TU Wien Informatics

20 Years

i²c Founder & Investor Talk #38

  • 2018-03-07
  • i2c
  • Innovation

“Learnings from mySugr to make your life as a start-up founder suck less.” - Frederik Debong, Co-founder & Head of R&D at mySugr GmbH

Abstract

Success not guaranteed, long hours, uncertain outcomes, probably a severe lack of personal time and vacation - welcome to the life as an entrepreneur. Fredrik Debong has been fortunate to be part of some spectacular adventures over the past 10 years. He experienced both abhorrent failure and fantastic success. The biggest ride was definitely mySugr, a mobile health company with the aim to make diabetes suck less. Currently mySugr engages over 70 people in Vienna as well as in San Diego, USA. The little company is now part of one of the world’s leading diabetes technology companies, Roche. The possibility to see an idea rise at such an early stage and to witness it taking shape to impact the lives of over a million people has truly been fantastic. In his talk, Fredrik will share some of the experiences and insights of this journey so others won’t have to dig their way out of the same holes he had to. Primarily this talk deals with the plane of philosophy and leadership, of focus and people.

Biography

Fredrik Debong is co-founder and head of Research and Development at mySugr GmbH. His professional roots lie in software development and architecture, a path started in his native city Stockholm in 1996. He was a student of medical computer science at the University of Technology of Vienna (2004-2010). During his studies he helped to start Java Student User Group (later JUGAT) and introduced the concept of start-up hackathons in Vienna. As community relations lead and co-founder of what became pioneers.io (2008-2010), one of Europe’s leading innovation companies, he gained a bloodied tooth regarding entrepreneurship. With mySugr he has been part of turning an idea from a few scribbles into a life changing company, touching the lives of millions who live with diabetes. The Austrian company was acquired by market leading diabetes technology company Roche in 2017.

Note

The Founder & Investor Talks organized by the Innovation Incubation Center (i²c) at TU Wien enable the audience to learn first-hand from experienced founders and investors. They share their international experiences, dos and don’ts and lessons learned during inspiring talks and answer questions in interactive Q&A-sessions. The talks are concluding with the possibility for networking with like-minded people accompanied by some free drinks. No fee, but registration is required on Eventbrite.

Register here

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