Meet the Venturelab team: A coffee break with João Guerra

13.02.2024 11:30, Rita Longobardi

Venturelab supports the most innovative Swiss startups with tools, programs, and a one-of-a-kind network of partners and investors. To find out who makes all of this happen, we will take a look behind the scenes: We meet the Venturelab team members for a coffee break to talk about their work and find out what makes them tick when they are not supporting Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem with their expertise and experience. Our guest today is João Guerra, one of our project managers responsible for the Venture Leaders, Mars Habitat Challenge, and the Swiss Prime Site Start-up Accelerator Programme.

João, thank you for taking a coffee break with us. What were you working on just now?
I was currently working on the Venture Leaders Technology program, trying to put together a great roadshow with our partners and finalizing the top 10 companies that will travel to Silicon Valley to represent the Swiss National Startup Team. I am also finalizing the Swiss Venture Insights Report for January.


You started working at Venturelab in May 2022. What were your primary responsibilities back then?
My first responsibility was to organize a workshop together with our partner SIX Group to scout relevant startups that were looking for an IPO in the upcoming future.

What are your primary responsibilities to date? And what is your favorite part about being a program manager for Venturelab?
I manage various corporate programs, such as the TOP 100 Investor Summit and Venture Leaders. These experiences offer a dual perspective, from both startup and investor viewpoints, providing crucial insights into success in today's business landscape. I'm passionate about organizing impactful events that can truly change the lives of startups, bridging the gap between innovation and investment. It's rewarding to see the tangible difference these initiatives make for entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges of building and scaling their ventures.

What did you do before joining Venturelab?
I was working in a consultancy company based in Madrid, where I also got a great opportunity to enrol myself in accelerator programs for tech startups and where I have learned many critical things that I continuously apply in my day-to-day work.

Why did you apply for the job?
Together with my girlfriend, we have decided to move to Switzerland to start a new chapter in our lives. Venturelab appeared to me as the perfect setup and the perfect match for my skills and for what I really like to do in my professional path. Supporting startups and seeing their growth in a very structured way is something super attractive to me and Venturelab definitely addresses these requirements.

What is something your co-workers might not know about you?
Probably that I love to cook, and I think I am actually a good cooker, therefore, if someday they try any kind of food made by me, perhaps they would be surprised. P.s. They need to like Portuguese or Italian food, otherwise, I cannot surprise them. :-)

What is your guilty pleasure?
Probably chocolate. A great thing about Switzerland is that when we attend some events, we tend to receive chocolates as an “attendance gift”. I believe I have tried more different chocolates in one year than during my entire life.

How did you earn your first paycheck?
Working at a bank. I did a three-month internship for a Portuguese bank.

What is a social media account everyone should follow?
I am not very into social media, so my answer might be disappointing but since I really like to cook, there are some great Italian chefs I like to follow, in particular Max Mariola who does great pasta. 

What is your favorite topic to discuss during coffee breaks?
Travel plans is definitely my favourite topic to bring to coffee breaks.

What is your favorite artist or playlist to listen to while working?
I think it depends on the mood. There are days when prefer something soft, like Jazz (Gregory Porter) or something completely different like House; other days I am really into Portuguese music. However, I would say my kind of music for work has to include my favorite artists, like Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, Cage the Elephant, and Bob Dylan. Podcasts are something I do not listen to while working because I like to pay attention to what people are saying and I feel like neither I work nor listen to what they say.