The Global Pulse: Team MESH – From Master’s Degree to Start-up for Circular Supply Chains
In the ZHAW interview series The Global Pulse, three alumni of the MSc in Circular Economy Management share their journey into entrepreneurship: Till Fülscher, Louis Ecker and Dominik Arpagaus founded MESH, a start-up developing digital twins of supply chains to drive data-based circular transformation.
Starting a business immediately after completing a Master’s degree? For Till Fülscher, Louis Ecker and Dominik Arpagaus, it was exactly the right moment. With their start-up MESH, they support companies in analysing supply chains holistically, simulating scenarios and aligning processes with circular principles.
The idea did not emerge from a traditional business plan seminar, but from their Master’s theses. What began as a theoretical exploration of complex systems evolved into a practical solution: using System Dynamics Modeling, MESH builds digital twins of supply chains. This enables companies to make data-driven decisions and optimise their processes for greater sustainability and circularity.
The three founders secured their first client while still studying – a milestone that laid the foundation for launching the company. Today, they are testing their methodology in pilot projects and are already looking ahead to the next step: transforming their consulting approach into a scalable software solution.
In the interview, the alumni discuss
- how a case study turned into a paid assignment,
- why founding a company right after graduation felt less like a risk and more like an opportunity,
- the importance of trust and clearly defined roles within the founding team, and
- why impact means more to them than just a buzzword.