Blackbeard co-creates your business of tomorrow

Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, was a notorious pirate who roamed the seas during the early 18th century. Born around 1680 in Bristol, England, Blackbeard's life remains shrouded in mystery. However, his formidable reputation as a fearsome pirate has endured through the ages.

Despite his notoriety, Blackbeard's demise marked a turning point in the fight against piracy. His menacing legacy, combined with his capture and subsequent beheading, served as a stern warning to all who dared follow in his footsteps.

Welcome aboard, Michael. A seasoned project leader with vast venture building expertise, joining Blackbeard's crew.

With the mission of building new businesses for enterprises in sight, Blackbeard Venture Studio hoisted the sail. We launch forward with full power and love for what we do!

Blackbeard has boldly hoisted anchor and claimed a new pirate's den at Bodmerstrasse 9 in Zurich Enge. A haven for both daring adventurers and cunning ventures. Exciting times ahead.

Blackbeard's Christmas dinner: Rum, cigar tasting, exquisite food paired with wine. Reflecting on the past year, anticipating the adventures ahead.

Armed with unwavering determination and a thirst for innovation, we embark on a year brimming with audacious plans.

We successfully implemented our own venture building framework. With 100 tasks to success.

Meet Marco, the master at arms of marketing and communications!

After 278 days since we set sail, we are thrilled to finally publish our first post here. 🏴‍☠️

It's been an amazing adventure, and we're thrilled to have been part of it. We wish Foundera smooth sailing on the open seas ahead, and we can't wait to raise a beer together in their new quarters. Fair winds and following seas!

We're thrilled to announce a joint venture with Nerves, a creative agency renowned for its service-driven excellence and innovative prowess. This week marks the beginning of our collaborative journey, with a freshly inked contract paving the way for this exciting new endeavor.

Our team attended the TNW Conference in Amsterdam, a remarkable platform for exchanging ideas. Highlights included time with advisor Gian Reto à Porta and the innovative team at Norm, deepening collaboration. Let's push tech boundaries together!

Not just a go-live of a website, but a first step on a greenfield digital customer experience for our client. We are proud to have accompanied Oyu not only as the lead venture builder but also in the role of product owner for the completely integrated customer journey.

We have some thrilling news to share! Blackbeard Venture Studio is proud to announce a strategic partnership with 3AP, a leader in digitalization and scalable digital solutions.

The inaugural Blackbeard AdVenture Session brought together like-minded individuals to tackle challenges in venture building, featuring diverse experts. The event started with discussions on their latest stealth venture and continued with social interactions at Garibaldi Bar.

Blackbeard's crew is growing and we are more than excited to have Simon as a managing partner for this journey. Simon brings a ton of invaluable experience with him through his previous roles with a strong focus on innovation and venture building.

Dimitri joins us as a Senior Venture Builder, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the insurance and tech industries. His profound insights, passion for innovation, and a track record of driving transformative projects are just a few reasons why we're over the moon to have him onboard.

Another great session in the books! Episode 2 of our AdVenture Series was a resounding success, with brilliant minds converging to explore the future of document handling for SMEs and the use of #GenerativeAI

An inspiring day immersed in Switzerland's innovation ecosystem! We were energized by the open-minded atmosphere and thought-provoking discussions, especially Prof. Dr. Gregor Hasler's keynote on unconventional approaches to innovation. Congratulations to all the Swiss Technology Award winners.

Now we know why the pirates of old preferred the Caribbean. Last year's Blackbeard retreat was kicked off with the Wim Hof Method, also known as Cold Water Immersion, setting the stage for a refreshing dive into a new strategy for 2024. A warm thank you to our amazing clients, partners, and friends who were part of our journey in 2023. Here's to more adventures, growth, and success in 2024!

Navigating change in healthcare. In the third edition of our AdVenture Series, we explored how producers and distributors are rethinking their roles within evolving health ecosystems. From product-centric suppliers to solution-oriented partners – the shift is on. With sharp minds from across the value chain, we discussed opportunities, challenges, and bold visions for collaborative value creation.

Deploy AI, without the drama. With AI in a Box, we’ve bundled everything you need to move from use case to working prototype in just 10 days. No need to start from scratch or fight through complex stacks - just pick your use case, and we’ll deliver a tailored AI experience that fits your org like a glove.

