We support you on your journey

The Ahead team consists of experienced founders, advisors, mentors and innovation experts. We look forward to getting to know you!

Executive Office

Story Chantal Stäuble

Entrepreneur and CEO with over 20 years of cross-industry experience in strategy, innovation, digitalisation, and business development – with a strong focus on implementation and transformation. She is motivated by actively contributing to a sustainable, future-oriented economic region in Zurich, supporting entrepreneurs and businesses with heart, expertise, and a hands-on mindset.

Story René Chenevard

Marketing and branding expert with over 20 years of experience in both agency and corporate environments. Founder and co-managing director of a brand and digital agency specialising in marketing, sales, and digitalisation. Combines hands-on experience with academic expertise from a master’s degree in marketing and further business education. At Ahead, he supports entrepreneurs with great enthusiasm – offering practical advice grounded in strategic thinking.

Story Anna Zakharova

Strategist with solid experience in start-ups, innovation projects, and company-wide transformation programmes. Has supported strategic initiatives in start-ups, corporates, consulting projects, and applied university programmes – from developing new business models to product strategy and successful market launches. Excited to turn ideas into practical solutions at Ahead that strengthen the innovation and competitiveness of SMEs in the Canton of Zurich.

Story Prisca Brugger

With a strong interest in the diversity of people and ideas, she supports founders in bringing their visions to life. As an experienced CEO and founder in communication & design, education, and real estate, she offers a cross-industry perspective on the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship across the entire lifecycle. She takes great joy in guiding founders in both their professional and personal growth.

Story Anna Lehmann

Qualified banking professional with many years of leadership experience in managing and organising associations. She enjoys shaping organisational structures and ensuring that teams work efficiently and with joy. At Ahead, she is inspired by the meaningful work in a co-operative environment.

Story Mischa Vögtlin

A passionate entrepreneur and co-managing director for several years of a food delivery service. He developed food concepts & logistics solutions and has well-founded experience in finance, business development and operations. With his start-up expertise and business expertise, he supports founders in realizing their visions.

Board

Story Thomas Koller
Thomas Koller
Position Chairman of the Board, Kollernext GmbH
Story Yves Bisang
Yves Bisang
Position Board Member, Head of Economic Development, City of Zurich
Story Anita Martinecz Fehér
Anita Martinecz Fehér
Position Board Member, Office for Economic Affairs, Canton of Zurich
Story Adrian Schmidlin
Adrian Schmidlin
Position Board Member, Zürcher Kantonalbank
Story Florian Gunz Niedermann
Florian Gunz Niedermann
Position Board Member, Walder Wyss Ltd.

Advisors

Story Daniel Leu
Founder and owner of a consulting firm. Former head of a profit center at a trading company and member of the extended executive board of an electronics company. MBA, FH Engineer, organizational developer. 20 years of experience in start-up consulting.
Story Fabiano Annoscia
Full-time project manager at Zürcher Kantonalbank and advisor at Ahead, specializing in marketing and offer development. B.Sc. in Business Communication and MAS in Business Consulting.
Story Caspar Eberhard

E-commerce and Online Communication

Founder of the digital agency “Werkstatt für Digitales” since 2014 and active with his own online shops such as appenzeller-gurt.com, pop-up-cards.ch, and batticuore.ch. Master’s degree in Communication Sciences.
Story Dominique Eric Fetz

Insurance

Over 20 years in the insurance business, with experience as a client advisor for insurers and insurance brokers. Since 2024, mandate lead in insurance brokerage at Neutrass AG. Certified insurance specialist with a focus on personal and social insurance.
Story Roberto Inderbitzin

Industrial Design & Product Development

Industrial designer MA since 2014 with his own design agency (reframe.ch) in Zurich. Specialized in innovation in product and brand identity. Main jury member of the Swiss Technology Awards 2017 and former lecturer at Tecnológico de Monterrey and IBERO.
Story Philipp Schubiger

Branding, Graphic Design & Communication

In branding for around 16 years. Studied visual communication at ZHDK and business communications at HWZ. After roles in various branding agencies, now self-employed as a brand, graphic, and communications consultant.

