Pearl Technology AG is known for its versatile, perfected positioning aids. In the long-lived environment of radiology, the company has transformed from a small start-up into an established company. The question arises: how is such a thing possible? To get to the bottom of the matter, I ask someone who has been with us for a particularly long time: Pascal Stürchler. As a long-time tech investor, he has been one of the company's supporters from the very beginning – and now he is taking on the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Would you like to briefly introduce yourself and tell us what brought you to your commitment to patient positioning more than 10 years ago?

I grew up in the Bern region, have a business background and my first job was in the financial sector. I was fortunate enough to be able to help set up one of the first internet banks in Switzerland in the 90s, so I became more and more immersed in the world of technology - as part of the enthusiasm for Silicon Valley at the time, I was also often on the road in the USA. In 2002 I started my own business for the first time and built up my first company. For about 10 years I have also been working as an angel investor, where one of the first engagements was with Pearltec. As a result, the company is still particularly close to my heart...

How many investments had you done before?

About three only!

Were you a different investor at the time?

I think I invested a little more naively at the time. But I still believe that the product we've developed has such a positive impact, whether it's on hygiene in hospitals, on workflows and on patient experience, through improved positioning. I'm just as excited about the technology today as I was then.

I think it's great how this company, which has had ups and downs, has been able to evolve and now has over 200 products on offer. When I invested, it was just one. This is an impressive achievement, especially when you consider how high the regulatory requirements are in this medical device environment.

You have also recently been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. What does this mean for you and what are you looking forward to in this role?

First of all, many thanks to my predecessor, Dr Werner Berner, he did a very good job and I hope I can build on that. Dr Werner Berner will remain on the Board of Directors, we are simply swapping roles. I care a lot about the company and I am convinced that, together with CEO and founder Thomas Müller and his team, I can take the company to the next level in the next 2-3 years.  

What is the vision of this next stage?

We have a good basis in terms of products and have also been successful in an international context. Now we need to drive this internationalisation forward, particularly in Europe, and work even more closely with our strategic partners, the OEMs. As the Board of Directors, we want to provide strategic support to the operational teams and the company internally and ensure that they have the necessary resources. 

The aim is also to ensure that the company can continue and further expand the growth of recent years. We now have the opportunity to consolidate our good progress in the long term in order to create a real success story. The prerequisites are in place, there is certainly still a way to go, but I am firmly convinced that the team can follow this path successfully. 

Is there anything you would like to say at the end?

What I find great is that I sense a spirit of optimism in the company. Every employee is willing to pitch in and support others, which is indicative of a remarkable culture. That is something very beautiful and unique which cannot be taken for granted. With a good team and a good culture, you can ultimately achieve ambitious goals. It's noticeable to me that the company has developed positively and can continue to develop positively. Not only for itself, but also for the customers and partners who enjoy working with Pearl Technology. 

Thank you very much!