Les fondateurs
At the heart of VF are Valentin and Thibault, two engineer friends united by shared passions:
Innovation and entrepreneurship.
Valentin Vuagniaux
Co-founder
#electronic #management #qualityprocess
Thibault Francfort
Co-founder
#mecanic #material #manufactureprocess
What do we believe in?
Our Vision
A world where every entrepreneur, regardless of their resources or experience, can turn an innovative idea into an industrialized product.
We envision a future where quality technical support is accessible to everyone, whether it's an individual with a unique project, a startup ready to take the leap into industrialization, or an SME. For us, there are no barriers to innovation, only challenges to tackle together. By outsourcing production to us, our clients can fully focus on developing their business without worrying about the complex aspects of industrialization.
Our Mission
Providing every entrepreneur and startup with the tools, support, and expertise needed to turn their ideas into tangible realities.
From conceptualization to industrialization, we support our clients at every step, no matter where they are in their journey. With a tailored approach, we adapt to their needs to ensure that every project has a chance of success. We are much more than service providers; we are your trusted long-term partners.
Our Values
Honesty, Responsiveness, Availability, Quality
We believe in transparent communication and partnerships built on trust. Always available and responsive, we quickly address our clients' needs. Our clients are more than just partners; they become colleagues with whom we work hand in hand to overcome challenges and strive for excellence. Each project benefits from our commitment to ensuring quality that meets the requirements: just enough, without unnecessary over-engineering, to guarantee optimal results. The success of our clients is our success, and we do everything possible to help them reach their full potential.
Our History
Valentin and Thibault meet
In 2011, in a laboratory at HEIG-VD, Thibault and Valentin became roommates. Even then, their affinities and shared passion for their areas of expertise hinted at a bright future ahead.
Thibault and Valentin each launch their own startups: Valentin develops training devices for football, while Thibault creates a product centered around a carbon nanotube X-ray source. They integrate into the Swiss startup ecosystem by collaborating with Innosuisse, Innovaud, FIT, Geliem, and other key players.
Valentin founds a corporation and brings in collaborators, investors, and shareholders. He develops and commercializes three products while managing development, industrialization, and marketing. This is an initial success, as clients such as Olympique de Marseille and the Swiss national football team acquire the products and continue to use them to this day. However, due to a lack of funding and commercial partners, he is forced to close the business.
Thibault joins a startup from EPFL, where he acquires skills in microfabrication and neurobiology. He then joins an SME in the medical sector, relocating production to Asia and participating in the development of new products that combine plastic injection, electronics, and mechanics while working on the certification aspect.
Throughout their journeys, Thibault and Valentin made a striking observation: startups are often left to fend for themselves during critical moments of product development and industrialization. Faced with this gap, they had to navigate alone, learning through trial and error, without the necessary support to overcome these crucial stages. This experience opened their eyes to the importance of dedicated support that can transform challenges into growth opportunities for young companies.
Their mission then becomes clear: to provide concrete and accessible solutions to companies brimming with ideas but hindered by the obstacles of development and industrialization.
The start of VF Engineering
In 2017, they recognized the importance of support and guidance and founded VF Engineering.
Creating your first prototype when you don’t know any suppliers can be challenging. Moreover, without real experience in the complete industrialization process, the progression of the project can be very long and costly.
They begin to expand their network of suppliers and partners to surround themselves with experts in various fields. Based on their values, they decide to adopt a unique approach, treating each client as a team member and sometimes even as friends, in an atmosphere of trust and kindness, which is key to success.
The growth
Today, VF consists of a team of 9 people with diverse skills in engineering and project management, spread across the globe to ensure direct contact with our most important suppliers, particularly in Asia and Europe.
It is also a network of experts, partners, and consultants available at any time for questions related to specific fields.