SEF.Growth Event with UBS
Strategic Partnerships: Unlocking Potential Through Start-up-Corporate Collaboration
When start-ups and corporates collaborate, great things can happen. Though both company types are very different on an organisational level, they can succeed in working together if they have a well-aligned shared goal. The collaboration between Holcim and neustark is an ideal example of best practice.
20 June 2024
6.00 pm – 9.30 pm
UBS
Bahnhofstrasse 45
8001 Zurich
Andy Kollegger, Head of Institutional and Multinational Banking, opened the event in the elegant halls at UBS headquarters in Zurich, showing a strong conviction for the importance of support and collaboration with Swiss start-ups. "Start-ups are our future, and investing in the future is certainly a good thing to do. Also, working with start-ups keeps us agile and young." His number one piece of advice to start-ups is: "Don't shy away from corporates because of their size and complexity. Instead, build personal relationships with the people working there over a longer period."
Building business relationships is like dating
Johannes Tiefentaler, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at neustark, did that when starting conversations with Ueli Bötschi from Holcim. "It's like dating in Switzerland. You meet over a longer time to get a concise picture of your counterpart", Johannes describes it.
And just like in dating, Ueli got frustrated when he first got a "no" from Johannes. After proceeding with the conversations, even a second "no" followed, perfectly demonstrating that neustark was confident enough only to consider such collaboration if trust, shared goals, and mutual benefits were crystal clear. "I needed to be sure that we have a shared vision and people who want to drive this," Johannes says.
Meanwhile, Holcim was committed to fighting for this partnership. "For us, it was clear that it felt good to partner up with neustark and that Holcim would do a strategic investment, too. We were convinced that we would bring much more benefits than issues. When the first answer was a no and the second one was a very clear no, we had to think of how to make that no to a yes." This could be solved by sitting together and working on a roadmap to 2030 that would enable high transparency and well-aligned goals and eventually turn the no into a yes.
Key takeaways for start-ups and corporates who are considering a collaboration
Julia Ehrler from Holcim MAQER Ventures and Christian Mähr from UBS Switzerland joined Johannes and Ueli on the panel. Many valuable tips and insights were shared:
- Start-ups collaborating with an corporate benefit from entering markets faster due to the sites and networks the corporate can share.
- Start-ups need to fulfill the high-quality expectations of corporate clients. This, however, helps the start-up accelerate its learning curve on the product development side, and therefore, it is more of a benefit than a downside.
- When a start-up builds a partnership with a corporate, it's important to not just have one contact but invest time in multiple relations. This reduces the risk of losing progress if that person leaves the company.
- Corporates should have someone on their side who can help the start-up to maneuver through the corporate environment.
- Make sure that the interests align. Start-ups need to know what they want to get out of the collaborations and what their interest is. Be clear on that, and don't be shy.
Impressions
The Start-up-Corporate Collaboration
neustark AG
We remove CO₂ from the atmosphere - and store it permanently
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C implies reaching net zero CO2 emissions in 2050, according to the IPCC. Next to substantially reducing emissions, this target will only be possible by globally deploying carbon removal (CDR) solutions. Neustark is a leading provider in this rapidly growing field, having developed a solution to durably remove CO2 via mineralization in recycled mineral waste such as demolished concrete and slags. Already operational in Europe, the start-up is currently scaling up its operations and carbon removal impact globally, aiming to remove one million tons by 2030. Founded in 2019, neustark AG is based in Bern, Switzerland, comprising a team of around 60 people. Together, we enable permanent CO2 removal for a bright future of all generations on our planet.
Holcim Ltd
Building progress for the people and the planet
Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions with net sales of CHF 27.0 billion in 2023. Driven by the purpose to build progress for people and the planet, 63,448 employees are on a mission to decarbonize building, while improving living standards for all. Holcim empowers customers across all regions to build better with less, with a broad range of low-carbon and circular solutions. With sustainability at the core of the company strategy, on the way to becoming a net-zero company with 1.5°C targets validated by SBTi.
