BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Samantha Anderson

CEO & Co-founder

Sam is an organic and material chemist by training with over 10 years of experience and a Ph.D. from EPFL. Over the course of her career she has had experience in business development, patenting, and scaling chemical processes. As the CEO, she has successfully raised over 3M USD in international awards and grant money for the company. Sam is an English native speaker with a working knowledge of French. She is driven, curious, and resourceful.

Interesting fact - she is a great runner!

frequently running in the lausanne marathon

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, skiing, hiking, and running, frequently running in the Lausanne Marathon. To recharge, she loves spending time with family, friends, and her dog Luna.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Bardiya Valizadeh

CTO and Co-founder

Bardiya has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from EPFL with 10 years of experience in material and process design, development and scale up both in industry and academia. With experience in various sectors of chemical industry such oil & gas, food, and water treatment, Bardiya is leading the development and scale-up of DePoly recycling technology.

Interesting fact - he is a piano player.

self-taught beginner pianist

He enjoys all kind of sports: loves swimming, fast skier, footballer, chess player, cyclist, ping-pong player and newly tennis player. An adventurer who loves traveling and nature.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Christopher Ireland

CSO and co-founder

Materials Chemist with nearly 20 years of industrial and research experience in quality control, photochemistry, catalysis and synthesis, and in applications such as carbon capture, water splitting and the chemical recycling of plastic. Has a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from University of Liverpool, Post Doc and Start-Up experience at the University of Cambridge and EPFL.

Interesting fact - Chris is a typical Brit:

8 tea cups / day

Chris has been passionate about science all his life, and is striving to bring innovative science solutions to the worlds environmental problems.

Outside work he enjoys touring the galaxy in Elite Dangerous, and playing piano and guitar.

BIOGRAPHY

Miguel Peña Willershausen

COO

Miguel has built up his expertise in operations during 23 years of work for a major chemical industry player. He worked in various industries and business units including agrochemicals, coatings, flavours and fragrances, where he developed and led global and regional operations. In the last four years, he has deepened his understanding of Project Execution as Head of a European Business Unit at a leading systems and components supplier in Switzerland. He earned his Process Engineering degree at the Technical University of Munich.

He is fluent in Spanish, German, and English while working on his French.

Interesting fact - He loves playing golf.

He even met his wife doing that!

In his free time, he likes to travel with his family, hike, play golf and drive his XV 950 Motorbike. Cooking and reading are also part of his favorite occupations.

BIOGRAPHY

David Hanf

CFO

David was CFO and Managing Director of Thermondo, Germany's largest B2C heat service company, which has digitized the private heat sector. Before Thermondo, he has been part of building smava.de (http://smava.de/), Germany’s leading online loan marketplace, as Managing Director and CFO/COO. David is an entrepreneur and executive with management background in strategy, finance, venture capital, and business intelligence. Before Smava, he worked in Venture Capital. He co-founded the German startup association and is an active Angel Investor.

Interesting fact - David used to be a DJ

A mic or a dance floor is anything he needs to be happy

BIOGRAPHY

Eric Schwaninger

CCO

Eric is an accomplished business builder & leader with 20 years of international experience across industries.

For the past 10 years he has worked within the digital & tech leaders of this world – Google & Salesforce. He has built digital & marketing strategies for companies of all sizes, transforming marketing and automating it to be fit for the future. He has built high performance & diverse teams, overachieving targets on a yearly basis and generating hyper growth in challenging and dynamic environments.

This journey has taken him around the world – having worked on all continents – in the most challenging & dynamic environments, with multicultural teams equally diverse.

Interesting fact - Eric is an avid skier

He has practiced his skills on all continents - only Antarctica is missing!

In his free time, he spends as much time outside as possible - in the mountains, on the sea, and in the forest - together with his family.

BIOGRAPHY

Nancy Keller

Finance & Administration Director

Administrative, Accounting and HR Specialist 20 years of experience with small to medium businesses in Europe and Switzerland. Involved in 3 start-ups launches since 2018, in sustainability and health fields, as support for the incorporation and the set-up of the global administrative function. Fluent in French (mother tongue) and good knowledge in English (can always be improved!).

Interesting fact - main ambition:

to write a book before getting 60 years old!

Priority in life and work: have a sustainable behavior, empathic, good listener, open to new knowledges in all fields.

