Meet Habiba Alami, CEO of Happy Pot GmbH

Tell us more about Happy Pot

Happy Pot is the first Swiss digital money pot designed for everyday group payments. More than just a payment tool, it enables digital communities to come together, contribute easily, and stay connected around shared moments and projects. It brings everything into one place: creating a money pot, collecting payments, tracking contributions, and allowing participants to leave a message with each contribution that is automatically gathered into a digital group card. What used to take hours of coordination can now be done in minutes.

Built for Switzerland, Happy Pot is used by individuals, companies, and communities to collect money for events, birthday gifts, farewell presents, and social projects. It replaces scattered payments, manual tracking, and endless follow-ups with one simple and structured experience. Fast to set up, easy to use, and designed around real user needs, Happy Pot turns group money into a smooth and reliable experience.

Please give some more details of your startup story: what was the “aha” moment that led to the idea for your startup?

The spark was frustration. The “aha” moment came from repeatedly experiencing how inefficient simple money collections were in Switzerland. I kept seeing the same patterns: TWINT screenshots, IBANs sent in messages, cash, and constant back-and-forth to track who had paid. What should have been simple became time-consuming and sometimes uncomfortable.

Despite a strong culture of group gifting and digital payments, there was no solution truly adapted to everyday use. Existing crowdfunding platforms were too complex and not designed for small, frequent collections. I realised there was a clear gap: a simple, trusted, and locally adapted platform was missing.

So, what’s next for you—what’s a bold goal you’re chasing right now?

Our current focus is to become the reference platform for everyday money pots in Switzerland and then expand to the DACH region. We have validated strong product–market fit with growing traction and revenue. The next step is scaling: increasing adoption, strengthening our position in German-speaking Switzerland, and developing B2B use cases with companies and associations.

Which decision had the most unexpected positive impact on your startup?

Launching a simple version early instead of waiting for a perfect product had the biggest impact. It allowed real users to test the platform, build trust, and provide feedback. This early validation shaped the product and proved demand before we invested heavily.

How did you build your team, and what helps you maintain your startup culture?

Finding the right people is not always easy, especially at an early stage. It took almost a year to find the first team members, as we were focused on getting the right fit. What helps us is keeping things simple and honest. We communicate openly, give direct feedback, and stay close to our users. As a small team, everyone takes responsibility, which naturally creates a culture focused on execution and real impact.

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

I would build the team earlier. In the beginning, I tried to handle too much on my own, which slowed things down. I learned that sharing responsibility earlier helps you move faster and make better decisions. You do not need a big team, just the right people at the right moment.

Building a startup requires resilience. How do you stay focused during tough times?

I stay focused because I am very close to real user stories. We see both happy moments and difficult situations, and how people support each other. It gives meaning to what we build and keeps me fully committed, even during challenging times.

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

Start simple and do not wait for everything to be perfect. Test your idea early with real users, listen to their feedback, and adjust quickly. What matters is moving forward and learning, not having everything figured out from the start.

What’s your outlook on the future of the Swiss startup scene, and how can it compete internationally?

Swiss startups have strong potential, especially when they focus on real user needs and build simple, complete solutions. To compete internationally, it is essential to create products that are intuitive, reliable, and fully thought through from start to finish. Listening closely to users and improving step by step will remain key.

What value do you see in being part of the Swiss Startup Association?

Being part of the Swiss Startup Association means being surrounded by people who face similar challenges. It allows for honest exchanges, real feedback, and the reassurance that you are not alone in the process. The network provides practical advice and meaningful connections that would otherwise take much longer to build.

For me, it is about having a space to speak with people who truly understand what it means to build something from scratch. You can ask questions, challenge ideas, and learn from different journeys. That kind of exchange is extremely valuable.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Innovation can look simple for users, even if it is complex behind the scenes. The real challenge is to remove friction and create something that feels effortless to use. That is what creates real value and drives adoption.

Connect with Habiba on LinkedIn!