Meet Fabian Neubauer, Founder of Posso
Please tell us about Posso
In 2018, I founded my startup as a social enterprise with the aim of improving the lives of people with special needs. I chose the name from the Italian word “Posso”, which means “I can”. With my innovative assistive device, people living with special needs are enabled to live with greater independence and hence, self-confidence. Currently, I’m targeting the elderly, people with dementia as well as the disabled. The distribution of my assistive devices, which are rather niche and hence not readily available in the Swiss market, led me to open my webstore in 2020.
I was born with cerebral palsy but that did not stop me from completing my Masters degree in International Relations at the University College London (UCL). Additionally, I did various internships abroad such as at the Swiss Consulate in Shanghai and the Swiss Mission to the European Union in Brussels. Despite such achievements, it was challenging to find a job. Thus, I decided to establish my own company in 2018. Currently, I work with two colleagues – one responsible for IT and the other responsible for social media and marketing.
Tell us more about your plans for 2024 and what is your long-term vision.
In 2024, I would first like to focus on the introduction of my products in the German-speaking market. I would like to expand my business to more institutions for people with special needs and organizations such as Spitex, Palliative Care or the Association of Alzheimer in this region. Furthermore, I would also like to intensify my cooperation with the University of Applied Science OST in St. Gallen.
In the long-run, I would like to expand my business to institutions and organizations in the French and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland. Also, I would like to expand my startup to the DACH region.
What has been the biggest success that you have achieved in your startup?
At the beginning of my journey, I was quite unsure if my business would be a success or a failure. Hence, I took my entrepreneurial journey slowly in order to avoid massive failures. When setting up my business, I zoomed in on the acquisition of novel and innovative assistive devices before launching my webstore. The initial steps of focusing on small, specific goals has been key to my success.
If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? What are your biggest learnings?
At the start of my entrepreneurial journey, I was working with a consultant, who offered me all sorts of advice, costing me lots of resources, such as time and money. For instance, this consultant suggested to me to buy another company in the same field during the early stage of my startup. To me, this did not make sense at all. Simultaneously, I outsourced my IT infrastructure which did not give me the returns I was looking for. My biggest learning throughout this journey so far is to keep your focus on the idea and goal of your startup in order to make it work.
What motivates you to continue your business every day?
One piece of advice for someone who is just starting out with their startup?
As a founder, I believe it is important to be convinced with your business idea and to be assertive and clear when difficulties start to become apparent. Being clear on where you stand in your finances is also highly crucial. In addition, exchanging thoughts and ideas with a sparring partner is beneficial. Therefore, it is essential to build a solid and reliable team with people whom you can trust.
What does it mean to you to be a member of the Swiss Startup Association?
People are build to be social. Therefore, it is important to network and mingle with people from diverse backgrounds and who have the same business motivation in order to learn from their experiences. For this reason, I chose to join the Swiss Startup Association. This is another platform to generate visibility for me as founder and attract more customers for Posso.
Would you recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association? Why?
I definitely recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association (SSA). It isn’t easy to find people with the same business concept as most founders prefer to work independently. Furthermore, a session with a coach could be beneficial to learn from different perspectives and managing various business concerns, thereby influencing a startups business strategy. Moreover, the events organized by the SSA offers new insights and could lead to new synergies being formed.
Have you ever visited the events of the Swiss Startup Association? If yes, which ones? Would you recommend them?
Unfortunately, I haven’t attended any SSA events. Nevertheless, I find these events important for networking with people of the same motivation – to create a successful and meaningful business!
Is there anything that we haven’t asked you that you would like to share with us/the community?
It’s a great association to meet new people with the same startup spirit and get support.
Connect with Fabian 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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