Outside work, like to read contemporary US and French authors, practice yoga, spend time with family at home or in the mountains, main ambition: to write a book before getting 60 years old!

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Pelin Uran

Head of Research and Development

Chemical Engineer with PhD in Chemical Science & Engineering from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

Pelin has over 5 years of experience in material science and catalysis. She is enthusiastic about developing sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to the recycling of different kinds of plastics.

Pelin is fluent in Turkish and English, currently learning French!

Interesting fact - True DIY fan!

She enjoys making jewelry

She believes chemistry is like cooking and she enjoys both! Spending time in nature, travelling, and trying different cuisines are her favorite activities.

BIOGRAPHY

Mohamed Hlaiem

Head of Engineering

Process and Environmental Engineer with international experience in sustainable processes and technologies. He has experience varying from sustainable product design (Water treatment, Spain) to biomolecules extraction using supercritical CO2 (Process Engineering, Tunisia) to process design and optimization (Plastic Waste Treatment, Switzerland).

Interesting fact - he is a language geek who speaks:

EnglishFrenchTunisianSpanishItalian

Besides work, Mohamed loves beers, music concerts and is a crazy fan of Friends. If you want a laughter, he's the guy to go to!

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Hale Bila

Head of Quality Assurance

Hale has a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from EPFL. She has nearly 10 years of research experience in nanotechnology, synthesis, characterization, and quality control, and in different applications such as selective cell targeting and hydrogen generation.

Interesting fact - She is a taekwondo pro!

black belt from from World Taekwondo Federation

She loves reading and travelling and enjoys all kinds of sports, especially taekwondo, zumba, hiking, and fitness. Outside work, she enjoys exploring Swiss Alps and travelling around the world with her husband.

BIOGRAPHY

Joanna Gorzędowska

Head of IT

Throughout her career, Joanna has led various teams and spearheaded critical projects, including brand and product launches, rebranding efforts, and comprehensive go-to-market strategies.

She is a professional with a diverse background and a passion for technology and innovation. With an academic background in physics, Joanna has successfully transitioned within DePoly from marketing expert to the role of Head of IT.

Interesting fact - she never believed that...

santa is real

Passionate about human rights and sustainability. Outside of the office, she savors good coffee and urbex adventures. Joanna is also a devoted reader, consuming over 100 books every year.

Last but not least, she is absolutely crazy about cats.

BIOGRAPHY

Michael Lamotte

Head of Marketing, Communication & PR

Former double Swiss Champion in single-seater racing cars, Michael embarked on an exciting career shift into Marketing in 2012. With over a decade of marketing experience, Michael has demonstrated his expertise in global marketing operations, holding roles such as Marketing Operations Manager and Digital Marketing Manager in the health and biotech sector. Prior to this, he honed his skills in the biodegradable coffee capsules industry, initially leading the global customer service department and then transitioning to Product Marketing. This unique journey has prepared him for a thriving career in Marketing.

Interesting fact - Michael was able to...

recognize all car brands by the age of 5

Outside the professional field, Michael indulges in his passion for Horology. During his free time, he enjoys sports, hiking, and listening to electronic music. An Ibiza enthusiast, he knows the island inside out and can offer valuable recommendations if you're planning a visit.

BIOGRAPHY

Philip Boydell

Business development

An Innovation Leader with a solid track record spanning three decades of commercialised products, Philip built and led ventures, assets and teams and pioneered long term market development in a multinational materials company. After recycling his first nylon resin in 1990, his career included significant roles in polymer recycle. Philip has a masters degree in chemistry from Oxford University and a PhD from what is today Université de Paris-Saclay. He has given invited lectures in the field of sustainability at the Ecoles Polytechniques of Lausanne and Paris.

Interesting fact - Philip and his grandfather were both shipwrecked.

currently working towards a railway driving license

He likes bridge, industrial archaeology, rail travel, hiking, eating well and pushing back the frontiers of ignorance. He is currently working towards a railway driving license, and improving his Italian.

BIOGRAPHY

Shaista Shah

Senior Process Engineer

Shaista has a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering with over 13 years of industrial experience in process design, projects, commissioning, and process optimization.

She has worked with 14 operations in the Sugar and Starch Industry across South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe as well as waste-to-energy facilities in Australia. Her most memorable projects include the expansion of a starch refinery in response to an increase in demand for coffee creamer in South Africa, the construction of the first sugar refinery in Mozambique, the construction of the first biosolids gasification plant in Australia, and the optimization of a biochar production facility in Australia.

