Today’s hubber story is that of Violet Atom, a company centred around innovative technologies, robotics, software development and mechanical design, founded by Alan Pipitone. He kindly took the time to answer some questions, explaining his journey from a youth passionate in electronics to recently working on a project to help those affected by motor disorders.
Who is Alan Pipitone, what is your background, and what is your current occupation?
I am passionate about computer science, electronics, and robotics. I have always been fascinated by these subjects, especially robotics and artificial intelligence. As a child, I was attracted to films with protagonists who were robots, androids, or cyborgs. Then, as a boy, during high school, I began to study on my own subjects that were not covered at school, but that were fascinating to me, such as neutral networks or image processing. I went on to study electronics and electrotechnics and specialised in software development. I currently design IoT (Internet of Things) devices, automation systems and develop Machine Learning and Computer Vision algorithms.
How did the idea of founding a company like Violet Atom, which focuses on robotics and automation technology, come about? What is your mission?
The idea came about ten years ago. At the time I was working as an employee at an IT (information technology) company; I worked on simple projects such as creating websites or accounting applications. I was very frustrated because I was experimenting with technologies at home that I couldn't apply at work; I was gaining more experience on my own. So, I quit my job and founded my own company, with the mission to create and offer something that can help people.
What does Violet Atom mean and why did you choose this name?
For my company, I needed a name that could condense everything we do: computer science, electronics, mechanics, and robotics. The atom seemed the most appropriate symbol to me. However, the word 'Atom' alone could not be used, so I started adding other words. In the end I opted for 'Violet', as violet is one of my favourite colours and Violet Atom sounded very good.
Why did you decide to set up your company in Ticino? What connection do you have with Impact Hub Ticino? What do you like about IHT?
I initially contacted the agency GGBA (Greater Geneva Bern Area), who help companies working in innovation find a location within their territory. However, two of my clients at the time were in Ticino, so I decided it was better to bring my company there. In Ticino, I found an ideal office for the company: the current location of Impact Hub Ticino, which a couple of years ago was run by the association Spazio 1929, made up by forward-thinking people who were among the first to think of a coworking space here in Lugano.
When Impact Hub took over the building, they had to do a lot of modernisation work, so to recoup costs and not make a loss, they had to increase rents (they practically had no choice, especially since energy costs are always rising). For us, the cost almost tripled, but IHT came to our aid by offering us a very good discount for one year. Then, after a year, we left the rented office and took our equipment elsewhere. Now we have maintained a location at IHT where we only develop code, while everything else we do with electronics and robotics is completed elsewhere. At Impact Hub Ticino I like the people I work with every day, and I am very interested in many of the projects they follow.
How has Violet Atom's technology helped people affected by motor disorders? What exactly is this project about, where did the idea come from?
The idea was born after I moved to Spazio 1929. There I met the people (my customers) with whom I then started to collaborate. Together we developed a device that can help people affected by motor disorders regain most of their lost abilities. The device also allows doctors to configure the device and monitor the patient remotely, so that people affected by very severe motor disorders do not suffer the stress of going to a hospital or to a doctor's place of work.
How does working in a project like this make you feel? Would you like to explore more the link between technology and the medical sector, or go in another direction?
We have customers in other sectors too; we develop mobile and desktop applications for companies, electronic components for industries and much more. However, seeing people affected by motor disorders walking again makes me feel better. The problem is that working in the medical field is very complex. To ensure the best for the patient you must develop several prototypes, pass very strict certifications, and complete many clinical studies: a process which takes a lot of funding to complete.
Our company has the skills to create smart devices that can help people in need, but unfortunately, we can only do this if the company that hires us is very big. It is not enough to only have the skills, you also must be able to bear the costs of developing a certified medical device, which sadly is not possible for us.
What are the challenges you as an entrepreneur face today? And more specifically, what are the challenges for your company in your industry today?
A big challenge my company faced already started a few years ago; the COVID-19 pandemic brought more than half of Violet Atom and most of my customers to a standstill. Our recovery today is also greatly influenced by the chip crisis: many electronic components now have delivery times and wait-lists of two years. We had to put a stop to many of our activities in electronics and robotics because of this. However, we are also very active in the IT sector, and this, for the moment, has saved us from closure. Our goal now as a company is to focus more on software development.
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