At S-PRO, we like real stories — the kind that happen between the first idea and the first investor. That’s why we regularly host Startup Talks, where founders share the lessons they learned the hard way and talk about what building a startup actually feels like — the wins, the stumbles, and everything in between.
At our September edition, “Bridging the MVP Gap: From Idea to Launch,” we were joined by Lucky Bassi and Samuel Brun, co-founders of the Swiss startup JobDone, who opened up about what it takes to build a successful startup and keep it alive.
We’ve been partners for years, building and improving JobDone together. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned along the way — success stories like this don’t happen overnight.
JobDone is a next-generation workforce management platform that helps teams plan shifts, track time, and communicate — all in one place. What started as a small idea to fix messy Excel sheets and WhatsApp messages is now used by businesses across Switzerland and beyond.
We’ve been lucky (no pun intended) to grow alongside them.
Here’s what we learned from their success story — and 6 honest lessons for anyone building a startup. But first, the journey of JobDone.
The Journey of JobDone
Like most successful startups, JobDone started with a problem that felt too obvious to ignore. While working in hospitality, Lucky and Samuel saw how chaotic scheduling could get — last-minute shift changes, miscommunication, endless messages. They thought, there has to be a better way.
They began small — testing mockups, doing market research, gathering feedback, and validating whether people would actually pay for such a tool. Turns out, they would.
That’s when they started looking for a tech partner who could help them turn an idea into something real. As Lucky recalls:
We interviewed over 50 development companies before choosing S-PRO. We didn’t want someone who just writes code — we wanted a partner who thinks with us.
In the early days, S-PRO helped the JobDone team design and launch their first MVP. It wasn’t just about building screens; it was about refining workflows, testing logic, and making sure the product worked for real teams in restaurants, clinics, and hotels.
That foundation, built almost seven years ago, is still the backbone of the platform today. Lucky put it best:
The architecture we built in the beginning still runs today. Thousands of users rely on it every day. It took more time back then, but now we’re reaping the benefits.
What stood out most in our collaboration was the human part. The JobDone founders flew to Kyiv to meet the S-PRO team in person — developers, designers, analysts, everyone. That’s when the partnership really clicked.
We didn’t want to just hand off specs and wait for results,” Lucky shared. “We wanted to build together — and that made all the difference.
Over time, the partnership grew stronger. JobDone went from a prototype to a full SaaS product with mobile and web apps — scaling its user base and growing into a real Swiss startup success story.
We’re grateful to Lucky for sharing his experience so openly — what started as a small collaboration has grown into a real partnership built on trust, transparency, and shared goals.
1. Co-Founder Mode
Without co-founders, there is no startup.
Every successful startup starts with the right people. At the beginning, it’s just you, your co-founders, and a blurry idea. No one fights for you; you fight for yourself.
Lucky and Samuel built JobDone on shared values, complementary skills, and absolute trust. They made sure they were in the same boat — rowing in the same direction. They also learned that culture starts at the top. You can’t expect commitment or creativity if you don’t show it yourself.
2. Team Is Everything
Hire the best, whatever it takes.
The JobDone founders believe that a startup is only as strong as its team. You can’t cut corners on people. They made hiring their top priority — looking for people who could not only deliver but also care. And when they found them, they paid fairly and treated them as partners, not employees.
Their philosophy? Don’t tolerate mediocrity. Build ownership instead. When people feel the company belongs to them, they’ll go the extra mile without being asked.
3. Obsess Over People
Deliver wow, not just value.
JobDone’s founders learned early that success isn’t only about building software — it’s about understanding people. They didn’t just look at users as transactions but listened deeply to their context and frustrations. That’s how they kept improving — not by guessing, but by hearing.
And when it came to clients, they focused on long-term trust, not short-term wins. As Lucky said, “We work hard for the wow.”
That mindset shaped how we at S-PRO collaborated with them too. Honest communication, shared ideas, and mutual respect — that’s how real partnerships grow.
4. Speed Is the Only Edge
Fight for today, not tomorrow.
When you’re a startup, speed beats size. JobDone kept shipping early, testing often, and learning from real use. They didn’t wait for perfect plans — they executed. As Samuel shared, strategy is great, but when you’re small, execution is everything.
At S-PRO, we saw this in action. During their MVP stage, they weren’t afraid to scrap what didn’t work and rebuild fast. That’s how progress happens — one release at a time.
5. Money Buys Time, Not Success
Investors don’t save you.
Funding helps, but it’s not the magic key. The founders of JobDone were clear about that — money gives you time, not victory.
They raised smart, not fast, choosing investors who added more than just capital. Because every new investor adds pressure, expectations, and the need for results. They also learned to treat every franc carefully. Scaling costs more than it seems — and when you’re growing, control is everything.
6. Never Die
Resilience is the real unfair advantage.
Most startups fail because they stop too soon. JobDone came close more than once, but they didn’t quit. They learned that staying alive long enough for luck to find you is half the game. Every setback felt heavy, but they treated each one as part of the journey — not the end of it.
In the end, survival isn’t glamorous, but it’s what makes a successful startup. As they say — never die.
Wrapping Up
JobDone’s story is a reminder that every success story starts uncertain, but full of drive. It’s about persistence, trust, and the people beside you. They’re not just another Swiss startup — they’re a living example of what happens when resilience meets collaboration.
We’re proud to have walked this road together — from a couple of wireframes to a full-scale SaaS platform — and excited to see where they go next.
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