Interesting fact - She is a bellydancer:

OVER 15 YEARS OF LEARNING THE ART OF EGYPTIAN BELLYDANCE (RAQS SHARQI)

She has danced in numerous shows and competitions as a part of Maya Dance Company in South Africa and taught occasionally as an assistant belly dance teacher. She continues to dance with Maya despite moving to Australia and now Switzerland. She is a self-taught pianist from a young age and is happiest when she is with her family surrounded by good food and tea!

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Sanaz Soodi

Laboratory Chemist

Sanaz has a research background in heterogeneous catalysis for energy and environmental applications. She received her PhD in Physical Chemistry from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS). During her degree, she had an internship at the Laboratory of Materials for Renewable Energy (LMER), EPFL University.

Sanaz's multidisciplinary skills are in the areas of material synthesis, characterization, and their application in photochemical, electrochemical, and thermochemical reactors. Previous to joining DePoly, she was a research assistant in Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Surrey, UK.

Interesting fact - Sanaz is a full-time scientist

She really enjoys taking part in conferences and seminars

BIOGRAPHY

Roane Delaloye

Quality Control Technician

Roane is a laboratory chemical technician with 18 years of experience. She has worked in the quality control laboratory and as production support in the cosmetics industry, especially within the realms of quality control and production support.

Previous to joining DePoly, she managed the laboratory for the environmental department of the canton of Valais, monitoring the quality of surface water and groundwater, as well as training employees at water treatment plants.

Roane is deeply aware of plastic pollution, and for her, being part of the DePoly team adds significant meaning to her professional life.

Interesting fact - She is a true Valaisanne

Roane loves her canton and its beautiful landscapes

BIOGRAPHY

Adélie Ollivier

Junior Chemical Engineer

Adélie has a Master's Degree in Chemical engineering from EPFL.

She has experience in diverse topics such as organic photocatalysis, lithium-ion batteries manufacturing, and immunoassays. After working for three years in the medical devices industry, she joined DePoly as a process-oriented chemical engineer.

Interesting fact - Never tell her she has too many bikes!

According to Adélie, the correct number of bikes = n+1, with n being the number of bikes already owned.

BIOGRAPHY

Tijana Ivanovic

Senior Business Development Manager

Tijana is a passionate young professional with a diverse background in sustainability, spanning environmental engineering, material science, business, and international development. She holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from EPFL (with distinctions) and BSc from University in Belgrade (summa cum laude). Her research work at the Swiss Federal Labs for Materials Sciences and Technology focused on PET and polyester sustainability, which won her the 2020 EPFL Durabilis Prize. She has profound knowledge of life cycle assessments, plastic recycling, and circular economy policy-to-practice challenges. Her other experiences include roles in green economy at the UN Environment Programme, engineering offices, science communication, and after working at Boston Consulting Group as an Associate, she joined the DePoly commercial team.

Interesting fact - Tijana loves to...

play tennis!

She speaks Serbian, English, French, German, and Hungarian with a varying degree of fluency.

Passport control officers in Europe often ask her if she is related to Ana Ivanovic, an ex-tennis nm. 1 player and a fellow Serbian.

BIOGRAPHY

Rossella Grillo

Office Manager

Rossella is an experienced office management and hospitality professional with over a decade of expertise.

As a dynamic and organized individual, Rossella played a key role in the headquarters move at her former company. She has exceptional project management skills, attention to detail and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

Interesting fact - Rossella is the R'n'B fan!

She is a walking encyclopedia of R'n'B music from the 90s and 2000s

Outside work, she loves reading, doing fitness, and traveling. Her dream came true when she visited the Cook Islands.

BIOGRAPHY

Joey Rouge

Pilot Plant Operator

Joey has always had a keen interest in the field of chemistry, thanks to his father's career in the field. After working for several years in the construction industry as a tinsmith and roofer, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps and continue his career in the chemical industry as an operator. Following his experience in a chemical production plant, he joined Depoly as a pilot plant operator.

Interesting fact - Joey is absolutely crazy about his dog!

He spends a lot of time with Aska, even paddling with her!

