https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/ Posts by Jan Fülscher on innovation, entrepreneurship and startups. Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:45:30 +0000 https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/mdmv-now-also-for-b2c-and-for-coaches-and-consultants/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/mdmv-now-also-for-b2c-and-for-coaches-and-consultants/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Over the last two years, I have received several requests for a B2C variant of my market validation method MDMV ("metrics-driven market validation"), which is available as a Guide in Cognel. For… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/mdmv-was-developed-while-working-with-deep-tech/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/mdmv-was-developed-while-working-with-deep-tech/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000 MDMV was developed during my work with deep-tech entrepreneurs, when it became clear that most "customer-first" innovation processes are ineffective if you have a product but no customer yet. MDMV… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/how-good-decisions-are-made-a-suitable-process-and/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/how-good-decisions-are-made-a-suitable-process-and/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000 On November 10, I'm on the panel at the BoardMesh event on advisory boards and AI. The questions we'll discuss: How does AI influence the way founders choose and work with advisors? And how does it… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/cognel-3-will-be-available-soon/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/cognel-3-will-be-available-soon/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Shared post from Cognel: 🚀 Something new is coming to Cognel... We’ve been working behind the scenes on a completely new platform — and it’s almost ready to go live! A place where you can: 🔀 Explore… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/what-is-a-good-decision-anyway/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/what-is-a-good-decision-anyway/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 At Cognel, we spend a lot of our time on one question: how do we help business users make better decisions? Below that sits a more fundamental one: what is a good decision in the first place?… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/accelerate-your-startups-even-more-in-your-incubation/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/accelerate-your-startups-even-more-in-your-incubation/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Accelerate your startups even more in your incubation / acceleration program? Cognel helps by providing structured reasoning workflows for founders. Startuppers have reported having achieved in days… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/for-accelerators-incubators-and-startup-programs-in-30/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/for-accelerators-incubators-and-startup-programs-in-30/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 For accelerators, incubators and startup programs: in 30 minutes we take one startup idea from raw technology to a business case, a market analysis and a first ICP hypothesis. Founders usually need… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/every-buyer-runs-a-calculation-before-saying-yes-most/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/every-buyer-runs-a-calculation-before-saying-yes-most/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000 This article shows how to compute that one number, the value case, and use it for the four decisions that follow: which customers to serve first, what your financials look like, how to tell the… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/build-the-startup-around-what-the-customer-gains/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/build-the-startup-around-what-the-customer-gains/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000 The value case: the basis of what your startup will be. The one question your buyer has: Why should we purchase this? A founder presents the technology, the patent, the team, the roadmap. The person… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/some-decisions-shouldn-t-be-delegated-to-an-ai-but-how-do/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/some-decisions-shouldn-t-be-delegated-to-an-ai-but-how-do/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Some decisions shouldn't be delegated to an AI. But how do you know which to keep and which to delegate? And what's the right way to find the possible decision? Cognel can help. --- Shared post from… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/what-we-often-hear-in-everyday-coaching-activities-my-llm/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/what-we-often-hear-in-everyday-coaching-activities-my-llm/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000 What we often hear in everyday coaching activities: "My LLM has suggested this, and it sounds reasonable". However, many decisions, especially in the startup context, need judgment. A lot of it… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/a-toolkit-for-startup-incubation-and-acceleration-programs/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/a-toolkit-for-startup-incubation-and-acceleration-programs/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Shared post from Cognel: 💰The most expensive startup mistake: choosing the wrong customer.