Yessica Klein
8 min read
09 November 2025
Lorenz Meier, founder of Geoprevent and Gravimon, has witnessed Zurich’s startup ecosystem evolve dramatically since his initial foray into entrepreneurship. Originally from St. Gallen, Lorenz moved to Zurich to study at ETH, drawn by the university’s reputation and the city’s burgeoning technical talent pool. This move marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, which was deeply rooted in leveraging technology to tackle significant environmental challenges. In 2011, he co-founded Geoprevent in collaboration with Geotest, an established geological service provider. Geoprevent focused on monitoring natural hazards such as rockfalls and avalanches, marrying technical innovation with practical geological expertise. The partnership with Geotest not only provided essential financial support but also opened doors to critical industry insights and networks.
After successfully exiting Geoprevent, Lorenz took a family sabbatical, traveling in a camper with his three young children. When he returned, starting a new venture dedicated to simplifying and enhancing radar-based monitoring systems felt like a natural next step. With deep sector experience and established industry connections, he saw an opportunity to quickly validate new ideas and continue solving complex technical challenges in hazard monitoring. With the founding of Gravimon, his vision remains clear: develop accessible, affordable and optimized technology to protect communities worldwide.
How has Zurich’s startup ecosystem changed since your first company in 2011?
The ecosystem has expanded dramatically. Initially, support structures were minimal. I remember a course I attended in 1998 at ETH called “Lust auf eine eigene Firma?” [“Want to start your own company?”] that was practically the only entrepreneurial resource available. In 2011, more courses, funding programs and networking events were emerging, but the landscape was still fairly sparse, still far fewer opportunities than today. Now there's an abundance of offers for entrepreneurs. While beneficial, these can also distract founders from their primary focus, which should always be developing their product and serving clients. Staying client-focused rather than chasing awards has always been my preference.
How did partnering with an established company benefit Geoprevent?
Partnering with Geotest was crucial. They provided vital industry knowledge, initial projects and feedback on our product. Their established reputation in geological services was invaluable, helping us quickly understand market demands and efficiently navigate industry-specific challenges.
After Geoprevent, how did you decide Gravimon was the right idea to pursue?
After my sabbatical, Gravimon felt like a natural next step. With deep industry knowledge and existing connections, starting again within the same sector was logical. It allowed quicker validation of ideas with potential clients and accelerated product development. The ongoing challenge of improving natural hazard monitoring kept me engaged.
What's your perspective on seeking partners when starting a new venture?
If entering an unfamiliar industry, having a knowledgeable partner is highly beneficial. It provides critical insights, networking opportunities and quicker understanding of industry-specific nuances. At Gravimon, my prior experience reduced the immediate need for such a partnership, but I strongly recommend it for new industries.
“In Switzerland, if your startup fails, you don’t end up under a bridge. There’s a safety net. That makes risk more bearable.”
How have you managed the anxiety and fears associated with founding companies?
Initially, the anxiety was significant. There were sleepless nights, particularly when we dealt with safety-critical systems like avalanche monitoring with real-time road-closure capability. Over time, I learned to balance stakeholder interests, such as employees, investors and clients, and to recognize patterns. With experience, managing these fears became easier, although complete peace of mind is rare for founders.
How do you cope with sleepless nights and founder stress?
You learn to live with it. I used to wake up at 4 AM – the worst time – when everything looks bleak. Now, when that happens, I check the time, remind myself that it's just the hour talking, and trust that everything will look better in three hours. That mindset shift took years, but it makes a big difference.
What advice would you give young founders considering launching a company in Zurich?
Zurich offers a unique combination of highly educated talent, financial resources and strong social security. These factors significantly reduce personal risks associated with entrepreneurship. Founders here should embrace risk, knowing they're supported by robust social systems and alternative job options if ventures don't succeed.
What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received as a founder?
I don’t recall a single best or worst piece of advice, but I’ve learned that once you’re leading a company, everyone – from clients to investors to employees – has opinions on what you should do. While their input can be valuable, each perspective is biased. As a founder, your responsibility is to listen but ultimately weigh and balance those sometimes competing interests. That judgment improves with time, and honest conversations with experienced entrepreneurs helped me build that confidence.
“At 4 AM, your nervous system sees only the negatives, but give it three hours and the world looks different. That’s a founder lesson too.”