Frank Floessel, an alumnus of ETH, brings a wealth of experience as a co-founder of the esteemed student consultancy, ETH Juniors, and a seasoned serial entrepreneur. Effective from 1st June, he assumes the role of Head of ETH Entrepreneurship, joining the team under the leadership of Vice-President Vanessa Wood.
When it comes to leading ETH Entrepreneurship, who could be more fitting than an individual who has personally established multiple successful companies? Vanessa Wood, Vice President for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations, expresses her enthusiasm, stating, “ETH Entrepreneurship embodies the entrepreneurial spirit at the university. We are delighted to have Frank Floessel at the helm of this group.”
Frank Floessel, an ETH alumnus, brings with him a distinguished track record as a serial entrepreneur, having achieved success in the fields of HR and digital currencies. Notably, Floessel’s entrepreneurial journey began right at ETH Zurich, where he founded his first company for the university. In 1997, while pursuing his Master’s degree at the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, he co-founded ETH Juniors as the President of the AMIV, alongside four colleagues. Serving as the founding President of this student consultancy, Floessel left an indelible mark on the organization’s inception.
ETH Juniors offers students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practical settings by undertaking projects for various stakeholders, including ETH departments, nationally recognized SMEs, and globally active corporations. Even today, Frank Floessel maintains his affiliation with Juniors as a member of the Board of Directors, providing strategic guidance to the students. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in establishing the alumni organization, ETH Seniors, for this student consultancy. Notably, renowned companies such as GetYourGuide, Climeworks, and Beekeeper have emerged from this vibrant community.
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Starting from the beginning of June, as the Head of ETH Entrepreneurship, Floessel will further leverage his expertise to benefit the broader ETH community. His responsibilities will encompass being a key point of contact for entrepreneurship-related matters, including the collaborative initiative with UBS. This joint initiative aims to foster entrepreneurial thinking and action at the university, in addition to promoting STEM subjects. Currently, a project group is actively working on developing a concept and crafting offerings for this initiative. Vanessa Wood emphasizes that Frank Floessel’s appointment is both opportune and fitting, stating, “He is the right person at the right time.”
What drives Floessel to come back to his alma mater? “Thanks to Juniors, I have always maintained a strong connection with ETH, and throughout the years, I have taken immense joy in witnessing the university’s accomplishments,” Floessel explains. He further elaborates, “As the Head of ETH Entrepreneurship, I now have the opportunity to contribute my expertise and abilities to the institution that provided the cornerstone for my professional journey—a place to which I am deeply committed even today.”
