Meet Chris Ryan, Founder & CEO iosys LLC

Please tell us about iosys LLC

We are an innovative startup positioning us as a service and solution provider at the forefront of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our mission is to empower manufacturing, logistics, and industrial companies by inventing and implementing cutting-edge end-to-end IoT, Data and AI solutions that drive efficiency, reduce costs, improve product quality and unlock new revenue streams on a technology-neutral basis without a vendor lock-in.

To achieve this mission, we identify – based on our manufacturing advisory offer – and develop innovative products based on real customer needs and projects, specifically tailored to manufacturing SMEs and machine OEMs. One innovative product of ours, jointly developed with a renowned international precision drive manufacturer, is a shop floor to ERP bridge. This shop floor runs on premises or in the cloud, which bridges the gap between data produced in the shop floor and several ERP systems available in the market without the need for expensive custom ERP modules, while ensuring sovereignty of the customer data.

Founded in 2023 in Switzerland as the sole proprietorship Ryan IO Systems, our company was established by Chris Ryan (MSc Mechanical Engineering ETH Zurich), a seasoned expert in factory digitalization and MS Azure IoT/data platform projects to help other manufacturing companies in need of affordable and modular digitalization solutions. 

In 2024, we expanded to become Ryan iosys LLC. Our team grew with the addition of Sandrin Hunkeler as an IoT Software Engineer, who brings his expertise in informatics and passion for smart manufacturing. Chris is the managing partner and lead developer. He additionally involves proven experts from his network as needed, depending on the project scope and size.

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

In 2024, we hope to acquire two to three more new customers as well as validate our ERP Bridge concept (i.e. assess product-market fit, define go-to-market strategy) and agentic workflows in manufacturing.

Looking longer term, we want to empower manufacturing SMEs and machine OEMs to keep up with the latest developments in the data and AI space at an attractive cost-to-benefit ratio, without a vendor lock-in.

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

Our collaboration on ERP Bridge with a renowned international precision drive manufacturer is something we’re really proud to have achieved to date.

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

Not much different, starting part-time and going full-time with one good customer was the right decision. One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt so far is to ensure a thorough budgeting and cash flow estimation from the beginning. Additionally, marketing/PR should only begin once you’re able to prove the product’s product-market fit.

What motivates you to continue your business every day?

Freedom to structure my day and tasks so it fits my work-life balance. Doing both strategy/ identifying current trends and also delivering projects with my technical expertise. Also helping our customers to achieve their goals brings me a lot of joy.

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

Just do it. Better go out and validate or debunk your idea by talking with potential clients rather than investing a lot of time and money into something that nobody wants or needs.

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

Professionally: Access to a treasure trove of information, especially the webinars. Also the network opportunities are very nice.

Personally: I’d say being part of something larger, a community feels great and gives me a sense of purpose.

Would you recommend joining the Swiss Startup Association? Why?

Yes, definitely. For these reasons, see the previous question.

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

Yes, for example the workshop for building and scaling of B2B sales hosted by SalesPlaybook was very interesting. I’m also excited about the upcoming Founders Dinner: XMAS Edition ?

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

If you’re a manufacturing company and also a member of the SSA, please do reach out to us! We offer you a special half-day manufacturing operations digitalization workshop based on our extensive experience for a 50% discount including specific advice for your next digitalization efforts ??. For more info about our services visit https://iosys.ch.