Meet Francesco Biviano, Co-founder & COO of Arcton

Please tell us about Arcton

Arcton is a fundraising and outbound startup. We run email and LinkedIn campaigns for B2B startups and SMEs to help them reach clients. Additionally, we also have a large network of 200 Swiss business angels, who provide startups with funding between CHF 100k and 300k.
We founded Arcton in 2022 to democratize access to startup investments. We realized many startups needed more support in enterprise sales than funding. Many founders struggled with outreach or did not like to do it, so we launched our outbound service, now our main revenue source.

Tell us more about your plans for 2024 and what is your long-term vision.

We are rapidly growing our outbound sales service across Switzerland and plan to have 20 clients by year-end.
Our long-term vision is to launch our own venture capital (VC) fund, dedicated to supporting early-stage startups with critical sales components and quickly assessing market demand for their solutions. This fund will not only provide financial backing but also strategic support, leveraging our expertise in sales to help startups scale effectively.

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

For our biggest success, I would like to highlight two different events. Firstly we successfully closed a CHF 130k round for an Edtech startup from Geneva. The second success story of Arcton was assisting the supply chain startup Genlots to secure a six-digit contract with Carlsberg just two months after starting work with them.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

If I could do it all over again, I would focus significantly more on sales, client outreach, and direct communication with potential customers from day one. While developing a good-looking website and refining our solution is important, engaging with clients early on would have been my top priority.

What motivates you to continue your business every day?

The freedom to create and innovate motivates me daily. As a creative person, I need the freedom to build things. I understand that building great things takes time and patience. Iterating and dedicating enough time to my work ensures good outcomes.

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

Talk to potential clients as much as possible. Build relationships, talk to clients, and keep interacting based on their feedback. Even before you start building, get on calls with clients to validate your ideas. Find a way to continuously engage with them and understand their needs, preferences, and pain points.

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

Being a member of the Swiss Startup Association means being immersed among startup founders and the startup ecosystem. Surrounding myself with peers in similar situations is personally inspiring and provides opportunities for professional growth.

Would you recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association? Why?

I would recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association because being in the right ecosystem significantly improves your odds of success as a startup founder.

Is there anything that we haven’t asked you that you would like to share with us/the community?

For our outbound service, we work with Startup incubator Tenity, assisting them with fundraising. We also collaborate with several startups across various industries, from supply chain to cybersecurity.

Connect with Francesco on LinkedIn

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About the Swiss Startup Association

The Swiss Startup Association (SSA) is the umbrella organisation and the voice of Swiss startups. As a sector-independent non-profit organisation, the SSA gives startups a strong voice vis-à-vis politics, business and the public and works to improve the conditions for startups in Switzerland.
Beyond its political engagement, the SSA fosters a community for startups, recognizing the unique challenges they face. Through networking opportunities, educational sessions, and practical services, the SSA collaborates with industry partners to offer tailored support and valuable resources to guide founders on their entrepreneurial journey.

Join the Swiss Startup Association! Tap into our member benefits, the comprehensive Investor List and get full access to our events. By becoming an SSA Member you enjoy discounted tickets to our Big Founders Dinners and the SSA Founders Day.

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