01 / THE PROBLEM
Too much work still happens manually.
Recruiting, onboarding, payroll, training, performance, compliance, people analytics. Too many workflows still rely on emails, spreadsheets, repetitive tasks and handovers between people.
DROMMER FOUNDER CHALLENGE
THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE OPERATIONS
Turn a broken HR process into an AI-native service business.
HR is still full of slow, manual and fragmented processes. We’re looking for people ready to rethink one of them from scratch using AI.
You don’t need a startup. You need a problem worth solving.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
21 September
BUILD & PITCH DAY
7 November
LOCATION
Chiasso, Switzerland
THE CHALLENGE
HR is full of processes ready to be rebuilt.
02 / THE OPPORTUNITY
Rethink how HR works with AI.
Which HR process could be fundamentally rethought with AI? Pick one real problem and imagine a better way to deliver the service. Not another software tool with AI added on top, but an AI-native service business where AI changes how the work is done, making the service faster, simpler and more scalable.
Pick the problem you know best. Rebuild it your way.
WHO CAN APPLY
You can start with just the problem.
No startup. No team. No MVP. No perfect pitch deck.
You just need something worth exploring:
1
A problem you know well
2
An inefficiency you’ve seen first-hand
3
An early idea
4
An insight you want to test
We’re not looking for finished startups. We’re looking for people ready to build one.
THE JOURNEY
From a problem to the market.
STEP 01
APPLY
Applications open 21 September · Close 27 October
Tell us who you are, the problem you want to solve and why it matters. Only the 10 strongest founders will be selected.
STEP 02
BUILD & PITCH DAY
7 NOVEMBER · DROMMER HQ, CHIASSO
One intensive day to challenge the problem, sharpen the idea and turn it into a first venture proposal. Work with Drommer and industry experts. Pitch it at the end of the day. Only 5 founders will move forward.
STEP 03
5 WEEKS TO REVENUE
9 NOVEMBER – 11 DECEMBER
The selected founders join the program for free. Five weeks to validate the problem, talk to customers, shape the offer, test pricing and start selling. No theory. No waiting. Real market proof.
The goal isn’t a better pitch. It’s real market proof.
WHAT YOU GET
Five weeks. Full focus.
01
Founder Support
Regular 1:1 support from the Drommer team and selected experts to challenge decisions, unblock problems and move faster.
02
Weekly Workshops
Practical weekly sessions focused on validation, offer design, pricing, go-to-market and sales.
03
Drommer HQ Access
Workspace in Chiasso, access to the Drommer founder community and in-person gatherings.
04
Founder Fridays
Weekly in-person build days alongside Drommer and the other founders.
05
Industry Experts
Direct access to people who understand the HR market, its processes and its real problems.
06
Market Validation
Customer conversations, offer testing, pricing and first commercial traction.
WHERE TO START
One industry. Many problems worth solving.
RecruitingTalent AcquisitionOnboardingHR AdministrationPayrollLearning & DevelopmentPerformanceCompliancePeople AnalyticsEmployee ExperienceWorkforce PlanningOffboarding
These are starting points, not boundaries. If you’ve found another People Operations problem that is manual, expensive or unnecessarily complex, we want to hear it.
KEY DATES
Know what you’re signing up for.
The program is built for people who are serious about execution. Commitment and availability are part of the selection criteria.
21 SEPTEMBER – 28 OCTOBER
Applications open
7 NOVEMBER
Build & Pitch Day
Chiasso · in person
9 NOVEMBER – 11 DECEMBER
5 Weeks to Revenue
Hybrid
11 DECEMBER
Final Review Day
Chiasso · in person
THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE OPERATIONS
Found a problem worth fixing?
Tell us why it matters and why you should be the person to build the solution. Applications open 21 September.
Apply Now10 founders will be invited to the Build & Pitch Day in Chiasso.
FAQ
Good questions. Clear answers.
Do I need to already have a startup?
No. You can apply with a problem you know well, an early idea or an insight you want to test. We are selecting people with the drive to build, not finished companies.
Do I need a team?
No. Solo founders are welcome. You do not need a co-founder or an existing team to apply.
Is the program free?
Yes. The five founders selected after Build & Pitch Day access the full five-week program completely free.
Is in-person attendance mandatory?
Yes. The 5 Weeks to Revenue follow a hybrid format, but attendance in Chiasso is required for the key in-person moments of the program:
- 7 NovemberBuild & Pitch Day
- 10–13 NovemberDrommer Reunion
- Every FridayFounder Fridays during the program
- 1–4 DecemberDrommer Reunion
- 11 DecemberFinal Review
All other mentoring sessions and activities may take place online.
Where does the program take place?
The Build & Pitch Day, Founder Fridays and Final Review take place in person at Drommer HQ in Chiasso, Switzerland.