I’m Ferdinand Metzler, founder and CEO of Swiss tech start-up meepl. In 2015, I spent an exchange semester in Hong Kong where I discovered the issues plaguing the fashion industry; high return rates, inconsistent sizing methods, lack of knowledge of the customer and the consumer experience. After returning home, I united a small team of engineers and started the development of what would later become the foundation of the meepl 3D body scan technology.

Before founding Fision AG in 2015, I (29) was the CFO of a Swiss start-up that offers tailor-made jeans online. Ferdinand holds an MSc. in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich.

I am passionate about sustainability, ‘the best consumer experience for the perfect fit’ and the place of tech in future-proofing the fashion industry.

What inspired you to launch your business and what is the end goal?

Coming from an engineering background my main motivation is to build solutions that have a positive impact on a broad range of people. Clothing is a commodity product that everyone needs and the challenges the clothing industry is facing are huge. Ecommerce itself is dealing with poor consumer/product fit as well as operational inefficiencies (e.g. high return rates, limited consumers experiences, etc.) resulting in unsustainable practices. I wanted to solve these problems with a clear goal in mind to create solutions with the consumer at the centre because fashion is about ourselves and our body.

If you could be in a room with four entrepreneurs, who would they be and why?

• Bertram Dragaschnig (sadly deceased in 2016), my childhood idol in regards to entrepreneurship.

• Bill Gates, an interesting personality with a broad spectrum of knowledge.

• Henry Ford, a pioneer in many ways.

• Oprah Winfrey, the most impressive female entrepreneur of today.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far as an entrepreneur?

Time. Everything takes longer than you can ever plan for. From the initial idea to the end result of a consumer-facing product, be patient. It won’t happen overnight.

With all the success stories around entrepreneurship and how innovative people have to be to take the leap. How do you think you’ve innovated your sector and why?

First, it is always a team effort. An idea is only as good as the execution and the execution is done by the team and therefore business is people. I think the most innovative factor is that at meepl we think in a very user-centric way. We want to help consumers as much as possible to navigate through the fashion industry’s wilderness of product offerings while making the fashion ecosystem itself more sustainable. Along with this guiding principle, we develop cutting edge technology to create a user experience across the whole value chain that no one has ever seen before.

What are your top tips for entrepreneurs wanting to get their business out there?

Start, be persistent, take your time to make good decisions and don't do it for the money or fame.

What plans do you have for ‘your business’ over the next two years? (Include here product development)

Strongly invest in the customer journey and reduce entry barriers. Furthermore, into the scalability of our Virtual Dressing Room in order to create new, immersive experiences for the consumer. Also, approach new areas with personalised avatars such as health, nutrition, gaming, etc. 

How important is company culture and what is your top tip to get it right?

As mentioned earlier, business is people. At meepl we are so lucky to have the best people. My principals are “lead with empathy”. As a company, you must invest in people and the team culture. We make sure that every team member can always bring in their ideas and is able to work super flexible. This high degree of flexibility is the key to foster creativity and to building the most innovative solutions.

How do you believe the evolution of tech will affect your industry over the next ten years?

The evolution of technology has only started to affect the fashion industry. New business models will arise and automation of cloth manufacturing will change the industry. 

The current fashion industry is facing challenges on many different levels. Firstly, it produces for the mass market and lacks industry-wide sizing standards. Secondly, it currently operates non-sustainable and poorly digitised production value chains with production where labor is the cheapest. Last but not least, consumer shopping behaviour is changing.  

Bricks & mortar stores are having to rethink their business model - especially since the worldwide pandemic - and e-commerce is still striving. However, the latter is convenient but still struggles heavily with limited user experience regarding product information on style and fit. 

At meepl we believe that a central element of tomorrow's fashion economy is the consumer's individual 3D body profile. Combining smartphone-based body scanning with novel 3D design and production technologies will be the key to overcoming the fashion industry’s challenges. Smartphone-based body scanning will enable to match supply with demand and produce customised garments on an individual basis. Production will be closely tied to digital clothing design. A piece of clothing the designer has just created digitally is available for a personal try-on experience in the online shop within hours. Virtual dressing room technology enables one to visually experience the look and fit on the personal body, increasing consumer buying power while resulting in fewer returns.

What do you think gives a brand longevity?

A good product/service combined with persistence. Furthermore, clear communication and a transparent set vision.

How did you conquer those moments of doubt that so often affect entrepreneurs or stop many with great ideas - what pushes you through?

Firstly, it is natural to have fears. My advice is to note them down before you start something and you will realise that the worst outcome is not that bad. Secondly, it is so important to believe in yourself and your team.