Meet Skribble co-founder Roni Oeschger and find out how the Venture Leader Technology builds trust in the digital world

25.10.2021 08:25, Isabelle Mitchell

Thanks to Skribble, handwritten signatures might soon be a thing of the past—or reserved for autographs. Skribble is a one-stop shop for electronic signatures: The startup makes signature processes 100% digital, providing the legally suitable electronic signature for every type of contract. Get to know Skribble co-founder and CTO Roni Oeschger, learn more about his expectations for the Venture Leaders Technology experience, and find out how rubber ducks help him get unstuck.

Earlier this year, 10 technology startups—covering a range of topics such as computer vision, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, logistics, and sustainability—joined the Swiss National Startup Team. To advance their global growth, the Venture Leaders Technology 2021 will travel to Silicon Valley to showcase Switzerland’s innovative power and network with investors and industry leaders. To ensure you know which startups transform the technology industry, we will introduce you to the startups selected by the expert jury. We asked each entrepreneur to complete a short profile and choose at least six questions from a questionnaire about their personal and professional life. 

Name: Roni Oeschger
Location: Zürich
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: ETH Zürich, master’s degree in computer science, 2007
Your job title: CTO of Skribble 
Number of employees: 43
Money raised: CHF 5.2 million
First touchpoint with Venturelab: In 2010, I participated in “Venture Plan,” a strategy workshop with my company at the time

“Skribble provides a web application to electronically sign documents worldwide in a legally binding way.”

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
Our CEO Philipp Dick saw the need for a ready-to-use electronic signature solution while he was the head of Signing Service at Swisscom. There, he met many companies looking for a modern solution that did not require a complex integration project.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision? 
We expand into further markets to become the leading electronic signature solution in Europe. For this, we are setting up the next financing round. We are looking for investors that bring a network as well as know-how in conquering new markets. Additionally, we are looking to network with potential partners that would want to integrate Skribble into their products as well as open business opportunities in the US market.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
BBC’s Sherlock, which features Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in modern-day London. Besides the intricate and captivating storytelling, I am fascinated by Cumberbatch’s rendition of Sherlock’s intriguing character as a “high-functioning sociopath.”

What is your favorite book?
Either Yuval Harari’s Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind, which does a great job explaining how we, as a species, got to where we are today. Or Douglas Hofstadter’s Gödel Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, which explores mathematics, visual arts, and music to look for the foundation for intelligence.

What is always in your fridge?
(Oat) Milk, as it is fundamental for a flat white and müesli.

How did you come up with the name of your startup?
In Swiss German, you colloquially say “mach din Chribel druf” when you want someone’s signature. This roughly translates to “put your scribble on.” So, there you have it: Skribble.

What do you do when you are creatively stuck?
“Rubber ducking,” which is generally associated with debugging code by explaining it to another person or a rubber duck if nobody is around. For me, the act of explaining/describing the current state also helps when I am stuck with something that is not code.

How and where do you clear your mind?
I find a comfy place, put on my headphones, and listen actively to music. The genre is highly dependent on my mood and ranges from classical music to heavy metal.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Don’t found alone, and make sure you bring the right people along for the ride. Your startup will be a rollercoaster with very, very high highs and very, very low lows. You can celebrate your victories together, and they will be there with you when you go through your lows.

Last but not least, could you show us your workspace? 



For more information and updates on Skribble and the Venture Leaders Technology, follow the Venture Leaders Technology 2021 team with #VLeadersTech on social media or subscribe to our newsletter. 
 
The Venture Leaders Technology 2021 program is organized by Venturelab and supported by dpd Switzerland, EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Intel, Kellerhals Carrard, Rothschild & Co, and the Canton of Vaud.