Meet the Venturelab team: A virtual coffee break with Andrea Merz
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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 take a look behind the scenes: We meet the Venturelab team members for a virtual 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 next guest is Andrea Merz, one of our program managers responsible for the Innosuisse Start-up Training.
Andrea, thank you for having a virtual coffee with us. What were you working on just now? I scouted engineering startups that fit the criteria to participate in our upcoming Business Creation workshop. It’s a five-day workshop for entrepreneurs to finetune their business model and pitch deck. Apart from that, I created certificates and organized the networking Apéro for the ICT startups that will finish the course next week.
You have been working here at Venturelab since January 2022. What are your primary responsibilities?
I am responsible for the Innosuisse Start-up Trainings in Switzerland’s German-speaking and Italian-speaking parts. We have training sessions in Basel, Berne, Lugano, and Schlieren, and I oversee all the different aspects of the courses: From A for application checks to Z for Zoom meeting invitations—I cover the whole process to have successful trainings for the entrepreneurs.
What is your favorite part about being a program manager at Venturelab?
I particularly like to interact with all the startups and help them along their entrepreneurial journey. It’s incredible to see how many innovative and promising startups there are in the Swiss startup ecosystem.
What did you do before joining Venturelab?
Before joining Venturelab, I did a master’s in international business at the ZHAW Winterthur. I am glad I could use the time during COVID and continue studying. During my studies, I had many part-time jobs—including working for On and Nespresso—and on-demand jobs like sampling products that had just launched.
Why did you apply for the job as a program manager?
I did my master’s thesis about circular startups in Switzerland and discovered my fascination for the startup ecosystem. Working for Venturelab allows me to actively contribute to the ecosystem and support startups on their way to becoming independent companies.
What is something your co-workers might not know about you?
In my free time, I like to be in the Alps and in nature. Hiking and climbing are hobbies that I enjoy doing to detach from work and life in the city. So, when I was 16 years old, I climbed Nadelhorn, which was my first mountain with an altitude above 4000 meters.
What would you like to invent?
A morning-routine machine: You enter the cabin for five minutes, and in this time, you have breakfast, shower, get dressed, and ready for the day! Would be a real game changer!
What is your guilty pleasure?
I detach from everything by watching the daily German soap, Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that, but I even read spoilers to find out how some stories continue. Now you know my secret.
How did you earn your first salary?
Even before starting my apprenticeship, I sometimes helped at a self-service restaurant on Mount Rigi. Maybe I enjoyed the scenery a bit more than the actual work. However, it was a great experience: I could interact with locals, and there were a lot of tourists visiting the Swiss Alps.
What is a social media account everyone should follow?
I’m a fan of deliciously ella. I visit the website when I need inspiration for new dishes to cook. The dishes look amazing and are mostly not too difficult to prepare.
What is your favorite topic to discuss during coffee breaks?
I like to talk about travels, cultures, and hiking tours. I’m a fan of discovering and talking about new restaurants or pop-up stores in Zurich. Obviously, I also need to try them.
What is your favorite artist or playlist to listen to while working?
I mostly listen to the radio, which allows me to get the latest news quickly. If I am not in a radio mood, I like the DJ sets streamed by Cercle. I can recommend sets from Ben Böhmer or Bob Moses.
Could you show us your smartphone home screen and tell us about your three favorite apps?
I wouldn’t call my screen very inspiring, as I have more or less the standard apps. I’m currently trying out Insight Timer and Headspace to test the beauty of meditation. I often use a postcard creator to send postcards of trips to my friends or as a memory to my home address. In this digital age, printed pictures are rare. An app that I use for traveling when I am offline is maps.me. That way, I can always find all the hidden gems.