We had the opportunity to present Rocket List at AXA's Innovation Day, showcasing how our app simplifies the journey for new parents by curating essential baby products. The session was filled with insightful discussions on innovation in the insurance sector and the role of startups in driving change.

A change of scenery with a breeze of inspiration. We took to the waters of Lake Zurich with clients and partners aboard the legendary MS Etzel for an evening of sharp minds, shared ambition, and open conversation. As the lake shimmered and ideas flowed, we charted the next stretch of our journey together.

Invited by Vivents, we joined the launch moment of Eisgenoss to witness how a ticket becomes something more. With blockchain-backed digital twins, access transforms into experience, memory, and future potential. A bold step for digital ownership – and a great example of Web3 applied with purpose.

Startups aren’t our core focus – but when smart science meets entrepreneurial ambition, we show up. As part of the First Ventures program by Gebert Rüf Stiftung, we support funded founders in validating their business models. Our role: challenge assumptions, sharpen value propositions, and help translate deep tech into market-ready solutions. Focused, fast, and always with an eye on real-world traction.

Innovation doesn’t scale by accident. At the Autonomous Innovation Summit 2024, hosted by Board of Innovation, we explored what it takes to build systems that empower teams to move faster, smarter, and with more ownership. From operating models to org design, the conversations were sharp, global, and grounded in real-world execution. Proud to be part of this bold community rethinking how innovation happens at scale.

A glimpse into the future of Spatial Computing. For the 4th edition of our (Ad)Venture Series, we hosted a small but sharp crowd of clients, partners, and friends to explore the revolutionary Apple Vision Pro. With live demos led by René Vogel and Bedo Hamza, we dove into immersive use cases – from dinosaurs and F1 cars to jet engines. Curiosity was sparked, boundaries were tested, and yes, everyone got to try it for themselves. Drinks, snacks, and serious creativity sealed the night.

When work feels like play, magic happens. In the fifth edition of our AdVenture Series, we dove into the world of gamification – not as a gimmick, but as a strategic tool to drive engagement, learning, and innovation. With brilliant inputs from our community and hands-on activities, the session blurred the lines between serious business and serious fun. Thanks to everyone who played along.

We were honored to join our friends at Swisspreneur for the 2024 Scaleup Cruise aboard the Panta Rhei on Lake Zurich. The evening brought together over 160 founders, investors, and ecosystem builders for an inspiring panel, meaningful conversations, and a shared commitment to scaling Swiss innovation. A heartfelt thank you to the Swisspreneur team for curating such a vibrant community and for including us in this memorable journey.

ometimes a client project takes you to the right place at the right time. While in Vienna, we took the opportunity to carve out space for our own strategy work – using the city's elegance and quiet intensity to reflect, realign, and sharpen our focus. Between meetings and museums, coffeehouses and conversations, we found clarity in motion and purpose in pause.

For the sixth session of our AdVenture Series, we had the honour of welcoming Arno Del Curto – a man who doesn’t just talk leadership, but lives it. In a no-nonsense fireside chat, Arno shared sharp, honest reflections on what it takes to build trust, push limits, and lead teams through uncertainty. His energy was infectious, his lessons clear: lead with intensity, humility, and belief.

No stage, no slides – just altitude and attitude. For our first Evening Ride, we brought together a group of innovators and management minds for a climb over the Albis Pass. What started with a shared push up the hill turned into sharp, open conversations once we hit the top.

What does it take to drive the future of e-mobility in Switzerland? Together with AVIA VOLT, we conducted a nationwide study with over 1,000 participants to better understand how users charge, move, and think electric.

Lars joins the crew with a deep track record in consulting and innovation strategy. From helping global companies rethink product portfolios to launching innovations at speed, he brings a rare mix of structure, clarity, and creative edge.

300 minds, two days, and a city buzzing with innovation energy. We joined the Innovation Roundtable® in Zurich to take the pulse of the corporate-innovation ecosystem – and hosted two deep dives of our own. From venture building to AI-driven experimentation, the message was clear: bold strategy and applied curiosity make the difference. Thanks to Zurich Insurance for hosting and to everyone who helped make it real.

Time to reveal the next Pirate. Since February, Peter Michaelis has brought his entrepreneurial mindset, international perspective, and hands-on energy to our crew.

What does it take to develop businesses that challenge the status quo? In a keynote session at FHGR’s EMBA program, our partner Simon Kindle shared Blackbeard’s approach to test-driven innovation and disruptive business development. The focus: how to move fast without guessing.