During his free time, Joey also builds a converted van with the goal of eventually touring Europe and going surfing.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Sylvain Sudan

Laboratory Chemist

Sylvain has a PhD in Chemistry from EPFL. With a background in synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, he has experience in the synthesis and application of metal-organic assemblies. With a core interest in fundamental research, he would like to apply chemistry to tackle global contemporary challenges.

Interesting fact - Sylvain has...

an identical twin brother!

Beside chemistry, he enjoys outdoors sports such as climbing, hiking and snowboarding, as well as board games on rainy days.

BIOGRAPHY

Aurélien Claret

Pilot Plant Operator

Aurélien has experience in chemical and pharmaceutical production and operations. After 6 years of chemical plant management, he joined DePoly as a Pilot Plant Operator.

Interesting fact - True ski fan!

He loves spending his free time on the ski slopes.

BIOGRAPHY

Nicolas Andrey

Quality Control Manager

Nicolas has graduated with a master’s in Chemistry from University of Geneva, with a strong focus on electrochemical chemistry, mass spectrometry and materials science.

After that he decided to orient himself towards Quality Control and did work for several pharmaceutical multinational companies where he gained knowledge of several analytical methods including SE-, RP-HPLC, wet chemistry methods along with good manufacturing practices guidelines.

Interesting fact - Nicolas is a true waterman enthusiast, when he is not in the office he will mostly be found on the water.

This passion took him travelling to several places such as Australia or Hawaii.

He loves taking part in local and European stand up paddle races.

BIOGRAPHY

Steef Van Rijen

Engineering Department Intern

Steef obtained his bachelor’s degree Molecular Science and Technology from TU Delft and Leiden University, and is currently completing his master’s degree Chemical Engineering at TU Delft. After finishing the thesis at the Catalysis Engineering group, it is now time for a Swiss adventure at DePoly.

Interesting fact - He enjoys being creative in many ways and once even won a drawing contest

The price was a ski trip to Valais!

He loves travelling, cooking, cycling, hiking, and skiing – though skiing is challenging in the flat Netherlands! In his spare time, Steef enjoys watching Formula 1, spending time with friends and family, and learning new languages; He's working on his French during his time in Switzerland.

BIOGRAPHY

Gaetano Dedual

Senior Business Development Manager

Gaetano is a seasoned chemical and process engineer specializing in the renewable chemical sector. He brings over six years of CTO and board experience to his new role at DePoly. Gaetano has a proven track record of developing and commercializing cutting-edge technologies for renewable chemicals and fuels from wood, industrial waste, and lithium extraction from geothermal water. His blend of engineering expertise and commercial acumen bridges the gap between technical and commercial domains, driving innovation from concept to market. In his previous roles, Gaetano successfully validated novel technologies and markets for renewable chemicals across the Asia-Pacific, USA, and Europe. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Canterbury and has raised considerable private equity and government funding for a startup.

Interesting fact - Gaetano is an avid hunter, spearfisher, and fly fisherman.

He enjoys combining these activities with his passion for cooking.

He is also learning Italian.

BIOGRAPHY

Georges Kachalov

Pilot Plant Operator

Georges began his career in the silk screen domain before transitioning into the field of chemistry. He completed an apprenticeship in chemistry and gained valuable experience working at BASF for four years and Huntsman in epoxy resins for two years. He also holds a diploma as "chargé de sécurité SST," reflecting his strong commitment to safety.

Interesting fact - Georges believes that...

a nap is always better with a cat!

In his private life, Georges is starting a silk screen and vinyl cutting workshop, showcasing his love for the artistic side of things. His hobbies are as diverse as his professional background. In his free time, Georges enjoys playing with his cats, Tesla and Schrodi, attending metal concerts, reading mangas, hiking in the mountains (especially if he finds mushrooms!), and going on motorbike tours.

BIOGRAPHY

Thibault Scherly

Laboratory Intern

Thibault is currently doing his Master's degree in molecular and biological chemistry at EPFL, specializing in inorganic, analytical and sustainable chemistry. He is doing his internship here at DePoly as part of his Master's project for a semester. Previously in his Master's degree, he has done two internships at EPFL laboratories, in organic chemistry (LCSO) and organometallic chemistry (LCOM). In his free time, Thibault plays chess as well as badminton in his local club. He also possess a paragliding license and scuba diving certifications.

Interesting fact - For 4 months...

