From Duo to Sought-After Expert Team

On the Startups.ch blog, we regularly introduce the people behind Switzerland’s most innovative young companies. Today, we talk with Johann Gyger, one of the founders of Peak Scale, a Bern-based company specializing in Cloud Native architectures and platforms. At a time when digital transformation is no longer just a buzzword but a business necessity, they have found a highly demanded niche. We wanted to know: what is the story behind their success?

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The Idea Behind Peak Scale

Question: How did the idea for Peak Scale come about? Was there a particular turning point?

Answer:

„My co-founder Mathias Herzog and I started Peak Scale in 2022 with a clear vision: we saw that in Switzerland there would be a huge demand for modern Cloud platforms. This wasn’t a sudden inspiration but based on years of experience. Back in 2015, I helped build the first Cloud platform for a company and since then have managed a wide variety of infrastructures – both on-premises and in the public Cloud. This experience showed us where the challenges lay and what potential remained untapped. The step from this realization to officially founding the company was the logical next step.“

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What Does Peak Scale Do?

Question: What exactly does Peak Scale do, and what problems do you solve for your clients?

Answer:

„We focus on Cloud Native architectures. That means we help companies design their applications so they run optimally in the Cloud. A key aspect here is automating infrastructure according to software engineering principles. Developers are at the center of our approach and should be empowered, through self-service models, to work quickly and efficiently. Clients bring us on board precisely for this expertise to support them in their Cloud transformation. One of our specialties is multi-tenancy, the ability of a platform to serve multiple customers or departments securely and separately.“

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Challenges and Successes

Question: Every startup has its hurdles. What were yours, and what has been your biggest success so far?

Answer:

„In the beginning, the demand for experts was so high that we first focused on recruitment. It took about a year until three highly qualified engineers suddenly showed up at our door – and we had to hire them. Shortly thereafter, the overall demand in the industry slowed, and many companies had to cut costs. We felt that as well. As engineers, we then had to expand our sales skills out of necessity. It was a tough but valuable learning experience. Our greatest success is that we managed to get through this phase. Today, we have a broad client base, continue to gain new clients, and have grown even stronger as a team.“

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Bern’s Startup Culture

Question: How do you perceive the startup scene in Switzerland, and in Bern specifically?

Answer:

„People often say Bernese are a bit slower than their colleagues in ‘Bern East’ and that taxes aren’t the most business-friendly. But what sets Bern apart is its strongest and tightest-knit community in Switzerland. Mathias and I are both co-organizers of the Swiss Cloud Native Day, and the meetups here are regularly very well attended. This sense of community is invaluable.

A fun anecdote that illustrates Bern’s startup culture: We founded Peak Scale through Startups.ch and later even moved into their former office in the heart of Bern. That was a wonderful symbol.“

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Looking Ahead

Question: Where do you see Peak Scale in five years?

Answer:

„We’re not following a ‘growth at all costs’ strategy. We feel very comfortable in our niche because that’s where we can best contribute our expertise and create real added value. Of course, in five years we’ll likely be a bit bigger than today, but still manageable in size. At the moment, we are six people, complemented by a few close partners. We rely on a strong local network – even if we’re all fishing in the same pond. Cooperation is more important to us than competition.“

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Personal Motivation

Question: What drives you, and do you have any inspiration you’d like to share with other founders?

Answer:

„I’ve always dreamed of being self-employed. But I never dared to create a company with a completely new product, because the failure rate is high and you quickly become dependent on investors. I always preferred a startup that is self-financed and grows organically. I knew that professional services were what I did best. It took a few attempts before I found Mathias, the business partner with the right mindset – and that’s crucial.

Peak Scale may well evolve into a product company; the foundation is already there. And when it comes to products, Steve Jobs is my greatest role model. His focus on the user and on simplicity is timeless.“

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Thank you very much, Mr. Gyger, for this honest and inspiring conversation. We wish you and Peak Scale continued success!

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