When I joined the IMD MBA, one goal I had in mind was to do a summer internship outside my family business. I wanted the accountability of working in a new setting and the perspective that comes from building something with others.
The journey to secure the internship was not easy. Early in the year, I made mistakes in networking. I once directly asked someone at an event to help me get an internship. He never replied, and I realized I had approached it the wrong way. Rather than asking, I needed to share my story, show what I bring, and build value in the conversation.
Later, this change in approach opened doors. A founder I met at Proseed initially wanted me for one role; after a few hours of discussion, he suggested a strategy role instead. That shift taught me an important lesson: people respond to the way you position yourself.
Eventually, I joined Grivix – a Swiss startup building robotic charging systems for heavy industries like mining and marine. It was a dream opportunity, thanks to Ashima and Marc. From day one, Marc, the founder, welcomed me not just into the company but also into his home. I stayed in Pfäffikon, a small town near the forest. My daily run through the woods became part of my routine, and the place left a strong impression on me.
At Grivix, I experienced the hustle of a startup. Long discussions, constant iteration, and the energy of a team working to solve a real problem. I worked closely with Marc on strategy. Using IMD frameworks like the Strategy Diamond, Business Model Canvas, and ecosystem mapping, I helped structure choices about markets, products, and positioning. These were not abstract exercises. They guided how the company thought about whether to sell cables, robots, or turnkey systems, and how to price each offering.
I also moved into business development. I built a database of global mining companies to support sales and started investor outreach. I revised the pitch deck, sent it to targeted investors, and activated the IMD network. The responses taught me about the demands of the venture capital (VC) world. Parallel to this, I worked on grant applications to Innosuisse and the European Innovation Council. This was my first deep exposure to non-dilutive funding, and I saw how technical innovation has to be translated into business language for evaluators.
The team at Grivix made the experience even more meaningful. Working with Mirco, Antoine, Niklaus, and Robin gave me insights into engineering, robotics, and communication. Marc set the tone as a leader, strategic, clear, but also inclusive. He gave freedom, encouraged ideas, and held the team together, whether through a team lunch or by challenging us to think bigger.
This experience was not only about the work I delivered; it was also about seeing how a startup builds under uncertainty, how leadership shapes culture, and how MBA skills translate directly into practice. More than anything, it showed me the role of innovation in addressing climate challenges. Mining alone accounts for about 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, rising to 4–7% when mineral processing is involved, making it one of the largest industrial contributors worldwide, and faces mounting pressure from governments, regulators, and investors to decarbonize. Robotic charging is a step toward reducing that.
I hope my contribution at Grivix has helped advance its journey toward funding and product development. For me, the internship was a reminder that learning comes not from what you know already but from what you are willing to build together.
