How Eleven Dynamics entered Formula 1 with the Stake F1

When high-tech meets high speed: Swiss start-up Eleven Dynamics supplies cutting-edge measurement technology – and is now a partner of the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber. Co-founder Michael Fischer explains how a chance conversation at a trade fair stand led to collaboration with one of the most technically sophisticated teams in the world – and why start-ups should be bolder when it comes to taking risks.

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Ines: Michael, many tech start-ups dream of working with a Formula 1 team. How did you manage to convince such a demanding customer?

Michael: In the end, it was the right mix of technology, team, and timing. Santiago, my co-founder, brings incredible technical expertise to the table, while I focus more on marketing and communication – but the decisive factor was that we presented ourselves as a team.

At the time, we had a small, improvised exhibition stand – and by chance, staff from the technical department of the Stake F1 team KICK Sauber were also there. We got talking, exchanged ideas – and quickly realized that our visions were a surprisingly good fit. Our product was still young, but we were able to show what we had already achieved with Audi Sport. That created trust.

Shortly afterwards, we had the opportunity to test our software for the first time. When Santiago worked on specific challenges with the Sauber team on site, it quickly became clear that we spoke the same language – both technically and culturally. From then on, everything developed very organically. It was like a mosaic – every piece had to fit.

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"We can do things that large corporations can no longer do."

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Ines: A partnership with a Formula 1 team is a big step. Were there any risks?

Michael: Of course, but there are always risks at the top. Our customers expect absolute precision and reliability. Our advantage is that we are small, agile, and not blocked by corporate structures. We can make things possible that large companies with all their processes can hardly implement anymore.

That's exactly why we founded Eleven Dynamics. In previous companies, such approaches were often not feasible because there were too many hurdles. Now we bear the responsibility ourselves, and that's a huge advantage.

Our strength lies in our team: Santiago's technical expertise, my focus on the market and communication – and our entire team, which achieves extraordinary things every day. That is our recipe for success.

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"Formula 1 is performance, speed, and logistics – absolutely world-class."

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Ines: What exactly do you do for the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber? Are there any initial results yet?

Michael: We can't reveal too much, but basically it's about optimizing aerodynamics. We have developed an automated process that combines robotics and sensor technology, our core competence.

It involves measuring, scanning, and analyzing - with the goal of pushing performance to its physical limits. The team sets ambitious goals - and together we work to achieve them. What's particularly nice is that it has been a partnership of equals from the very beginning. We work as one team - Eleven Dynamics and the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber. The first improvements are already visible - and we are continuously pushing each other forward. This is world-class technology, precision, and innovation.

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"What we do makes the team faster."

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Ines: What particularly impressed you about the team?

Michael: Above all, the organization. The professionalism, the structure, the timing - simply impressive. The logistics alone are a masterpiece: every two weeks, the entire Formula 1 team is in a different location around the world, and everything runs smoothly.

This consistency, this pursuit of perfection, is world class. And the great thing is: we think very similarly. Both sides give their all to stay ahead. That's what connects us.

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"A team with a shared vision can move mountains."

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Ines: What do you take away from this experience for yourself and other founders?

Michael: In a nutshell: You have to believe in it and do it together. It was clear from the start that a project like this could only work as a team effort. It wasn't just Santiago and me, it was the entire Eleven Dynamics team. And it was also the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber. We didn't work as two companies, but as one team.

Countless hours, shared challenges, mutual trust. That was the key. Only in this way could we create something that works at this level.

And sometimes we think: What we're doing here is completely crazy, but brilliant. And that's exactly what makes it special.

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Ines: You couldn't have said it better. Thank you, Michael—and good luck with the next chapter!

Michael: Thank you very much, Ines. It was my pleasure.

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About Eleven Dynamics The Swiss start-up develops software and robotics solutions for automated industrial measurement technology. Its customers include companies from the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries - and, most recently, the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber.

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