Their achievements
Their collaboration illustrates the potential unlocked when startup innovation meets corporate scale. In 2023, the two companies embarked on a mission to accelerate neustark's carbon removal technology and set a new benchmark in sustainable development. Through Holcim's investment in neustark and the adoption of neustark's CO₂ storage technology in Holcim's global recycling plants, the partnership aims to make a significant impact on carbon reduction by storing a significant portion of the targeted 1 million tonnes of CO₂.
Meet our speakers
Johannes Tiefenthaler
Co-CEO at neustark
As part of his doctorate at ETH Zurich, Johannes developed a process by which CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere and permanently stored in mineral waste streams such as demolition concrete, creating a carbon sink. He then joined forces with Valentin to bring theory to practice, thus founding neustark almost 5 years ago. Since then, the Swiss climate tech start-up has become one of the world's leading carbon removal companies. Johannes’ focus at neustark is R&D, plant engineering and construction, and the operation of the carbon removal value chain. He strongly believes that climate benefits are a product, the sale of which will result in economically viable solutions that lead to large-scale climate protection.
Ueli Bötschi
Head of New Business Development at Holcim
Ueli Bötschi is a seasoned business development and innovation leader with more than 30 years of transformational experience. As Head of New Business Development at Holcim, he creates value by putting new business development, innovation, products and brands to work for business success. He fosters team growth through mentorship and a passion for exceeding expectations. With a knack for simplifying complexity and forging meaningful connections, Ueli is a trusted advisor and collaborator.
Julia Ehrler
Strategy Analyst at Holcim & Venture Capitalist at Holcim MAQER Ventures
Julia Ehrler is a seasoned professional renowned for her strategic acumen and proficiency in venture capitalism and project management. With a rich academic background, including a PhD and Master's in Management, she brings a wealth of expertise in strategic analysis and market research to the table. Julia's career is marked by a relentless pursuit of growth and innovation, exemplified by her roles as a Strategy Analyst at Holcim and as a Venture Capitalist at Holcim MAQER Ventures.
Andy Kollegger
Head Institutional & Multinational Banking, UBS Switzerland AG
Andy Kollegger has more than 30 years of banking experience at UBS, including twelve years in Securities Lending & Equity Finance and seven years as Global Co-Head Client Execution Services and Head of B4B Platform Distribution. Andy has been responsible for the Banks client segment since 2011. In 2016, he was given additional responsibility for the international corporate client business and in 2017 for Transaction Services. Andy Kollegger has been a member of the Executive Board of UBS Switzerland since 2018. Andy is a federally certified banking specialist. He is on the Board of Directors of SIX Group, a member of the Bretton Woods Committee and of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce Chapter Board "Doing Business in the USA"
Christian Mähr
Head Strategic Initiatives & Ecosystems, UBS Switzerland AG
Christian Mähr is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in corporate banking and strategic initiatives. Currently serving as Head of Strategic Initiatives and Ecosystems at UBS Switzerland AG, Christian drives transformative initiatives to enhance UBS's position in Swiss corporate banking. His expertise spans digital transformation, strategic partnerships, and client-centric models. Prior to UBS, he held key roles at Commerzbank AG, where he spearheaded market entry strategies and branch implementations. Christian's leadership is characterized by a focus on innovation, communication, and driving tangible growth.
Programme for 20 June 2024
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| Individual arrival | |
| 6.00 pm | Door opening & refreshments |
| 6.30 pm | Welcome note by
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| 6.40 pm | Introduction to the topic and presentation of the collaboration case |
| 6.45 pm | Keynote on the corporate collaboration between Holcim and neustark by
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| 7.05 pm | Audience Q&A and discussion on corporate-startup collaborations with
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| Flying dinner and networking | |
| 9.30 pm | Door closing |
Moderator
Information
The full programme will follow shortly. Please note, that the event will be held in English.