Nicola Rohrseitz 
Technology Expert | Vissee — We are, We see
Zürich Area, Switzerland, ZH, SWITZERLAND
Founder, CEO at ViSSee
Biography
I founded the Swiss start-up ViSSee, a spin-off company of the ETH Zurich that won many awards and is recognized as on the way to success.
Before building companies and bringing products to the market I specialized in Robotics and Systems at the Swiss Institute of Technology EPFL, did my MSc thesis in Underwater Robotics at the University of Tokyo, and completed a PhD in Physics and Neuroscience at the ETH Zurich. From my PhD research in applying engineering techniques to discover how the insect brain controls flight came the IP for founding ViSSee.
I serve as technology expert for the European Union, and I am often asked to speak about entrepreneurship and technology at public and professional events. My work has been the subject of many publications, interviews, and a documentary.
Industry Expertise (3)
Computer Software
Research
Consumer Electronics
Areas of Expertise (6)
Robotics
Start-Ups
Biomimicry
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Innovation & Design Thinking
Computer Vision
Accomplishments (4)
De Vigier Entrepreneurship Prize (professional)
2011-06-20
The annual prize of the W.A. De Vigier Foundation recognises the top 5 entrepreneurs of Switzerland, the world's most innovative country (*WEF).
Robotics in Weightlessness (professional)
2004-07-12
I led a team to test the robot we designed onboard a parabolic flight, the same astronauts use for training.
National Basketball Champion (personal)
1998-04-21
In 1998 I won the 1st league national basketball championship with Viganello.
Solo Transiberian Railroad (personal)
2000-09-26
I shaved my head and went to Moscow to board a train to Beijing. A slow, life-changing experience
Education (5)
ETH Zurich, Switzerland: PhD, Physics, Neuroscience 2008
Thesis: "Visual groundspeed control principles in Drosophila melanogaster" at the Institute of Neuroinformatics
Lugano 1 High School (Ticino, Switzerland): HS diploma, literature (latin & modern languages) 1999
東京大学 — University of Tokyo: MSc, Underwater Robotics 2005
Master thesis: "Autonomous landmark selection for underwater vehicles using sidescan sonar data" Under the supervision of Professor Ura (URA, IIS).
Mascoutah High School (Illinois, USA): 1996
American Intercultural Student Exchange
Swiss Institute of Technology EPFL, Switzerland: MSc, Microengineering, specialised in Robotics and Systems 2005
Ticino State scholarship. Master thesis: "Autonomous landmark selection for underwater vehicles using sidescan sonar data" Semester projects: "Evolutionary robotics for PalmOS", "zeroGraptor - a multigravity robot"; tested in weightlessness during the European Space Agency's 7th Student Parabolic Flight Campaign.
Affiliations (3)
- ETH Alumni
- University of Tokyo Alumni
- EPFL A3
Links (1)
Testimonials (2)
Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier, Director | CTI Invest
"This is what disruptive technology looks like"
Peter Cochrane, Advisor | TTI/Vanguard
"Nicola = Thanks for coming along and doing such a great job."
Event Appearances (6)
Computation from Nature
TTI/Vanguard NextGens Charlotte, NC
2010-12-06
Cyborg Contribution
The Robot Revolution San Francisco
2011-10-10
Una start-up svizzera può farcela a livello mondiale?
Venture Apéro Lugano, Switzerland
2011-10-17
An electronic fly eye
De Vigier Prize Ceremony Solothurn, Switzerland
2011-05-23
Speed sensors in your pocket
McKinsey Venture Zurich, Switzerland
2010-01-25
Visual Groundspeed Control in Free-Flying Fruit Flies
Engineering Principles in Biological Systems Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY
2006-12-04
Sample Talks (1)
Computation from Nature
Biomimicry is mostly associated with new materials and physical products like Velcro. In this talk, I speak about what we can learn from nature from a computing standpoint, and how to transform these insights into successful products. I will use several examples, such as fruit flies. How is it possible that an insect with such a tiny "onboard computer" can fly around our hand? It uses some remarkable albeit straightforward tricks, and I lead you through methods to discover them in your context.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Author Appearance
- Corporate Training
Social