Innovative, sociocratic, intelligent

Our roots

From startup to leading AI agency

When Panter was founded in 2005 by a couple of university friends, nobody would have thought that 20 years later the company would have developed into one of the leading AI agencies and software engineering boutiques with around 30 employees and a network of freelancers in Switzerland and abroad that is at least as large.

A lot has been developed since then: high-quality software products that offer users real added value, of course, but also agile project methods.

From vision to freedom from hierarchy

From the outset, the founders did not want to manage the company in the traditional way, but instead wanted all colleagues to have an equal say in decision-making. That’s why Panter’s organizational chart is very simple: everyone is on the management board.

Discussions about our direction and development do not take place behind closed doors, but are made – and supported – transparently as a collective. There have been some legendary meetings that have gone on into the night. But so far we have always found a consensus.

Two men are standing in a cozy cafe with a red-lit bar background, talking and looking at an open book. One wears a plaid shirt and jeans, the other a black t-shirt and holding a notebook. Several people are seated around them.
A person in a white shirt stands in front of a screen giving a presentation while two people seated at a table listen attentively. The room is bright, with natural light coming through the windows.
Two women are seated at a wooden table, looking at a laptop screen. One woman, in a green sweater, is listening attentively. The other, wearing glasses and a gray sweater, is gesturing with her hands. A brick wall is in the background.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a white shirt and glasses around her neck, is gesturing with her right hand while smiling. She stands in front of a blurred background with partial text visible.
A group of people sit around a wooden table, sharing a meal. Plates of food and drinks are visible, placed on the table. The setting appears warm and welcoming, with overhead lights providing a cozy ambiance. The view is from above.
A group of people sitting around a table with laptops, engaged in conversation. One person is smiling, while another is speaking, wearing glasses and a yellow and white hoodie. They appear to be in a modern office space.
A man sitting in a chair works on a laptop with earphones in a modern office setting. He is focused on the screen, wearing a dark shirt and pants. The background features glass walls and industrial elements.
A person in a dark shirt gestures with their hands while speaking in a bright room. They hold a pen in one hand. In the background, others are engaged in conversation or activities, slightly out of focus.
A group of six people sit around a conference table in a modern office. Theyre engaged in discussion, with laptops and notebooks on the table. Large windows and a patterned rug are visible, creating a collaborative workspace atmosphere.

Sociocracy on its 10th birthday

Another radical gift to ourselves was the step towards the organizational model of sociocracy (according to Bockelbrinck, Priest & David). We introduced this for our 10th anniversary. The reason for this was that Panter had grown – and wanted to remain lean despite its growth and size. With sociocracy, we were able to enable all groups to function semi-autonomously, self-organized and self-directed.

Each group takes on tasks such as planning, sales and recruiting new colleagues themselves. You can find out how we live this modern form of self-organization in our blog post on Sociocracy 3.0.

Our workspaces

Although we are no longer a start-up ourselves, we still surround ourselves with visionary ideas and great innovations every day. Thanks to our collaboration with Impact Hub Zurich and Kickstart Innovation, we work in the best coworking and acceleration space in Switzerland. Where the makers of tomorrow meet.

We are creative at four locations in Zurich and welcome our customers to meetings and workshops. So a lot has happened since 2005 – and we still haven’t gotten bored.