💰 Building the wrong product is expensive. But building for the wrong customer is often even more expensive… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/a-one-time-favor-and-then-i-promise-to-stop-asking/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/a-one-time-favor-and-then-i-promise-to-stop-asking/ Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 I don't post things like this, and I probably won't again. But we're at a point where a small nudge makes a real difference, so here I am. Catalina Ortiz De La Peña Svec and I are building Cognel, a… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/when-a-team-can-t-agree-on-what-the-problem-even-is-more/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/when-a-team-can-t-agree-on-what-the-problem-even-is-more/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 At Cognel, we build tools that help people reason through complex problems. Here are some of our learnings. Today, it's about what happens when people read the same facts differently. Two colleagues… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/innosuisse-recruits-new-coaches-startup-special-scaleup/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/innosuisse-recruits-new-coaches-startup-special-scaleup/ Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Innosuisse recruits new coaches (startup, special, scaleup coaches). Application is open until June 5th. Link in the comments. https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/the-smartest-sounding-answer-in-the-room-is-usually-wrong/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/the-smartest-sounding-answer-in-the-room-is-usually-wrong/ Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000 We treat fluency as a proxy for truth. A clear voice, a clean slide, a confident phrase: we read these as signals of rigour. Research on what psychologists call the "fluency-truth effect" suggests… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/what-happens-if-entire-societies-start-following-bad-advice/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/what-happens-if-entire-societies-start-following-bad-advice/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Many people seem to believe that LLMs "think". Some people believe that the LLMs can "explain" the output they have generated. And some people believe that an LLM can "teach" you how to think. This… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/the-real-risk-of-genai/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/the-real-risk-of-genai/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 As a GenAI user, I have access to the world's knowledge in whatever form I need it. I use this every day, and it significantly multiplies my ability to solve complex problems. I have paid… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/hilfe-ich-suche-jemanden-von-grc-internal-audit-einer/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/hilfe-ich-suche-jemanden-von-grc-internal-audit-einer/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 HILFE: Ich suche jemanden von GRC / Internal Audit einer grösseren Firma für ein 30-Minuten-Experten-Interview betreffend ein neues Produkt. Wer könnte sich die Zeit nehmen? Oder wer kennt jemanden?… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/consultants-want-to-automate-and-scale-your-service/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/consultants-want-to-automate-and-scale-your-service/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 We have something for you, and we're looking for pilot clients. With #Cognel, you'll get: faster engagement, documented, defensible reasoning, junior training, customer process acceleration, and… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/question-to-the-group-who-has-something-profound-to-say-on/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/question-to-the-group-who-has-something-profound-to-say-on/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 I'm looking for a speaker for an event in Zürich who can show university students the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship. The talk shouldn't only focus on technical innovation or startups… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/zattoo-founder-bea-knecht-on-venture-capital-and-the-role/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/zattoo-founder-bea-knecht-on-venture-capital-and-the-role/ Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 How can a strong board help with fundraising? And what can board members do to help startups raise capital more effectively? Join us on March 31st, 16:30, for a BoardMesh panel discussion and meetup… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/a-digital-multiplayer-investor-startup-simulation-check/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/a-digital-multiplayer-investor-startup-simulation-check/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 About 15 years ago, I've developed an analog and very haptic multiplayer simulation game for students in a class setting, typically for innovation courses. "Investors" would give money to "startups"… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/interesting-experiment-i-asked-claude-chatgpt-and-gemini/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/interesting-experiment-i-asked-claude-chatgpt-and-gemini/ Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Interesting experiment: I asked Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini (all on the lowest paid tier) to develop a new homepage for me. Same brief, same text, same images. Claude produced the best result, by a… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/can-ai-assisted-reasoning-help-you-solve-complex-business/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/can-ai-assisted-reasoning-help-you-solve-complex-business/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Join a UZH study - link in the first comment. The University