Thibault backpacked in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines)

BIOGRAPHY

Zoë Pfeiffer

Interim Office Manager

Zoë Pfeiffer is an experienced professional with a robust background in international hospitality & business management. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and has accumulated significant experience in both operational and strategic roles across various countries. Her expertise includes project management, marketing strategy, sustainability advisory, and hospitality operations, where she has excelled in managing large teams and complex projects.

Fluent in five languages, including English, French, and Italian, she brings a global perspective to her work, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.

Interesting fact - Zoë also speaks fluent Indonesian

She has lived in Indonesia- don’t hesitate to ask her some local tips if you’re planning to visit one of the 17’000 islands!

An avid adventurer, Zoë is passionate about outdoor activities and frequently participates in trail-running races and endurance events like 70.3 Ironmans and Patrouille des Glaciers. When she's not in the office, you'll likely find her exploring the mountains or on the water, enjoying her love for surfing and sailing.

BIOGRAPHY

Colleen Lonfat

Laboratory Intern

Colleen is an EPFL Master student doing an Internship at DePoly for 6 months.

Strong of her studies in industries, she started working in labs 10 years ago. She has developed a strong passion for sustainability, inorganic chemistry, materials and physic chemistry. Colleen also studied a bit of AI for fun. She is curious and willing to learn.

Interesting fact - She is a drama actor...

for 19 years now

In her free time, she enjoys acting, participating in various societies, and engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and skiing.

BIOGRAPHY

Gaston Torres

Accountant and Financial Analyst

Gaston brings a five and a half years of experience in accounting at the fiduciary firm Synergix with three different workstations and hold a certification as a certified accountant, achieved while working, and currently pursuing a Federal Diploma in Finance and Accounting.

Interesting fact - He is...

Half Ironman Finisher!

Outside of the professional commitments, Gaston is passionate about triathlon. He has notably achieved a performance in a Half Ironman and enjoy the challenge of winter lake swimming. Swimming is his thing. His dedication extends beyond work, as he also serve as the treasurer for the Swiss Open Geneva, where he applies his financial expertise to support a major event during the summer.

INFO

Plastic Pandemic

PET plastic is everywhere - it's in your clothing, bottles and packaging, shoes, and boats! However most of this cannot be recycled by traditional methods due to contamination of food, chemicals, other plastics, or dyes and additives.

INFO

Revolutionary Technology

Using simple sustainable chemicals and technology, DePoly has developed a process to recycle all PET plastics without the need to pre-wash, pre-sort, or separate out other plastics. we can save time, money and PET resources that would be otherwise thrown into landfills or incinerated.

INFO

What’s PTA?

PTA - aka purified terephthalic acid is a white powder used in the PET resin industry during the polycondensation process to produce new PET plastic. Originally it’s produced from oil. Other usages: pharmaceuticals...

INFO

What’s MEG?

MEG - aka mono-ethylene glycol is a clear liquid used in the PET resin industry to produce new PET plastic items via the polycondensation process. Another derivative from oil/fossil fuel.

Talk to us about sample testing or proof of concept project

Monomer samples can only be sent to registered laboratories.

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Blog / Awards /

##Innovation
##TOP100SSU
##SwissStartups

DePoly Wins TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award

##Innovation
##TOP100SSU
##SwissStartups

We’re still flying high above the clouds after last week’s announcement that DePoly has won the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award! 🏆

As we realize what an incredible feat this is, we want to take a moment to deeply thank everyone who has supported us on this journey, in one way or another. A special shoutout to our fellow podium partners Corintis 🥈 and Yokoy 🥉 and congratulations to all the startups who made the TOP 100 ranking this year. Huge thanks to Venture Lab and Venture Kick for making this all possible!

The 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups are selected by a panel of leading investors and startup experts—100 proven connoisseurs of the startup scene. They’ve chosen the startups with the greatest growth potential and the ability to make significant impacts in their industries.

Being ranked #1 in the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards opens new doors for DePoly, giving us increased visibility, networking opportunities, and access to potential partners we didn’t have before.

To quote our CEO and co-founder Samantha Anderson: “The road ahead is long, and our goals are ambitious. But with the will and determination to succeed, I’m confident we’ll tackle the plastic waste problem and create a sustainable circular economy for plastics—together.”

Category / Awards

Published / September 9, 2024

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