acceleration in International Markets​
• Tailoring Global Needs to Regional Specificities​
• Business Transformation, Change Management, Turnarounds​
• End-to-end M&A and Post-Merger Integration​
• Shaping and Growing Diverse Teams​

Tatyana’s research focuses on how companies and startups navigate challenges and leverage resources for success. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Tartu and was a visiting doctoral student at HEC Paris. Before joining EHL to lead the research team, she was an assistant professor at a triple-crown business school. Tatyana frequently contributes to academic journals, speaks at international conferences, and teaches on entrepreneurship, strategy, innovation, and sustainability. She collaborates with experts and entrepreneurs to foster innovation and sustainable growth.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Research​
• Mindset & Motivation​
• Strategy

Senior manager with extensive finance and marketing experience, leading high-performing teams (Covey/Deming). Former CFO of Rainmaker Systems, Treasurer of Trader Joe’s, and Controller of CBS/Fox Studios. Held leadership roles in a .com, software, and high-tech companies. Expertise spans startups, turnarounds, and early-stage public companies. Recently certified as an Innosuisse Special Coach for Fundraising​.

Expertise includes: ​

• Fundraising, Finance, Strategy, Negotiation​
• Cost accounting, ​
• Online marketing and promotion lead generation​
• Market research.​

Serial founder with over 12 years of experience in the solar sector, learning from both successes and failures. I founded my first solar company, scaling it from a 2-person team to 80, and successfully commissioning $300mn in solar projects. More recently, I launched a B2B SaaS start-up that’s decarbonising the real estate sector, which contributes to 40% of global emissions. I’ve raised funding from top VCs, angels, and academic institutions in the UK and USA.​
Expertise includes: ​

• Product strategy​
• Building co-founding teams and early stage hires​
• Go-to-market strategy​
• Fundraising​
• Start-ups and Entrepreneurship​
• Climatech ​
• SaaS ​

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Frédéric is the Managing Partner at Norman Venture, a comprehensive service provider for entrepreneurs seeking financial, operational, and strategic growth support. He is a trainer at InnoSuisse, serves on several start-up jury boards, and is an active mentor, advisor, and board member.​

With extensive experience in project management and supply chain, Frédéric has worked with industry leaders like Givaudan, Syngenta, and Monsanto. As a Business Angel, he invests in diverse start-ups, focusing on Tech, Media, and emerging DeepTech technologies and their applications across various industries. ​

Expertise includes: ​

• Financial Advisory, Business Consulting, Management Consulting ​
• Project Management​

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Joseph de Leon elevates entrepreneurs & enterprises to increase their multiples and unlock their value. ​
He is a partner at Gravitas Prime, an Andersen Global M&A collaborator and advisor to Asian PE funds. Joseph is also a founding member of MAIN, the Philippines’ largest and most active angel network. This year, Joseph launched Bullet Day Consulting to guide businesses to restructure for institutional capital infusion and market expansion into Asia.​
Founder Institute selected JDL as a top global startup mentor, is the Philippines’ first AWS Scout and is an Ambassador for Seedstars SA.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Strategy​
• Go-to-market

As a global innovator, my journey spans multiple continents - Japan, Europe, USA, and Singapore. I've nurtured ideas and people, growing them into impactful ventures. My expertise in international innovation environments and a robust understanding of the tech business landscape have been pivotal in this endeavor.​

I invest in deep tech ventures with a long-term vision, believing in the transformative power of technology. My advisory roles extend from corporate boards to engaging with researchers, adept in both the field and the boardroom.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Product Marketing​
• Product Management​
• E-commerce​
• Computer Vision​
• Business Strategy ​

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I have a solid track record of customizing and successfully implementing initiatives for startups, corporations, and investors. My expertise lies in building connections, facilitating networking, and achieving innovation and sustainability goals. I'm well-versed in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, adept at database management, and experienced in offering methodological guidance for empirical research​.

Expertise includes: ​

• Sustainability and Sustainable Business​
• Environmental Awareness​
• Research​
• Event Management​
• Business Development​
• Social Media Marketing​

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As a seasoned FinTech leader with 15+ years of experience, I thrive on empowering people and accelerating innovation. My journey includes guiding early-stage and growth companies through successful milestones, driving successful transformations, and navigating complex M&A transactions.​

​Expertise includes: ​

• Leadership​
• Business Strategy​
• Risk Management​
• Innovation Management​
• Crowdfunding

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Helping impact-driven companies design and build software. ​

Expertise includes: ​

• Product Management​
• Agile Project Management​
• IT Business Strategy ​
• Startup Development ​
• Innovation Management

As a seasoned FinTech leader with 15+ years of experience, I thrive on empowering people and accelerating innovation. My journey includes guiding early-stage and growth companies through successful milestones, driving successful transformations, and navigating complex M&A transactions.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Marketing and Social Media Marketing​
• Sales​
• Business Development​
• Innovation Management​
• Crowdfunding​

Will Guillaume Foussier, Co-Founder & CEO of AceUp, drives scalable leadership development through AI. A Harvard and EHL graduate, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Techstars alum, he has partnered with 100+ organizations, including SpaceX and IBM, transforming team performance with coaching and analytics.​