of Zurich (UZH) is conducting a study on how AI support can help people solve critical business problems. Who: Founders, SME leaders, and… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/business-case-101-how-entrepreneurs-can-guide-decisions-of-customers-and-investors/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/business-case-101-how-entrepreneurs-can-guide-decisions-of-customers-and-investors/ Sun, 20 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Many tech founders are passionate about their product, which is great. But in B2B, enthusiasm alone doesn’t close deals. Customers and investors don’t buy technology or a product. they buy a business… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/debunking-the-myth-why-the-90-of-all-startups-fail-statement-is-misleading-and-harmful/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/debunking-the-myth-why-the-90-of-all-startups-fail-statement-is-misleading-and-harmful/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 The belief that 90% of all startups fail has become a widespread assumption. This statistic is often quoted in discussions about entrepreneurship, painting a dark picture of the startup landscape… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/mit-nachhaltigkeit-bei-investoren-punkten/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/mit-nachhaltigkeit-bei-investoren-punkten/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Warum ESG-Kriterien für Startups relevant sind «Diagnose in der Hälfte der Zeit, bei 30 % Kosteneinsparung!»/ «80 % schnellere Kreditanträge, ein Viertel mehr Abschlüsse!»/ «Um 40 % geringerer… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wann-sind-kundeninterviews-sinnvoll/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wann-sind-kundeninterviews-sinnvoll/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Nicht jedes Feedback bringt Mehrwert In diesem Blog habe ich schon mehrfach betont, wie zentral es für Startups ist, dass sie von Anfang an versuchen, auf den Wert ihres Produkts bzw. ihrer… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/b2b-sales-in-a-nutshell-for-startups/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/b2b-sales-in-a-nutshell-for-startups/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Why do businesses buy something from you? Because some decision-makers agree that the benefit of your product is worth the risk, cost, and effort. But what is this benefit? It's simple: The most… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/welchen-inkubator-brauchen-wir/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/welchen-inkubator-brauchen-wir/ Sun, 31 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000 5 Fragen, die sich jede Standortförderung stellen sollte, wenn sie einen Inkubator für Jungunternehmen aufbaut Inkubatoren sind ein potenziell wertvolles Kapital für Städte und Kantone, da sie, wenn… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/startups-pitch-puzzle-getting-the-message-right-is-crucial-but-often-missed/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/startups-pitch-puzzle-getting-the-message-right-is-crucial-but-often-missed/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000 In my work with startups, I've noticed a common oversight: these high-tech ventures, born from academic rigor, struggle in the market. This problem often stems from founders' academic backgrounds… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/unternehmerinnen-sind-die-gluecklicheren-menschen/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/unternehmerinnen-sind-die-gluecklicheren-menschen/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000 Warum es trotz der vielen Arbeit sinnvoll ist, eine eigene Firma zu gründen Es gibt immer wieder auch gute News in unserer Welt, und eine wurde kürzlich durch dasIFJ (Institut für Jungunternehmen)… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/some-gpts-for-startup-coaching/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/some-gpts-for-startup-coaching/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000 As described in this post and this LinkedIn article (in German), I have put together a few GPTs for my startup work. Here are the details. Please note: This only works with the paid version of… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wie-ki-meine-startup-beratungstaetigkeit-auf-den-kopf-gestellt-hat/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wie-ki-meine-startup-beratungstaetigkeit-auf-den-kopf-gestellt-hat/ Sat, 16 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Der potenzielle Nutzen der KI ist enorm - für Startups und für ihre Berater. Seit gut 20 Jahren unterstütze ich als Startup-Coach Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer mit meiner Erfahrung, um ihnen den… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/einige-gpts/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/einige-gpts/ Sat, 16 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Wie in diesem Post und diesem LinkedIn-Artikel beschrieben, habe ich für meine Arbeit mit Startups ein paar GPTs zusammengestellt. Fünf davon sind dort genannt. Im Folgenden die Details dazu… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/nicht-alle-investoren-sind-ihr-geld-wert/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/nicht-alle-investoren-sind-ihr-geld-wert/ Mon, 27 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Drei Tipps für den erfolgreichen Umgang mit Finanzinvestoren Viele Startups suchen Geld, und in den seltensten Fällen ist die Kapitalsuche ein Spaziergang. Bevor sich ein Gründerteam auf die… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/der-weg-zur-ueberzeugenden-story-fuer-investoren/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/der-weg-zur-ueberzeugenden-story-fuer-investoren/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Worauf