Early Movers
Early Signals
Recognizing potential before it is obvious
Opening
We open the 2026 EARLY STAGE season with a conversation on decision-making before consensus.
What makes strong people notice potential before it is obvious? When does data help? When does intuition matter? And how do you make others trust a direction before the result is visible?
Session
About this session
A venture investor sits across from a sports coach.
One bets on founders before product-market fit. The other reads a locker room before the first whistle. Different worlds – same muscle: pattern recognition under pressure.
You never have perfect information. You still need to choose.
We'll explore what they see, what they ignore, and where experience still beats the spreadsheet.
Guests
Speakers
Edouard Treccani
Partner, Founderful, Zurich
Edouard backs founders before traction becomes obvious and before markets fully agree. A first cheque, a early conviction, a bet on people over proof. His daily work is the question this talk is built around: how do you decide when the picture is still incomplete?
Maxime Ravert
Coach, CNBS Macolin
Maxime coaches at the edge where preparation meets pressure. Talent, roster, dynamics, red flags, timing. In elite sport, the cost of reading the situation too late is visible immediately. The same is true for anyone building teams.
Discussion
What we will get into
- What strong people see that others miss
- Where data helps and where it can mislead
- The moment intuition beats the spreadsheet
- How to make people follow a direction they can't yet see
- The blind spots venture and sport share
Morning
Format
08:00–08:30
Coffee & croissants
08:30–09:15
Breakfast Talk
09:15–10:00
Wrap up, exchange and conversations
The talk itself is short by design. The room matters as much as the stage. Our events work across languages. Because Biel/Bienne does.
Audience
Who this is for
You'll be in a room with people who don't wait for permission to start. Founders, operators, researchers, investors , creative minds – united by the habit of moving before the crowd.
Access
Access
Early Stage is designed for a curated room.
This session is primarily for the Early Movers Circle. Alongside that, we keep a small number of seats open for selected wildcard guests.
We look at relevance, perspective and the overall mix around the table.
That helps keep the conversation sharp and leaves room for a few unexpected voices.
Wildcard
Request a wildcard seat
If this conversation feels relevant to you, leave us a short note.
Support
Supporting organisations
Supported by organisations that care about what happens here.