As a seasoned FinTech leader with 15+ years of experience, I thrive on empowering people and accelerating innovation. My journey includes guiding early-stage and growth companies through successful milestones, driving successful transformations, and navigating complex M&A transactions.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Entrepreneurship, AI, Ed-tech/HR-tech, Fundraising, Go-to-market, Hyper Growth, Team Performance, Leadership Development​

As the founder and CEO of Aramis Advisors, I help C-level executives create and accelerate economic value for their organizations through well-crafted and realistic growth strategies and applied and focused implementation. With over 30 years of experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurship, I have a proven track record of designing and building new revenue engines for diverse industries, such as healthcare, financial services, non-profit, and wine and spirits.​

Expertise includes: ​

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Multi-lingual sales professional with a proven track record in B2B SaaS (software as a service) sales and team leadership. If there is one thing I have learned in my years as a manager is "a team without a great coach is a team that will never win"​

Expertise includes: ​

• Sales, Upselling​
• Public Speaking​
• Business Development​
• Team Management​
• Sales Management

Having done business development, digital marketing and sales management in SMB and startups for 20+ years, I am passionate about growth. ​

I help startups, scaleups and SMB in their sales & marketing strategy and execution. ​

Being hands on and tech savvy, I also implement CRM & BI tools​

As a business angel investing in startups I also have a good experience in polishing sales decks, pitch decks and I am happy to use my network to support entrepreneurs in their journey.​

Expertise includes: ​

Go-to-market definition and execution : Marketing Strategy, Sales, Growth Hacking, Business Development, lead generation, sales team recruitment and training, CRM set-up, brand identity, creative services and production (brochures, videos, web, emailings…)​

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Dr. Cara Tobin is an environmental engineer specialized in sustainable innovations. She is a lead mentor for start-ups with the quantification of their positive impacts for Innosuisse and Startup Campus Switzerland. She is also an angel investor and Venture Partner for Clean Energy Ventures. She has supported the development of carbon emission calculation tools for the United Nations. As a former founder, she led the development of a blended climate finance platform that helped to secure over USD 330 million of financing for low carbon / resilience building projects and technologies. Cara is passionate about the application of innovations supporting the water/energy/food nexus, biodiversity and sustainable tourism. ​

Expertise includes: ​

Impact investment, Impact measurement, Sustainability, Business model development, Scaling strategy.​

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As an executive strategist leveraging trilateral expertise in science, law, and business to accelerate regulatory approval of novel products, my passion is to make the “seemingly impossible” . . . Possible!​

Having transformed complex, innovative concepts into viable business opportunities, generating multimillion-dollar partnerships and alliances, I am an accomplished patent strategist with advanced scientific knowledge to drive innovation protection.​

I have created and scaled multiple successful ventures across three continents, demonstrating exceptional business acumen and market insight.​

Expertise includes:

Partnership & Business Development, Intellectual Property Protection, Communication & Marketing Strategies, Strategic Enterprise Building, Venture Creation, Cross-sector Pioneering, Regulatory Policy Navigation, Transformative Thinking​.

Hugh Reeves is a managing associate in the Information Technology, Intellectual Property and Competition Team. He advises clients in matters of technology transactions, commercial contracts, telecommunications, intellectual property and digitalization. In addition, he is active in the areas of data protection as well as e-commerce and assists clients with their entry or expansion in the Swiss market.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Legal ​

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Dr. Claudio Kühn heads the German law firm KXP. He advises on all areas of Corporate Law, M&A and Venture Capital and delivers advice to Entrepreneurs, Investors and Enterprises. Before founding KXP, Claudio worked for law firms in Germany, Turkey and China. He has extensive experience as general counsel for a global venture backed by Rocket Internet.​

Claudio has been an active mentor in the European start-up ecosystem for more than a decade.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Legal (German Law, Fundraising do`s and don`ts)​
• Networking​
• Pitch

Antonin is an EHL Hospitality Business School alumnus, specialized in product development and innovation. In the course "Management Information Systems Tools/Spreadsheets", Antonin emphasizes the importance of data-driven decisions.​

Antonin's background in research and sales operations, along with his experience as a project manager at EHL Institute of Nutrition R&D and EHL Innovation-hub, informs his practical teaching approach. He uses the tools he teaches daily, ensuring his students are well-equipped to tackle real-world challenges.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Product Development​
• Strategy​
• Research

Carlos Martin-Rios, PhD (Rutgers University), is an Associate Professor of Management at EHL Hospitality Business School and an expert in sustainability innovation and business models within the service sector, spanning consulting, tourism, food, and luxury. His research addresses critical environmental, social, and governance challenges—such as resource degradation and social sustainability—by applying management strategies that drive meaningful impact. With over 60 publications in top peer-reviewed journals and a record of securing over CHF 1 million in research funding, Carlos brings valuable insights to his roles on the advisory boards of three fast-growing sustainability startups and as a consultant to businesses committed to sustainable innovation.​

Expertise includes: ​

• Innovation Management​
• Sustainability​
• Research​
• Leadership Development​