beim Investor Pitch zu achten ist S*tartups wollen die Welt erobern, und dafür brauchen sie Kapital. Bei der Investorenpräsentation müssen die GründerInnen ihre Idee knapp und überzeugend… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/does-your-business-scale-take-the-hawaii-test/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/does-your-business-scale-take-the-hawaii-test/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 A quick and simple litmus test for business scalability: The Hawaii Test. It's a straightforward concept. Ask yourself: If you — the entrepreneur — took a 3-month break in Hawaii, would the business… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/kochrezept-fuer-den-ueberzeugenden-elevator-pitch/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/kochrezept-fuer-den-ueberzeugenden-elevator-pitch/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Wie du in 30 Sekunden Deine Zuhörer gewinnst und die Tür zu neuen Möglichkeiten öffnest Ein guter Elevator Pitch ist das A und O für jedes Startup. Er begeistert in wenigen Sätzen potenzielle Kunden… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/hohe-preise-kosten-weniger/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/hohe-preise-kosten-weniger/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Warum eine Hochpreisstrategie für die meisten Startups besser ist Die Preissetzung eines Produkts oder einer Dienstleistung ist eine der wichtigsten Entscheidungen, die ein Startup beim Markteintritt… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/schnelle-und-preiswerte-innovation-fuer-kmu-mit-dem-venture-client-modell/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/schnelle-und-preiswerte-innovation-fuer-kmu-mit-dem-venture-client-modell/ Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Mit dem Venture-Client-Modell können KMU Innovationen vorantreiben und trotzdem ihre Kosten im Griff behalten In meinen letzten #StartupReflections habe ich die Vorteile des Venture-Client-Modells… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/venture-capital-insights-from-harvard-business-review/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/en/posts/venture-capital-insights-from-harvard-business-review/ Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 [This is a copy of a LinkedIn post, slightly edited] Venture Capital has played an undeniably pivotal role in the growth of many of today's most successful companies. VCs not only provide funding but… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/beteiligungsprogramme-in-startups/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/beteiligungsprogramme-in-startups/ Sat, 05 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Wie kann die Firma ihre Mitarbeitenden bezahlen, wenn sie kein Geld für Löhne hat? Immer wieder mal stellt sich die Frage, wie Gründerinnen und Gründer ihre Leistung für die Firma belohnt kriegen… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wie-kmus-und-start-ups-voneinander-profitieren-koennen/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wie-kmus-und-start-ups-voneinander-profitieren-koennen/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Das «Venture Client Modell» als neues Instrument für Innovation Start-ups haben frische Ideen und coole Produkte. KMUs haben häufig mehr Geld, aber weniger Ideen. Warum bringt man sie nicht gezielt… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/meinungsaeusserungen-zu-umstrittenen-themen-auf-linkedin/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/meinungsaeusserungen-zu-umstrittenen-themen-auf-linkedin/ Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Wir alle haben Meinungen und wir haben alle das Recht auf Meinungen. Müssen wir diese Meinungen in den Social Media, besonders auf LinkedIn, äussern? Wir können, aber wir müssen nicht. Denn unsere… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/kapsly-angels-warum-wir-einen-neuen-business-angel-club-gegruendet-haben/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/kapsly-angels-warum-wir-einen-neuen-business-angel-club-gegruendet-haben/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Vor ein paar Monaten haben Vincent Irrling, Maximilian Diem und ich den neuen Business Angel Club "KAPSLY Angels" gegründet. Nun gibt es bereits viele Angel Clubs in der Schweiz - allen voran wohl… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wettbewerbe-und-foerdergelder-gewinnen/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/wettbewerbe-und-foerdergelder-gewinnen/ Sat, 24 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Im Verlauf der letzten Jahre durfte ich als Coach viele Firmen begleiten. Manchmal ist das Ziel der Zusammenarbeit, Fördergelder oder Wettbewerbe zu gewinnen, und immer wieder mal gelingt das auch… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/tech-co-founder-oder-ctos-finden/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/tech-co-founder-oder-ctos-finden/ Sat, 24 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Für einen Gründer, den ich begleite, stellt sich das Problem, dass er zu wenig Zeit für die Arbeit mit dem technischen Team hat und darum einen CTO sucht. Wir haben dann einen Post auf LinkedIn… https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/startups-effizient-unterstuetzen/ https://www.janfuelscher.ch/de/posts/startups-effizient-unterstuetzen/ Sat, 24 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 In den letzten Monaten hatte ich immer wieder mal mit Organisationen zu tun, die sich für Startups engagieren wollen, und gelegentlich fallen mir dabei Aussagen auf, die zwar in den („Fach“-) Medien…