New Appointments to the Swiss Startup Association Board: Dominique Gruhl-Bégin and Joachim Masur

We are delighted to announce the election of Dominique Gruhl-Bégin and Joachim to the Board of the Swiss Startup Association (SSA) at the General Assembly on June 22nd, 2023. 

Both Dominique and Joachim have played several important roles in contributing to the evolution of the Swiss startup ecosystem. Their extensive expertise and visionary leadership will further strengthen the SSA’s strategic direction and help drive the purpose and growth of the organization.

As the former Head of Start-Ups and Next-Generation Innovators at Innosuisse and current CEO of Serpentine Ventures, Dominique brings a wealth of startup and investor knowledge and expertise to the SSA. 

Joachim Masur is a Board member and entrepreneur with CEO, investor and board experience across insurance and various other arenas of the financial services industry. As the former CEO Switzerland of Zurich Insurance, he is well-known for his strategic acumen and transformative leadership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dominique Gruhl-Bégin and Joachim Masur to our Board of Directors,” said Raphael Tobler, President of the SSA. “Their appointment represents a significant milestone for our organization as we continue to strengthen our position as the voice of the Swiss startups. Their expertise, strategic vision, and deep industry knowledge will play a vital role in guiding the SSA towards continued success.”

Dominique Gruhl-Bégin expressed her excitement about joining the Board, stating, “I am honored to be part of the SSA’s Board of Directors. I look forward to contributing to the SSA by leveraging my experience to strengthen their position as a key player and organization in the Swiss startup ecosystem.”

Joachim Masur also shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I am thrilled to join the board of the SSA at such a pivotal time. I am eager to work closely with the Board and the executive team to accelerate the growth of the organization as start-ups are critical to the future of our economy and hence our society.”

Regula Bleuler, Managing Director, also expressed her excitement: “The appointment of these exceptional individuals to our Board represents an important milestone for the SSA. With their extensive knowledge and leadership experience, I am confident that we will achieve our goals and to make the SSA the one-stop-shop for startups in Switzerland.”

Furthermore, Michael Dudli, CEO of Xelon, and Natalie Süess, Channel Sales Account Manager at Lenovo and former lead of the female founders initiative, will formally join the SSA Board of Directors. Both Michael and Natalie have been actively involved in the SSA since 2022, playing a key part in shaping the organization. They will now formally assume their position as SSA Board Members. 

These four appointments bring experience, and fresh perspectives to the leadership team of the SSA. We wish Dominique, Joachim, Michael, and Natalie lots of success in their roles and thank them for their dedication, commitment, and engagement for the SSA and the Swiss startup ecosystem.

Learn more about our team here.