Simon Balz, Head of Technology at Betty Bossi Technology with a founder's mindset.

For more than 20 years I have been building digital platforms and products: as an engineer, product manager, founder and now as a technology leader. My focus: putting AI to work where it makes a difference in the product and in the company.

Portrait of Simon Balz, Head of Technology at Betty Bossi

How I work

  • Value before technology

    Whether it's architecture, platform choice or make or buy: what counts is what customers and the business gain. The technology follows from that.

  • Think big, start small

    A clear target sets the direction. The way there is made of small steps that show early on what works.

  • Connecting business and technology

    I know the server room, product management and the responsibility of a founder and CEO. That lets me mediate between executive teams and engineering.

AI in practice

Data and AI have been part of my work for more than ten years: from data analytics and AI-driven analytics products to the AI strategy at Betty Bossi.

  • Strategy and guardrails

    At Betty Bossi I co-developed the AI strategy and the rules for its use, including the requirements of the EU AI Act.

  • AI in the product

    I take AI features from prototype to production, with an eye on value, cost and data quality.

  • Hands-on

    I build with AI agents myself. That gives me first-hand experience of what works today and what doesn't yet.

Background

  1. Since 2024

    Head of Technology, Betty Bossi

    I am responsible for the technology and architecture of the digital products. I first supported the relaunch of bettybossi.ch as Scrum Master and Technical Product Owner. It won gold in Digital Commerce at Best of Swiss Web 2026.

  2. 2019 to 2024

    Co-founder, CPO and CEO, maatoo.io

    Built and led a marketing automation product for online shops.

  3. 2019 to 2024

    Venture Builder and Venture Architect, Digital Innovation Lab

    Supported start-ups and companies in building digital products.

  4. 2015 to 2019

    Product management, Gemini Data

    From Senior Product Manager to Senior Director of Product Management at a data analytics software company.

  5. 2003 to 2015

    Engineering and data analytics

    Systems engineer, consultant and team lead Data Analytics DACH at T-Systems, Unic and LC Systems.

Advisory and mandates

I bring technology and product expertise to boards, advisory boards and executive teams, backed by experience as a founder, CEO and technology leader. Since 2019 I have been an advisor to the Swiss Bitcoin start-up Relai.

  • Board and advisory board

    I bring the technology perspective to the board: assessing investments, spotting risks early, asking the right questions.

  • Sparring for CEOs and executives

    A regular, confidential exchange on tech strategy, organisation and partners. Independent of vendors.

  • Second opinion

    An independent assessment before major decisions, for example on platform changes, architecture, make or buy or AI initiatives.

Discuss a mandate
  • Digital commerce
  • Product strategy
  • Platform architecture
  • Data and analytics
  • AI in the company
  • Building start-ups

Away from the screen

I live with my family in the Bern region. Away from work I love to cook. And when something is burning elsewhere, I turn out as a volunteer firefighter.