Relai: The Venture Leader Fintech empowering long-term Bitcoin investors

14.11.2024 16:16, Rita Longobardi

Meet Julian Liniger, CEO of Relai. The Fintech startup allows anyone to buy and sell Bitcoin within minutes. In December, Julian and the other nine Swiss National Fintech Team members will fly to London on a business development and investor roadshow.

Name: Julian Liniger
Location: Switzerland
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: University of Bern
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 35
Money raised: USD 10M
First touchpoint with Venturelab: Innosuisse Start-up Training ICT Business Creation in 2020

Julian Liniger is the co-founder and CEO of Europe‘s leading bitcoin-only app Relai, which has reached +100'000 active users and a total of USD 500M in trading volume in 4 years on the market. After completing his Bachelor’s in Psychology and his Master’s in Business Administration, he worked in Banking and Management Consulting, before he became an entrepreneur at the age of 26. He co-founded several companies, including CCFE, Switzerland’s leading Crypto Finance education course for the financial industry. Julian is also one of Forbes' 30 Under 30, a passionate surfer, runner, and CrossFit athlete.

Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Relai helps people and businesses buy and hold Bitcoin in an easy and secure way. Through a simple mobile app and user interface with great support when needed, we give people access to the best savings technology and control over their financial future.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We are addressing the Swiss and European market, which has a huge potential of 400m people and 25m businesses. Currently, less than 10% of them own Bitcoin. We believe this number will at least double in the coming years, and billions of CHF and EUR will flow into BTC.  
 

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How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea came from my own frustration with the complicated process of buying Bitcoin. I wanted a simpler app to use myself and refer to friends. That’s how the concept for Relai was born: an easy, straightforward way for Bitcoin beginners to get started.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Fintech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
I'm super excited to connect and network with fellow Swiss entrepreneurs and UK-based investors to explore further expansion opportunities from the EU to the UK. I expect the program to be very insightful, inspiring, and fun! 

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
In less than 5 years, we have managed to achieve +400k app downloads, +100k active users and +500m EUR/CHF in trading volume.

What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
The most challenging aspect is to set the right priorities and stay super focused while getting bombarded with a million different opinions and opportunities. The most rewarding aspect is to see the whole team and all the individuals grow respectively and to achieve great things together on our common mission.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Focus on the product and a great user experience, stay hands-on and involved in the business, and never give up no matter what!

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
I’m a fan of setting daily goals with clear priorities. No smartphone in the first hour of the day. Chat GPT also helps with many things!

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I wanted to become a pro football player. I was dreaming of scoring goals for my favorite club YB and wearing the Swiss national team jersey. That never happened, didn’t even get close…