Max Vogt (Swisscom Ventures): why great tech isn’t enough to build a startup

How do you turn a robotics breakthrough into something customers actually use?

Max Vogt of Swisscom Ventures joins Justinas Mišeikis for a drive through Zürich to explore the gap between great research, a promising startup and technology that becomes part of everyday life.

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Max’s route into venture capital began with law, took him to Hong Kong, and included helping students find their feet at St John’s College. That experience still shapes how he thinks about backing people.

We talk about what he looks for beyond a founder’s pitch deck, why technical teams need to stay flexible about their solution, and what seeing technology deployed in Shenzhen made him reconsider about Switzerland. We also discuss robotics and physical AI, the timing of a startup’s market, and why the outcome of a venture investment takes years to judge.

In this episode:
• From law and Hong Kong to venture capital
• Understanding the person behind the pitch
• Falling in love with the problem
• Robotics, physical AI and whether customers are ready
• Bringing Swiss technology into everyday use
• The work, relationships and patience behind a venture fund

TechDrive Zürich is a series of candid, in-car conversations with the people building technology in and around Zürich, hosted by Justinas Mišeikis.

Watch TechDrive Zürich on YouTube:
youtube.com/@TechDrive-Zurich

Connect with Max:
linkedin.com/in/maximilianvogt

All episodes and listening platforms:
zurich.techdrive.tv

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