Interview with Simona Fehlmann

Simona Fehlmann is co-founder and CEO of the Zurich-based startup Sallea, an ETH Zurich spin-off developing a platform technology for structuring light-weight materials. Initially developed for biomanufacturing of edible, plant-based scaffolds for structured cultivated meat products, the company is now expanding into high-performance composites manufacturing. Sallea’s sacrificial core technology offers an efficient way to manufacture hollow carbon parts e.g. for bike frames that cannot be achieved through traditional tooling.

Operating at the intersection of advanced materials, engineering and entrepreneurship, Fehlmann and her team are navigating a field with both significant potential and uncertainty. Her journey is marked by a willingness to challenge assumptions and make bold strategic shifts as markets evolve. In this interview, she shares what it means to pivot across industries, why a pivot is not a failure, and how founders make tough decisions when technology and market needs don’t (yet) align.

Sallea completely changed industries. How do you decide as a team to rebuild a strong technology in a completely new market?

We realized relatively quickly that while our technology worked, the original market wasn’t really waiting for it; at least not yet. The key question wasn’t where the technology performed best, but where it could create real customer value the fastest.

What was the hardest part about letting go of the original vision to pursue your current path?

Gathering the energy to start all over again. It can feel like a step backwards, but in reality, you’re not starting from zero. You move forward with a much deeper understanding of the technology, the market, and your customers, which ultimately allows you to progress faster and keeps the motivation high.

What advice would you give to founders who sense that their current market isn’t the right one, but are afraid of starting over?

Validate that feeling quickly by talking to industry experts and potential customers. At the same time, explore alternative applications. The key is not to run everything in parallel for too long—set clear criteria and a deadline to decide for or against a pivot.

Sallea is a Zurich-based deep-tech startup and ETH Zurich spin-off (founded in 2023) developing a platform technology for structuring light-weight materials. Originally focused on edible scaffolds for cultivated meat, the company is now expanding into high-performance composites manufacturing across industries. Sallea’s sacrificial core technology innovates the way materials are shaped and manufactured, focusing on making today’s processes more efficient and cost effective.

Led by CEO Simona Fehlmann and CCO Anna Bünter, sallea has quickly gained traction, raising USD 2.6 million in pre-seed funding alongside USD 1.8 million in grants, and earning recognition including Venture Kick and a spot among the TOP 100 Swiss Startups.