Isochronic: The Venture Leader Technology developing software-driven pick and place robots

11.03.2024 09:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Melvin Haas, CEO of Isochronic. The engineering startup's patented robot streamlines supply-chain processes by enabling simultaneous part transfer for optimized transportation, inspection, palletizing, and packaging. Melvin and the other nine Swiss National Technology Team members will fly to Silicon Valley in April.

Name: Melvin Haas
Location: Denges (Vaud)
Nationality: Swiss/German
Graduated from: EPFL (PhD), 2013
Job title: Founder & CEO
Number of employees: 12
First touchpoint with Venturelab: 2009, during his studies at EPFL


 

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Isochronic is developing new software-driven industrial robotic systems for pick and place applications, which enable simultaneous parts transport for the first time.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Our primary target market is the laser-cutting/sheet-metal processing industry, whereas we are also actively developing our technology for the packaging industry. Both markets are large global industries, with a significant multi-billion dollar market potential for novel robotic solutions.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
In my previous career as a sales engineer for a Swiss robotics components manufacturer, I was fortunate to see the automation systems of many of the world's leading manufacturing companies first-hand. Whether in Europe, North America or Asia – everyone relied on the same basic robot kinematics invented over 30 years ago, which were not satisfying customer demand in several high-production volume markets. Isochronic’s first patent idea originates back to 2016, which occurred to me during my travels to South Korea at the time and described the principle of how a simultaneous part transfer industrial robot kinematic could be implemented.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
Being part of the Venture Leaders is a great honor and recognition of the work which our team has already accomplished. The initiative facilitates the exchange with other like-minded, ambitious entrepreneurs which has already helped us navigate some challenging decisions in the past. The roadshow is expected to further enlarge our understanding of the US capital market and venture financing options, help us gain exposure to potential future investors as well as M&A partners, as well as to gain additional market knowledge given Isochronic’s planned US expansion.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
We’re currently completing an impressive 18m-long industrial pilot installation for the laser-cutting/sheet-metal processing industry and have sensed strong market interest for additional system sales, despite our limited sales efforts. Moreover, we’ve been awarded many prestigious prizes and managed to attract multiple industry-experienced investors who support our vision to reshape the global manufacturing industry.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?

• Focus on our customers' needs and earn trust
• Be curious and keen to learn
• Be proactive and take initiative 

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Don’t do everything yourself but learn to focus on one’s particular strengths. Find, motivate and learn to trust others to help with one’s limitations and shortcomings.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
I don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and get out of the office as well as my comfort zone to get things done. 

Tell us something people don't know about you.
I tend to be extremely pragmatic and am hardly ashamed of anything – it’s typically not stupid if it gets the job done.

Do you recommend a podcast or a book you want to share with us?
Gino Wickman’s “Traction” has a lot of good, actionable insights for entrepreneurs.