On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2023. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Andrew ↗
In their words
The Swiss firefighters have actually been searching for this technology for about 10 years.
As startups, everyone here has a problem, right? We need customers. So when a customer finds you and they represent a nation, that's pretty important.
If you have something that you think is really cool and you have zero traction in Canada, go Switzerland.
Around the web ×1
Quick answers
Who is Andrew Leaman?
A commercial lead at Longan Vision. TechTO's host introduced him in July 2023 as VP of fire and defence solutions; a year earlier, the University of Arizona Center for Innovation and the Arizona Daily Star both named him Longan Vision's manager of commercial operations when he relocated to Tucson. No current role is published here because none could be verified from a first-party source.
Is he a founder of Longan Vision?
No source supports that. Longan Vision's own site names no individuals, and Innovation Factory's June 2020 interview names Enzo Jia as CEO and co-founder. TechTO's video description calls Leaman an entrepreneur and founder but does not name a company, so this page does not attach a founder title to him.
Why did Longan Vision look at Switzerland?
Because the Swiss came to them. He said Swiss firefighters had been looking for this kind of technology for about ten years, and that a customer representing a whole nation mattered to a startup. Swiss Business Hub Canada's introductions turned his own cold outreach into around 20 meetings on a return trip. As said on the TechTO stage, July 2023.
What case did he make for Switzerland?
He gave six reasons: it sits at the centre of Western Europe as a gateway to Germany, France and Italy; it has an early-adopter culture; it is strong on R&D and IP; a Swiss seal of approval carries weight as a quality standard; fondue; and it is cheap to cover, since he said about $2,500 CAD buys a week of flights, hotel and a train pass reaching almost every canton.