Meet our Premium Member Céline Arethens – CEO and Founder at LANE Digital

Please tell us about LANE Digital.

LANE was founded in 2021 with a mission to help companies optimize the way they work, thanks to leading digital tools (e.g. CRM, project management solutions, automation etc). We are now a team of 5 people and growing.

I founded LANE based on the observation that there are thousands of digital tools out there nowadays and most of the time, people are not really sure as to which ones to choose, how to use it and how to make their team adopt it. LANE takes care of all these aspects while reviewing existing processes of the company and making sure they are streamlined.

Tell us more about your plans for 2023. What is your long-term vision?

I’d like to consolidate the growth of my company. Being bootstrapped 100% we need to make sure that we are solid at each step. My long-term vision would be to be the reference in Switzerland when it comes to software implementation. Additionally, because we also have ties with the US market, I would like us to have offices there.

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

Being able to delegate most of the operations. This is what makes a difference between a freelancer and an entrepreneur. I’m really happy with the people we managed to recruit and train because they will be the reason why we will be able to scale.

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

I would probably slow down my hiring process and wait to consolidate the growth first. Having full-time employees in Switzerland is a luxury for a startup. The other thing I would change is probably my sales strategy where I would be more involved. I think, especially at an early stage for a startup, it is crucial that the founder is involved in the sales process.

What motivates you to continue your business every day?

I love what we do because we learn so much. In a world of specialists, we are lucky to be generalists to have a good overview of the digital landscape of a company. I also feel that there are many companies we could help, by changing the way they work and in the end save precious resources such as time and money. 

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

It’s all about the people, so make sure you surround yourself with the right ones.

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

It means being part of a bigger network that provides us with visibility and business opportunities. It’s also the occasion to meet with diverse and driven individuals that I can learn from.

Would you recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association? 

I have just joined, so I did not get to participate in many events yet. But for sure, as a founder, I think it’s always good to get to know the different actors of the startup ecosystem in Switzerland.

Have you ever visited the events of the Swiss Startup Association? If yes, which ones? Would you recommend them? 

Not yet, but super excited for the Big Founder’s Dinner in Zurich!

Find Celiné Arethens on LinkedIn.