“Switzerland to me feels like the heart of crypto”

What makes NMKR different from other NFT ecosystems? 

Patrick: We focus on the user experience for both businesses (B2B) and the end-customers (B2C). Customers can launch their Web3 products in a white-label way with our APIs. Plus, we offer no-code building blocks like our payment checkout, which is similar to PayPal but intended for the purchase of NFTs by the end-customer. It is very important for us to make everything accessible to people who have never worked with a blockchain before and don’t own any crypto currencies. We want their onboarding to be as seamless as possible. 

Who are your clients? 

Patrick: Anyone who wants to build something on the blockchain can become a client. We see a lot of people from the art scene, but also from the start-up space and big corporates that are interested in using the blockchain or NFT technology to enhance their products. For example, our partner book.io launched eBooks as NFTs. Using our infrastructure, they can mint and sell thousands of NFTs a day, trade their eBooks on the secondary market and the authors can earn money with each trade. This is interesting from a usability perspective. NFTs are completely decentralized, and everyone truly owns their product.  

Why did you choose the Cardano blockchain as platform for your business? 

Patrick: I analyzed different blockchains for my Bachelor thesis and was always fascinated by Cardano. It has amazing technology, is ecofriendly and scalable. We have a close relationship with the Cardano Foundation, one of the founding entities behind Cardano, who are all located in Switzerland. We often talk to them and work closely with them to help onboard bigger companies into the Cardano ecosystem.  

What is a challenge you faced as a start-up in the blockchain space?  

Kristian: One of the biggest challenges we faced as a blockchain start-up was opening a bank account. While this is straightforward for non-blockchain start-ups, many banks are very risk-averse when it comes to the blockchain and NFT space. Being in Switzerland was a significant advantage, as some banks here already have experience with blockchain businesses. 

Speaking of Switzerland, why did you set up your business here?  

Kristian: When it comes to blockchain start-ups, we've found that regulations in Switzerland are more startup-friendly than in many other countries. Switzerland also boasts an incredible ecosystem for blockchain and crypto ventures. We've connected with numerous other start-ups, angel investors, and brilliant minds in the blockchain space, which has been invaluable in helping us establish ourselves here. As a start-up, making quick decisions is crucial, and Switzerland’s infrastructure allows us to do just that. 

What role did S-GE play in establishing your business in Switzerland? 

Patrick: We’ve had some very interesting conversations and a lot of guidance from S-GE. We are also looking at emerging markets where we want to expand and that is something that is extremely difficult for us because we don't have a network there yet. We rely on guidance and help and that is where S-GE comes in.  

How would you describe the blockchain ecosystem in Switzerland? 

Patrick: It is extremely vibrant. Switzerland is a country with many start-ups located in a relatively small geographical area. There is a big talent pool here and many industry events take place. Switzerland to me feels like the heart of crypto. It is a great location for everyone to launch their start-up.  

What do you think is the future of the NFT market? 

Patrick: The future of the NFT market is to connect the real world with blockchain technology and solve real problems.  

If a blockchain business is looking for a new business location, what would your advice be? 

Patrick: Choose wisely where you want to go. There are many options, but my advice would be to look closely at the requirements your blockchain company has. It is easy to be tempted to go to an offshore island, but it might not be the best solution. Ask yourself: Does the infrastructure in this country support my business? Switzerland is a very reasonable location with a big ecosystem not only in the NFT and crypto space, but other industries that tie into blockchain. It is one of the richest and most successful countries in the world, and I do believe this is very helpful for any startup.  

You collaborated with award-winning creative designer Christian Etter to produce the NFT artwork Etter Edition 01. Can you tell us more about this?  

Patrick: The Cardano Foundation introduced us to this project. They were in contact with Alexander Brunner, the president of Home of Blockchain. He knew this amazing artist, Christian Etter, who planned to make physical art pieces that change over time. The idea was to connect them to the blockchain as NFTs. When they are minted, it creates a singular seed that starts the algorithm in the microprocessors of each art piece. It is an incredibly interesting take on art, and we were immediately on board. We helped Christian Etter build the website, launch it and connect all the blockchain parts with the NFTs and sell it. We quickly saw that the target group was not our usual target group in the crypto scene. It spoke more to art collectors, so we focused on integrating credit card payments to make it as easy as possible for people who have never tried crypto before to buy one of these art pieces.  

What are your next growth plans? 

Patrick: Right now, we're focused on expanding our tokenization brand, finest.investments, with the aim of making it as user-friendly as possible. Our goal is to ensure that anyone can interact with the blockchain so seamlessly that they don't even realize they're using it. We want to lower the entry barriers for new users to the point where even my grandfather could be using blockchain technology effortlessly.