Welcome to the La French Tech Switzerland Podcast, where we shine a light on entrepreneurs and investors from Switzerland, France, and beyond. In each episode, we dive into the stories, breakthroughs, and bold visions shaping the next wave of innovation, from AI and Robotics to Deep Tech, Crypto, the Agent Economy, and Clean Tech. This is your dose of inspiration from the people building and funding tomorrow’s game changers, right here at the heart of European innovation. --- This special edition features nine interviews recorded live at Slush Helsinki 2025. Funding Innovation and Scaling Europe: We sat down with Andreas Klinger, a technical founder turned investor who runs Prototype Capital, a solo GP fund backing "Cool Stuff, Hard Stuff, Weird Stuff, for Europe". Andreas, who was CTO at Product Hunt and helped build AngelList and OnDeck, discusses critical topics like risk differentiation in investing, execution, scaling, and the battle between ambition versus systemic friction. He also delves into EU Inc, the landmark proposal he co-initiated for a true pan-European legal entity designed to allow startups to finally scale across Europe without the immense friction caused by 27 different national company regimes. The Future of Materials and Clean Tech: The series also highlights deep tech solutions addressing global sustainability challenges: • Margaux Peltier (Co-Founder, CEO @ Enerdrape) shares insights on their technology, the world's first prefabricated geothermal panel. These panels capture renewable thermal energy from underground areas, such as car parks or tunnels, achieving CO2 savings without requiring drilling for installation. • Dr. Lukas Schertel (CEO & Co-Founder @ Seprify) discusses his company’s focus on providing cellulose material solutions that enable businesses to adopt greener product formulations. • Jonathan Koifman (CEO & Co-Founder @ FrostForge) details how his company converts existing heat sources (solar, waste, or industrial) into localized cold, maintaining robust supply chains anywhere without reliance on the grid or fuel. • Adam Korczak (Co-Founder & CEO @ Treeless), an ETH Zurich Spin-off, explains their mission to end plastic pollution by developing microorganism-based cellulose materials that enable a transition to bio-based, fossil-free production. • Stéphane Mac Millan (CEO & Co-Founder @ Verley) provides a look into sustainable food solutions by producing highly functional dairy proteins using fermentation, offering a complementary option for food industrials. AI, Cybersecurity, and New Frontiers: We also explore breakthroughs in automation and emerging markets: • Pascal Weber (Co-Founder, Manukai) introduces an AI-driven platform that automates repetitive machine programming tasks using production data, allowing manufacturers to produce high-precision metal parts faster and with fewer skilled operators. • Andrey Lazarev (Co-Founder and COO @ Brightside AI) discusses crucial cybersecurity measures, detailing how their company protects businesses from personalized AI attacks and makes employees aware of real-life threats applicable to them personally. • Clement Profit (Co-Founder, CTO @ Ascend Beyond Space) addresses the growing challenge of space debris by focusing on democratizing the end-of-life management and disposal of satellites. --- Enjoy this series, special edition SLUSH 2025. --- The French Tech Switzerland podcasts are imagined, edited, hosted, and produced by Raphael Grieco (raphael-grieco.com)
