14.03.2025 09:30, Rita Longobardi
Meet Felix Bünning, Co-Founder of Viboo. The proptech startup offers a cloud platform that connects IoT devices in buildings, improving efficiency with AI-like Self-Learning Predictive Control. Felix and the other nine Swiss National Technology Team members will fly to Silicon Valley in April.
Name: Felix Bünning
Location: Zurich and Cologne
Nationality: German
Graduated from: ETHZ, RWTH Aachen
Job title: Co-Founder, CEO
Number of employees: 10
Money raised: approx. CHF 2.5M
Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Viboo helps commercial building owners and operators reduce their heating energy consumption by 20-40% while improving occupant comfort. Our AI-native cloud BMS optimizes heating operations at the room level and integrates with existing systems.
What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We address the market of older light commercial buildings that are forced to undergo energy retrofit in the coming years due to regulation and rising energy costs. The market size of this segment alone in Europe is EUR 340bn.
How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea emerged from my and my co-founders' research at ETH Zurich and Empa, where we worked on data-driven control of buildings and energy systems. We tested the technology extensively at facilities including Empa's building technology demonstrator NEST before founding Viboo in 2022.
"There will always be ups and downs.
After up comes down and after down comes up."
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
We aim to get access to the US capital market for our ongoing CHF 4M financing round. We also hope to get a first impression of potential partners for a market entry in the US.
What are your team’s key achievements to date?
We have gained over 50 customers across Europe, and scaled to CHF 700k in revenue and CHF 1.5M in sales booked, one year after our first product launch. We secured investment from top investors such as Swisscom Ventures and HTGF and were selected for multiple awards, including the SET100 list in 2024, and #2 in Proptech at TOP100 2024 Swiss Startups.
Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
One of our first employees described Viboo as smart and cosy, which I like. I aim to create a warm and collaborative atmosphere that allows our brilliant employees to come up with solutions that help our customers.
What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
There will always be ups and downs. After up comes down and after down comes up.
What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
Use notion as a knowledge database in your company in combination with notion AI. You have a bot that can answer questions about your company. Also very handy for new employees.
What was your dream job when you were a child?
When I was a child, I dreamed of being a submarine captain.