In the heart of the bustling fintech world, innovation and passion drive entrepreneurs to push boundaries. On the latest episode of the "Bright Founders Talk" podcast, hosted by Chris from the global software development company, Temy, we get an insightful peek into the life and thoughts of Oliver Berchtold.
Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of YUKKA, Oliver shares more than just the details of his entrepreneurial journey. With a love for barista coffee that parallels his approach to news curation at YUKKA, Oliver provides an analogy that's both intriguing and relatable. Moreover, as he dives into his non-tech relaxation routines, we're transported to serene Swiss lakes during sunset and reminded of the importance of connecting with nature.
From his travels to Iceland and Bolivia for their breathtaking landscapes to his fondness for the bustling life in Rio de Janeiro, Oliver's stories offer a blend of introspection, wanderlust, and business insights. Dive in as we uncover more about this fintech maverick's life, aspirations, and the energy that drives him daily.
Oliver Spills the Beans: From Barista Brews to Breath-taking Getaways
The art of brewing a perfect coffee isn't just about flavor; it's about the process, the selection, and the final delightful sip. Oliver brings this art into the fintech world, drawing an engaging comparison between selecting the finest coffee beans and curating the most relevant news. "In coffee, you... choose the best beans... and then get the nice espresso, which is the digest. That's basically what we do with news," he mused. Sounds like someone we'd want both business and brewing tips from, doesn't it?
When he's not crafting innovative fintech solutions, Oliver is embracing the serene vibes of Switzerland. Paddleboard in hand, he finds tranquility amidst nature during his post-work sundown paddles. "Jump into the lake, recharge the batteries and connect with nature," he describes. You can almost feel the cool Swiss water and the setting sun's golden hue as he paints this meditative picture.
And for someone with such deep roots in Switzerland, Oliver's love for travel is vast and varied. From the raw beauty of Iceland and Bolivia's surreal salt deserts to the vivacious vibes of Rio de Janeiro, his travel tales are as eclectic as they are enchanting. While Iceland made him incessantly stop for photographs, Rio, with its blend of rich and poor, mountainous terrains and vibrant life, stands out as a must-visit in his book. If his fintech strategies are as diverse and dynamic as his travel destinations, YUKKA's got quite the maestro on board.
In coffee, you choose the best beans… That's basically what we do with news
Oliver Berchtold
Co-Founder and CPO at YUKKA
Co-Founder and CPO at YUKKA
From the Heart of Berlin's Bikini House to Swiss Startups: Oliver's Entrepreneurial Journey
Berlin's Bikini House isn't just an iconic structure overlooking the city's zoo; it's also where Oliver's deep tech startup resides. While some might see monkeys playing outside their windows as a distraction, for Oliver and his team, it's a unique inspiration, almost a metaphor for the bustling, vibrant energy of the startup ecosystem in Berlin. From a building that once stood deserted, the rejuvenated Bikini House now stands as a testament to the city's spirit of innovation and transformation.
You can actually see the monkeys directly from our office. It's very true
Oliver BerchtoldCo-Founder and CPO at YUKKA
Oliver's love affair with Berlin doesn't diminish his Swiss roots, though. For him, Switzerland's charm lies in its compactness and efficiency. The ability to secure five to six client appointments just by walking, the close-knit network of Swiss digital leaders, and its natural inclination towards finance make Switzerland an attractive base for startups. Oliver's description paints a vivid picture of Zurich's bustling lanes filled with opportunities, juxtaposed against Berlin's expansive talent landscape.
Oliver's education, a blend of Business Administration, design thinking, and business innovation, was less a matter of chance and more a reflection of his entrepreneurial spirit. Tracing his path through the rigorous environment of the University of St. Gallen, he candidly shares about the challenges of the initial years, where many aspirants fell by the wayside. But Oliver's drive to innovate and desire to delve into strategy, likely influenced by his entrepreneurial lineage, saw him through, and today he stands at the helm of a promising fintech venture.
Oliver: Design Thinking, Innovation, and the Future of AI in News Analysis
Amid the bright lights and intense pressure of the Masters, Oliver unearthed his passion - design thinking. Describing it as the "best experience" he's had, he reminisces about a project which aimed to introduce video communication to Swiss households. With a generous budget, a corporate sponsor, and a fiery team, they devised a groundbreaking prototype that allowed 360-degree interaction. Picture this: logging into a nephew's birthday party, not just as a stagnant face on a screen, but with the ability to "steer sort of like your head," giving a semblance of genuine presence. "It was amazing to see the reaction of people," Oliver recalls, a twinkle in his eye. Unfortunately, due to funding challenges, this innovation never saw the light of day.
I definitely learned a lot about innovation and trends of the time
Oliver BerchtoldCo-Founder and CPO at YUKKA
But this was just a chapter in Oliver's vibrant journey. From guest lecturing at the University of St. Gallen to working in a startup incubator in Chile, Oliver's experiences have been as varied as they are fascinating. What stands out is his commitment to mentoring the next generation, and his way of giving back, whether it's by sharing his insights from his career path or by mentoring teams at his company, YUKKA.
Speaking of YUKKA, Oliver's current venture is nothing short of groundbreaking. In an era of information overload, YUKKA aims to simplify and clarify. Analyzing over a billion articles daily from vast news sources, the AI-driven tool provides a systematic overview of market sentiments. Oliver emphasizes the importance of breaking free from our usual "filter bubbles" and biases in news consumption. With YUKKA, businesses can take a more data-driven approach to news, ensuring they remain informed, relevant, and ahead of potential reputational risks. It's not just about reading the news anymore; it's about understanding and navigating its vast landscape efficiently.
Oliver's Odyssey: Revolutionizing News Consumption in an AI Era
Oliver takes us on a deep dive into the intricate world of news analytics, painting a vivid picture of how the rapid pace of today's information age is not just overwhelming, but a potential destroyer of brand value. "It was okay to base decisions on structured data fundamentals. They're reliable, yes, but dreadfully slow for our fast-paced world," Oliver observes. This is where the lion's share of unstructured data, a massive 80%, comes in, acting as a real-time signal that unfortunately isn't easily digestible by us mere mortals. It's a realm where AI shines, providing invaluable insights atop which experts can lay their expertise.
His journey, intriguingly tied to his master's degree in Information Media and Technology Management, led Oliver to the threshold of media intelligence. "By coincidence, I delved into the expansive world of big data and AI," he reminisces, expressing over a decade's worth of experience. At the core of his venture is the aim to harness the vast sea of news data, ensuring it is not left unchecked, potentially backfiring in the aftermath. Oliver elaborates, "To truly make your business thrive, you need an information advantage, and that's precisely what we offer at YUKKA."
In order to make your business thrive, you need an information advantage
Oliver BerchtoldCo-Founder and CPO at YUKKA
But what about the rampant universe of social media, especially the behemoth, Twitter? Oliver's stance is clear - the realm is too easily manipulated. "We aim to be the best news analytics engine. Journalists act as gatekeepers, picking stories from platforms like Twitter, fact-checking them," he explains. And while the debate rages about what constitutes 'online news' versus 'social media', Oliver's ambitions remain undeterred. Asked about which CEO he'd switch places with? Elon Musk gets a nod, not for the position, but for the sheer entrepreneurial magic he weaves. "Peeking over his shoulder, observing how he does what he does, would be a revelation," Oliver muses.
