As an enthusiastic outdoor sportsman, Martin Keller, now CEO of Acodis, thought a few years ago about how he and his companions could create a mountainiering app. To do this, they needed content - structured content that was not directly usable in maps, hiking reports and images. Instead of copying page after page, they were looking for a “simpler” solution.
Five years later, I meet Martin Keller at the company headquarters in Winterthur for an interview. The mountainiering app idea has evolved into an end-to-end solution in the form of an AI data extraction platform that makes unstructured data from documents usable for AI applications such as LLM or RAG (see Thermomix graphic).
What is the outcome?
Martin: Accurate, reusable and traceable data that enables AI initiatives such as chat/search, analytics and automation. You could compare the process to cooking a recipe with the help of a Thermomix, which conjures up a delicious dish from individual ingredients in a guided step-by-step process.
Today, the company has around 20 employees and has made a name for itself in a highly regulated environment. How did you manage that?
Martin: Yes, we operate in an environment in which the requirements and regulations are very strict. So when it comes to information security and compliance, we face major challenges as a small company. I see this as a great opportunity, because it forces us to introduce appropriate control mechanisms right from the start and to have our governance system reviewed by means of annual external audits. This way, we know where we stand and how we can continue to improve.
Where do you see the company heading in a few years' time?
Martin: We are currently at an exciting point. Everyone is ready for AI ... at least at first glance. But if you take a look at the iceberg under the water, the reality is usually different. According to a study by Gartner, only 20% of data in companies is already structured and only a portion of this can be used for AI applications. And this is exactly where Acodis comes in. We support companies in preparing the data that is important and relevant to them in such a way that it can actually be used for AI. My goal is to support and accelerate this data transformation with Acodis and our expertise wherever AI is an issue.
After an incomparably exciting and challenging time as co-founder and CEO, what advice would you give to founders and young entrepreneurs? Martin: Don't think too much about the result, but also about the ingredients. By this I mean, for example, how the team is put together, what competencies and skills it needs, what common values we have and what our mission is. All of this has to be right for it to be a successful and fulfilling initiative in the long term. What's more, being an entrepreneur is like riding a rollercoaster ... It goes up and down. Being resilient is an essential quality and strength that is needed.
Thank you very much for the interview Martin ... and good luck to you and your team!
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