It’s a Space
Revolution…
Shaping the future of Satellite Communications
Radio Frequency communications have changed – even saved – lives in the modern era. Now, data demands are growing exponentially, and a new approach is needed. SWISSto12 is pioneering new frontiers with a revolutionary new class of small, low-cost Geostationary satellite. We aim to connect the world by making high-speed connectivity more scalable, faster to deploy, and less costly to operate.
1,000+
Products
in space
1,000+
Products in space
100+
Subsystems on aircraft & ships
35+
International patent families
- Our story
Our founder, Emile de Rijk, didn’t initially set out to change Satellite Communications. In 2011, while studying for his PhD in Physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Emile’s grant wouldn’t stretch far enough to buy the expensive Radio Frequency components that his Magnetic Resonance research required.
In a classic case of necessity breeding invention, Emile turned to the University’s 3D printing lab as a novel way to design and manufacture high performance Radio Frequency (RF) products at a low cost.
- The name
Our name blends tradition with technology. ‘Swiss’ represents the tradition of precision craftsmanship Switzerland is renowned for. ‘to12’ calls on the company’s first products, which were channeling signals at Terahertz frequencies (1 THz = 10<sup>12</sup>Hz). Putting them together, we get SWISSto12, or ‘Swiss to the power of twelve’.
- Future defining
There are now over 1,000 SWISSto12 products in orbit, and we will be launching our first HummingSat into Geostationary orbit in 2027. For SWISSto12, the sky is not the limit. We’re going beyond that, defining the future of Satellite Communications technology in partnership with the world’s leading operators, manufacturers and Space agencies.
Meet the Team
Arno serves as CEO of CNB Capital. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Vienna and previously served in various roles in the manufacturing and financial industry, including Founder and CEO of a Private Equity Fund, Managing Director in the voestalpine Group, Member of the Extended Group Board of Wienerberger AG as well as in Investment Banking.
Arno Langwieser
Board Member
Steve has over 30 years of experience in the satellite industry, including more than six years as CEO of O3b Networks, where he drove the company from early-stage funding to commercial success, culminating in its acquisition by SES. He later served as CEO of SES for five years, leading one of the world’s largest satellite operators, driving both the development of the next-generation O3b mPOWER constellation and the successful recapitalisation of the balance sheet.
Steve Collar
Chairman of the board
Nils serves as Senior Investment Director Private Equity at the Zürcher Kantonalbank. He holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Linköping University and an MBA from INSEAD. He previously worked in various roles, including Head of investments at Telia, investment management roles at Swisscom and Cartagena Capital and in the telecoms industry as Regional Manager for Ericsson.
Nils Granath
Board member
Pär serves as Partner at Swisscom Ventures. He holds a Master’s in Engineering Physics from Linköping University and an MBA from INSEAD. He previously worked in various roles, including as Managing Director and Co-founder of Miranet AB, and in the telecoms industry as Product Marketing Manager for Ericsson.
Pär Lange
Board member
Emile founded SWISSto12 in 2011 as a spinoff from his PhD at EPFL. He led the company’s growth into aerospace and telecommunications, making it the first scale-up to sell a Geostationary telecom satellite, HummingSat, to a global operator. Emile co-invented 15+ patents, raised over $30 million, and secured $150 million in contracts. He holds a PhD from EPFL and a Master’s in Physics from the University of Amsterdam.
Dr. Emile de Rijk
CEO & Board Member
Roland holds a Master’s of Electrical Engineering from EPFL. He previously founded and was CEO of NewSat communications (merged with ITC Global) and subsequently COO & Chairman of ITC Global (acquired by Panasonic Avionics in 2015).
Roland Loos
Board member
Board of Directors
Arno serves as CEO of CNB Capital. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Vienna and previously served in various roles in the manufacturing and financial industry, including Founder and CEO of a Private Equity Fund, Managing Director in the voestalpine Group, Member of the Extended Group Board of Wienerberger AG as well as in Investment Banking.
Arno Langwieser
Board Member
Steve has over 30 years of experience in the satellite industry, including more than six years as CEO of O3b Networks, where he drove the company from early-stage funding to commercial success, culminating in its acquisition by SES. He later served as CEO of SES for five years, leading one of the world’s largest satellite operators, driving both the development of the next-generation O3b mPOWER constellation and the successful recapitalisation of the balance sheet.
Steve Collar
Chairman of the board
Nils serves as Senior Investment Director Private Equity at the Zürcher Kantonalbank. He holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Linköping University and an MBA from INSEAD. He previously worked in various roles, including Head of investments at Telia, investment management roles at Swisscom and Cartagena Capital and in the telecoms industry as Regional Manager for Ericsson.
Nils Granath
Board member
Pär serves as Partner at Swisscom Ventures. He holds a Master’s in Engineering Physics from Linköping University and an MBA from INSEAD. He previously worked in various roles, including as Managing Director and Co-founder of Miranet AB, and in the telecoms industry as Product Marketing Manager for Ericsson.
Pär Lange
Board member
Emile founded SWISSto12 in 2011 as a spinoff from his PhD at EPFL. He led the company’s growth into aerospace and telecommunications, making it the first scale-up to sell a Geostationary telecom satellite, HummingSat, to a global operator. Emile co-invented 15+ patents, raised over $30 million, and secured $150 million in contracts. He holds a PhD from EPFL and a Master’s in Physics from the University of Amsterdam.
Dr. Emile de Rijk
CEO & Board Member
Roland holds a Master’s of Electrical Engineering from EPFL. He previously founded and was CEO of NewSat communications (merged with ITC Global) and subsequently COO & Chairman of ITC Global (acquired by Panasonic Avionics in 2015).
Roland Loos
Board member
Working with leaders in Satellite Communications
Awards
Our satellites have earned numerous awards, recognizing their innovation and excellence in the field.
World Economic Forum
Technology Pioneer
ViaSatellite
One of “10 Hottest Companies”
