2018 Startup GUIDE - 10th Edition

COVER STORIES 49
Post
Getting new ideas off the ground
Interview with Thierry Golliard, Head of
Open Innovation & Venturing, Swiss Post
Why does Swiss Post want to invest in start-ups?
Swiss Post wants to become better acquainted with new technologies
and business models in order to actively use them and ensure
access to emerging markets. Investments in start-ups also
help Swiss Post to create additional demand for existing or new
Swiss Post products.
A DRONE OPERATED BY SWISS POST THAT
CONNECTS TWO HOSPITALS IN LUGANO SINCE
NOVEMBER 2017
Swiss Post has been constantly evolving ever since it was
founded in 1849. Even today, its markets are undergoing rapid
transformation due to new technologies and changing customer
needs. In response to these developments Swiss Post
has launched a variety of new digital services such as e-voting,
e-health, self-driving Postbuses and delivery by drone.
The journey will continue. Swiss Post’s business development areas
cover:
• Digital Trust (including e-health, e-voting and e-justice)
• E-commerce
• Digital financial services
• Mobility
• Cross channel communication
• Business process outsourcing
Swiss Post also remains open to new business opportunities in areas
such as the collaborative economy, trusted platforms, blockchain,
autonomous, analytics or smart cities.
What kind of start-ups does Swiss Post invest in?
Swiss Post invests in early stage companies that fit well with the
Group’s business development areas and offer potential for Swiss
Post’s core competencies to make a significant contribution to
their success. In return, Swiss Post aims to take a minority interest.
This ensures the ability of the start-up to develop and go to
market with agility and autonomy.
Why should a start-up collaborate with Swiss Post?
There are several benefits. The start-up benefits from Swiss Post’s
core competencies and from existing structures. Swiss Post can
bring immediate strategic value as an investor sharing its strong
business knowledge and market understanding. It can also connect
the start-up with internal and external experts, and with partners
or customers to validate market needs. As a strategic investor
Swiss Post can take the time needed and has no predefined
exit deadline.
With how many start-ups are you in contact with each
year?
We have been conducting Open Innovation projects with startups
since 2012. We get in touch with more than a hundred startups
per year and this number is growing. We focus on the cases
that make strategic sense for the company and always seek the
feedback of our business units to increase start-up market understanding.
Every year we work with 10 to 20 start-ups to conduct
and finance open innovation projects. We have the ambition to
make several venture capital investments each year.
Investments in start-ups
Swiss Post has in the last decade strengthened its position within
the innovation space by developing strong relationships with
start-ups, innovation hubs, universities and research labs. The
company believes in open innovation. It has launched several projects
together with start-ups und has started to invest in them if
they fit the company’s business development areas.
THIERRY
GOLLIARD
Head of Open
Innovation &
Venture Capital,
Swiss Post
SWISS STARTUP GUIDE 2018