20 years of enespa

What I Would do Differently

1 June 2024

Founder, Chief Executive Officer

Every entrepreneur has the experience that most people don't believe in the business idea at first. Nevertheless, nobody can achieve great things alone. Convincing the right people is the key to success. Sometimes it takes 20 years.

An idea and a lot of faith

I was never alone. You can't do it alone. But at the beginning, I only told a few people about our idea. Because I knew that many would have thought I was crazy. Perhaps you know the rule of thumb for survival rate of start-ups. In Switzerland, only half of every 100 companies survive the first five years. However, the chance of success is even lower for innovative technologies.

My 5th child is enespa.

It's like bricklayers and hairdressers. Both are skilled professionals. If the bricklayer sets up his own business, he is more likely to be successful than the hairdresser who tries a career change with a pizzeria. We were career changers in an industry without a professional association. There was no practical expertise for our technology, no standards, no basis on which to build a foundation. We only had the faith in our abilities and our idea.

Even if you want to have children, you have to believe that everything will work out. You suppress thoughts of possible problems during pregnancy, after birth or later during puberty. I now have four fantastic sons aged 16, 18, 20 and 24. My 5th child is enespa.

The birth

Unlike the bricklayer, we had to prove that our technology actually worked. Our baby had to be born. When we had a working prototype - the size of a chest of drawers - it was the moment when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time. In order for it to grow, we had to start looking for investors. It's a long way to go before an innovative technology is ready for the market. A financial burden, which could no longer be financed out of our own pockets.

We started talking about our invention and, surprisingly, we were able to win over many private individuals in favour of our idea. Also because we are active in a sector in line with the zeitgeist : the circular economy. With the chemical recycling of mixed plastic, we are creating the opportunity to solve the problem of plastic waste.

First tentative steps

Not everyone who heard about our idea was equally enthusiastic. We were met with suspicion: anyone raising that much money could be using it to get away to the Cayman Islands. An assumption that shocked us, but one that was not made up out of thin air. Because there are indeed such cases.

Coffee and cake

We had to prove ourselves again. This time on a front that we hadn't expected and that would take all our strength. But we overcame this hurdle too. And instead of the Cayman Islands, we decided in favour of Germany as a production location. And if you're worried that we might not be honest, you can come and visit us in Appenzell for coffee and cake. We offer this to anyone who wants to get to know us - enespa.

20 years of enespa

Even today, we still have to convince the right people to join us. Including those people who want to continue to grow with us: highly qualified experts who want to do something about the growing plastic problem. In the meantime, enespa has grown up. I have been able to celebrate every milestone along the way. I am proud of what we have achieved so far. What would I do differently? Nothing.

Author

Cyrill Hugi

Founder, Chief Executive Officer

Cyrill Hugi's passion for technology has never wavered since his first apprenticeship. Various international training programmes have seen him travel as far as the USA. His professional career has taken him to Italy and Germany, where he previously held management positions in major global corporations in the commercial vehicle sector. Cyrill Hugi fulfilled a dream when he founded enespa ag. With the support of his team and visionary investors, he strives to «make the impossible possible». The outcome is circular economy solutions aimed at protecting nature, which is something very close to his heart.

From 0 to 50

50 employees - one common mission: the fight against plastic pollution in nature. Each and every one of them a specialist in their field. Together we work on new, innovative solutions. We undertake research and development, are pioneers and shape the industry as first movers. Praise for my employees.

enespa's vision

Clean beaches, rivers and streams. Free from plastic waste. No animals dying because we humans simply dump our rubbish in the environment. That is our vision. enespa is helping to remove waste from nature and recycle it. Together with many like-minded campaigners, this vision will become reality.

enespa's history

The story of enespa began over 20 years ago over dinner. A vision of a world free of plastic waste was born around the table. As a specialist in chemical recycling, we are helping to solve this problem.

What I Would do Differently

An idea and a lot of faith

The birth

First tentative steps

Coffee and cake

20 years of enespa

Cyrill Hugi

From 0 to 50

enespa's vision

enespa's history

enespa shares

enespa bonds

What I Would do Differently

An idea and a lot of faith

The birth

First tentative steps

Coffee and cake

20 years of enespa

Cyrill Hugi

From 0 to 50

enespa's vision

enespa's history

enespa shares

enespa bonds

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