Meet our Premium Member: Kudah Mushambi, Co-Founder of Adaire

Introducing the Startup: Adaire

To those unfamiliar with Adaire, it appears to be “just another technology outsourcing company”, except working for Swiss clients with African developers. Nothing could be further from the truth! It is indeed a technology services company, which helps Swiss companies develop and deliver their innovations or support their operations by quickly forming remote teams staffed with fantastic talent; but it so much more! It seeks to reinvent the service delivery model for technology services – working with remote teams should be a pleasure; it seeks to introduce its clients to the “incredibleness” of Africa in a value-additive rather than aid context; it pursues best-in-class technology delivery and to be a champion of excellence; lastly it seeks to effect the impact where it can. This vision is embodied in its tagline: “Ethical Technology Outsourcing”. Adaire was founded in February 2022 by two friends, Kudah (based in Zurich) and Andreas (based in Berlin) and a team of 10 people in Windhoek, Namibia.​

What are your plans for 2022/2023? What is your long-term vision?

In 2021, before its founding, Adaire was an idea on a napkin (and a lot of visits to the Swiss Startup Association!). Early in 2022, Adaire signed its first clients which proved the feasibility of its vision. From now, going forward in 2022/2023, the plan is to convert this initial momentum into a stable, well-funded business capable of growth. The long-term plan is to execute on its business plan to morph into a multi-region platform and product technology-based business, with impact objectives at its core. #businesswithpurpose

What has been the biggest success that you have achieved in your startup?

Signing up the first set of customers at the beginning of 2022 was both the biggest success and one of the scariest moments of our lives. It was validation of all the work we put in as we were planning in 2021, but it created the realization that our plans were no longer in the theoretical realm of PowerPoint and Excel. Instead, we had created real-life dependencies to and expectations with our new customers and employees.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? What are your biggest learnings?

Do it earlier.

What motivates you to continue your business every day?

The knowledge that if we are successful, the potential for impact is huge. If we ourselves are not successful, no doubt, we would have moved the needle for the next person who will then succeed.

One piece of advice for someone who is just starting out with their startup?

Always be open to all opinions and feedback, but believe in yours first.

What does it mean to you to be a member of the Swiss Startup Association?

Being welcomed into the community and network that the SSA created was especially meaningful for a relatively new arrival to Switzerland and a brand new member of the entrepreneurship experience. Also, being able to put the SSA logo on the “Partners” slide of the pitch deck is awesome!

Therefore, we absolutely recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association! It is fulfilling to be in a position to contribute to a common good outside of our ​specific goals –amongst those united with a common purpose to create something from nothing.

A big thank you to Kudah and the Adaire team for sharing your story with us! 

Want to know more about Adaire, visit https://www.adaire.ch/en/

Would you like to be portrayed as well? Become a premium member now, and our team will contact you shortly!