Mentors

Story Miriam Monari
Owner of a culinary event agency with a cooking studio
Always seeking new challenges. A tireless all-rounder and creative spirit with a strong network and talent for improvisation.
Story Michael Bender
Managing Director, Business and IT Consulting
SME entrepreneur for 30 years with a strong network and extensive experience in the e-commerce sector.
Story Michael Duran
Owner of a personal training gym
Creative doer with a solution-oriented mindset and the ability to push people beyond what they think they’re capable of.
Story Thomas Koller
Tax Consultant and Business Coach
Over 30 years of experience advising and coaching SME entrepreneurs, with a focus on financial management
Story Uta Kroll
Employed, responsible for Marketing and Sales
Expert in marketing, strategy, and employee development, with broad industry experience.
Story Remo Maurer
Owner of Living Mindful Maurer and Managing Partner at Living Sense Executive GmbH (Academy for Holistic Leadership & Mentoring)
Extensive experience as Managing Director at financial institutions and as an independent entrepreneur and founder, with a strong network

Innovation experts

Story Leendert den Haan

Technology and Innovation Funding | Innosuisse Mentor

Leendert den Haan is an accredited Innosuisse Innovation Mentor who supports SMEs with technology-driven innovation projects. A qualified engineer, he brings experience from the aerospace, medical technology, plastics and automotive industries and connects companies with research institutions and funding partners.

Story Lucas  Grob

Food Innovation | Swiss Food Research

Dr. Lucas Grob is CEO of Swiss Food Research and holds a doctorate in food process engineering from ETH Zurich. He helps companies turn scientific knowledge into tangible food innovations and connects them with suitable research and industry partners.

Story Markus Popp

Digital Business Models and Product Development | mühlemann+popp

Markus Popp is co-founder and CEO of mühlemann+popp, where he develops digital products and business models. An ETH MTEC graduate, he combines technology, product development and business model innovation.

Story Renato Franchetto

Technology and Innovation Expert | Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ)

Renato Franchetto combines technical expertise with a strong business perspective. With a background in electrical engineering and business administration, he supports SMEs with product, process and business model innovation and brings experience from international companies, turnarounds and start-ups.

Story Thomas Knecht

Technology and Innovation Expert | Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ)

Thomas Knecht is a materials scientist specialising in product development and medical technology. He supports innovation projects from initial feasibility assessment through to industrialisation, drawing on experience from start-ups, large corporations and development projects.

Story Christoph Brunschwiler

Technology and Innovation Expert | Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ)

Christoph Brunschwiler is an ETH Zurich-trained food scientist specialising in product, process and materials development. His experience ranges from analytics and applied research to the industrialisation of new production lines and the management of research and development projects.

Story Marco Romanelli

Technology and Innovation Expert | Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ)

Marco Romanelli combines expertise in electrical engineering and business administration with many years of experience in knowledge and technology transfer. He supports SMEs with high-tech, materials and nanotechnology projects and helps them establish suitable research and development partnerships.

Story Cyrill Schmid

Processes and Business Software | topsoft

Cyrill Schmid is co-founder of topsoft and advises SMEs on process design and the selection of suitable business software. He combines business and technical expertise, helping companies navigate ERP and digitalisation projects

Story Kevin Klak

Digital Transformation and Innovation Strategy | Digitalrat

Kevin Klak advises SME management teams and boards on digitalisation, technology and innovation. As an independent digital advisor, he assesses opportunities, risks and emerging business models and translates digital topics into concrete business decisions.

Story Roger Busch

Processes, ERP and Digital Implementation | busch-consulting

Roger Busch combines more than 20 years of IT experience with operational leadership experience as a COO and CEO. He supports SMEs with process analysis, the selection of ERP and software systems, and the structured implementation of digital transformation projects.