by Sara Fedele
Markus Wilke is an entrepreneur with a passion for renewable energy and combustion technologies in particular. His goal is to leave the world better than he found it. With his startup HeatNeutral, he participated in the first edition of Impact Club 2022-23. He produces an innovative technology that can turn any naphtha-fired plant into effective CO2-neutral heating in a matter of hours, with no harmful emissions. We interviewed him to learn more about his Ticino- and impact-based entrepreneurship.
How did the idea of founding a business that puts sustainability at the center? Why in Ticino?
I think sustainability should always be at the center of every enterprise. In Ticino being quite small gave us the opportunity to connect more easily with people and institutions, so it was easier to find institutional support for an innovative technology that will revolutionize the combustion heating industry.
What challenges does a start-up like yours face, especially in Ticino?
The main challenge of a cleantec technology start-up like ours is to find those who give confidence to the innovative project, in an industry that is not used to innovation. Finding the liquidity to pursue the project is another challenge clearly. Also, in Ticino it is very difficult to find Business Angels, which is easier in other parts of Switzerland and the world.
You have participated in other incubators in the past. What is the added value of having participated in Impact Club?
Yes, we were finalists in MassChallenge and Kickstart Innovation. Impact Club is a complete path to create a company even a small one but with a solid foundation (so-called zebras, not just unicorns). The proximity, great expertise, and helpfulness of the Impact Club team that followed us was crucial to our journey. After participating in Impact Club, our vision has remained almost the same, but now we finally know how to achieve it.
What are the goals you would like to achieve now that you have concluded the incubator? Have you obtained any investments?
HeatNeutral can become a major player in the decarbonization of residential heating and industrial heat, thereby helping to improve the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Our goal was to find the expertise and partners to implement our project so that we could build a solid foundation to establish the company. Today we think we have achieved that. We are at a stage of advanced conversations with some ImpactClub investors and believe they will materialize into an investment soon.
Parallel to HeatNeutral, you run a hotel that you recently decided to put into community service. Would you like to tell us about this project?
Yes, of course. This year we decided to turn our hotel in Vezia into a "Solidarity Hotel" and we are hosting a group of people in need in cooperation with the Swiss Red Cross. We are happy to be able to help these people regain some peace and serenity.
What would you recommend to entrepreneurs who intend to take on a challenge like yours?
To carry out an innovative project like HeatNeutral, which goes somewhat against the current, it takes a strong vision and, in addition to expertise, a lot of perseverance and positivity to overcome the most difficult moments. It also takes the support of family and people who believe in you and your project.