Siddhi Mehta, founder and CEO of Rhythm 108

You mentioned your admiration for Swiss artisans. Would you say this is something typically Swiss? How would you describe the “Swissness” of Rhythm 108?

Indeed, craftsmanship plays a significant role in Swiss culture. Switzerland is known internationally for perfectionism and high quality, and I think that’s really the attributes that we aim to capture at Rhythm 108. Eighty percent of our business is in exports, and the Swiss-made label on all our packaging assures our customers that they have purchased a high-quality product made with Swiss craftsmanship.

Otherwise, I would say there are three Swiss factors that we embody as a brand. The first is pioneering: Switzerland is a leader in so many fields, not just chocolate, and I think as a country we’re always looking to do better and more. The second thing is heritage. In Switzerland, we’re very proud of our heritage and we’re not afraid to take it with us as we innovate for the future. The third quality is sustainability. Compared to many other countries, Switzerland is a pioneer in the field of sustainability and I think the community here in Switzerland is very much at the forefront of bringing sustainability to the world.

Can you tell us more about the sustainability ethos and practices at Rhythm 108?

For us, sustainability, environmental protection, and ethics have always been a part of our DNA. These were the main drivers behind my motivation to start the company.

From the very beginning, we have always looked at sourcing organic ingredients from farmers who are dedicated to taking care of the land. Organic farms use 30% to 50% less fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which in turn reduces the use of fossil fuels.

Every step of the way we’ve tried to pioneer concepts before they became trendy. Although the high growth in the sector may have tapered down, I think veganism will continue to grow – albeit more slowly – because the ethical side of farming is, in my opinion, just as important as the environmental aspect. We were one of the first companies to focus on purely vegan products for everyone – not just those following a vegan diet. 

Another very good example of our sustainable and pioneering approach is that we were one of the first companies to use plastic-free packaging in the food industry back in 2016. The technology had only just been developed and commercialized and we worked with a supplier to specifically design packaging that had the right properties to ensure the lasting freshness of our cookies. Today, everybody’s discussing plastic, and we’re genuinely proud that most of our range comes in plastic-free, home-compostable materials.

What has your experience been of the transition from startup to established company? Has Switzerland been a supportive environment for you as a startup?

The journey from a one-woman show to an established company has always consistently presented challenges, but we’ve also experienced numerous highs. For us, it was definitely a step-by-step process. We went from two to three people in the first year to almost 15 today. One of the first highlights was securing our first retail listing and scaling up production to larger batches. However, there are also moments when you find yourself in production, at two in the morning, and everything seems to go wrong. It’s a journey filled with ups and downs, but that is what makes life interesting, and that’s why entrepreneurs do it.

Personally, I have found Switzerland to be very entrepreneur-friendly: it has excellent infrastructure, talent, and universities. The startup ecosystem has also come a long way. When I first embarked on the entrepreneurial journey, it was just in the early stages developing. Nowadays, there are numerous incubators, government organizations, financing institutions, and investors. It’s really positive for the ecosystem.

Something else that’s developed a lot in the last ten years is technology – especially AI. What does this mean for Rhythm 108?

The chocolate experience can’t be replaced by AI! But it definitely has an impact on our business. We’ve already began integrating AI in smaller capacities. For instance, we connected our accounting system to an AI-powered data analytics tool for quicker reports. As we scale up, the integration of AI will become even more fundamental.

AI will make the business more efficient – from how we use production data to how we organize production itself. It’s about combining people and technology. AI won’t replace us, but it will enhance our business and let people concentrate on more valuable tasks. This raises an interesting point: AI has the potential to challenge the traditional corporate idea that more time equals more output. With technology like AI, this assumption isn’t necessarily true. This shift not only benefits the business but also empowers individuals to integrate work, leisure, and other commitments, like parenting, more effectively.

What other tips have you found helpful in maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

For an entrepreneur, the first thing is to have a different mindset on work-life blend. The word blend, rather than balance, is more appropriate. It’s really about how to prioritize; at times, your family will have priority, and at other times, your business will. It’s important to assess yourself on a monthly, rather than a daily basis.

I think the benefit of being an entrepreneur is that you can set your own schedule and rules. All non-production employees at our company enjoy flexible hours and the option to work from home. As long as the work gets done, it doesn’t matter how many hours go into it. It’s the result that counts. You need to set solid KPIs and timelines and encourage your team to work towards those in their own unique ways.