Our approach
The Go Beyond team is a growing group of exceptional people who bring experience, vision and motivation. We have built our own companies, had prior investments, have wide networks of significant, international connections. We are dedicated to running and participating in the Groups' activities and events and individually invest in one or more investments each year.
As a Go Beyond investor, you are supported by our strong and talented team of experienced Business Angels and specialists who are dedicated to helping you succeed. Click on each team member's name to read a short biography.
Brigitte is the Founder and CEO of Go Beyond Ltd., is an active Business Angel and serves on a number of selection and investment committees in Europe including the WEF’s Tech Pioneers. She is a Member of the Präsidium of KTI, the Swiss commission for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Brigitte is President Emeritus of EBAN, the European trade association for Business Angels and Seed Funds, previoulsy holding the title President for two terms and also chairs Young Presidents Organization’s global Angel Investing interest group.
Brigitte has 15 years of experience in bringing new technologies to market in the US and Europe. She was the CEO and Director of iWORLD Group, a VC backed, global developer of mobile content. She came to iWG from American Express Corporate Services where she held the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager Internet. Whilst there she launched a variety of new internet businesses including online travel (strategic partner of Expedia.com), e-Procurement, online servicing of cards and online payment. Prior to that, Brigitte spent three years as President for US and Canada of GEMPLUS (now Gemalto), the world’s leader in smart card technology and applications to orchestrate the introduction of smart cards to the US. She moved to GEMPLUS from American Express TRS Inc., where she had spent over six years in different Vice-Presidential/General Manager positions in the UK, France and Switzerland. She also spent five years with McKinsey & Company Inc. as Senior Engagement Manager, based in New York, Paris and Tokyo. She began her career in manufacturing and sales with Rohm & Haas, a leading specialty chemicals company.
Brigitte holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University, Boston and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been the subject of a Harvard Business School case study. Born and raised in France, Brigitte and her family now live in Zurich. Click here to contact Brigitte
Bethann Kassman is CEO of Go Beyond Network, Go Beyond's strategic alliance partner, in the United States and has been a member of the Go Beyond Management Team since 2009. Bethann has been a cross-border business angel for many years, investing in companies in both Europe and the US. She serves on a number of committees in the angel community and works with start-up companies in areas of strategic positioning, management and marketing. Bethann is president of Biznovate, a consulting company focusing on global expansion issues, strategy competitive marketing and acquisition strategies. Until recently, she was a professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at Webster University in Geneva. Over the past 20 years she has owned and invested in a number of companies. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hub in Geneva, the Philharmonic in Naples, Florida and was recently appointed to the AngelPool Advisory Board. She has a B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University, a Master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a DBA from Business School of Lausanne, Switzerland. Bethann divides her time between Naples, Florida and Lausanne, Switzerland and in her spare time enjoys hiking, biking, bridge and playing the piano. Click here to contact Bethann directly
Balz is a member of the Management Team and leads both ICT and Zurich Investing Groups and is also focused on developing the German speaking market. Balz is both a Business Angel and a successful entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience founding and running several start-ups in the technology/media environment and the lifestyle/entertainment industry. Until 2002, Balz was CEO and part CFO of the internet start-up and lifestyle venture skim.com, an internet/mobile community which produced email, mobile services, online entertainment, music, e-commerce as well as an entertainment and fashion brand. Since then, he has worked as an independent management consultant for the IT and financial industries, in addition to completing his MBA at University of St Gallen. His broad 'know-how' of different industries, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit and strong analytical skills, makes Balz a valuable member of our Team when it comes to understanding, selecting and guiding promising entrepreneurs. Balz holds an electronic engineering degree (El. Ing. HTL) and bachelor in B.A as well as an advanced corporate finance degree from University of Zurich. Balz enjoys outdoor pursuits such as running, snowboarding, skiing and flying. When indoors, he lives in Zurich with his wife and young son and enjoys cooking. Click here to contact Balz directly
André is Go Beyond's COO, Dealflow Director and leads the Lausanne, Geneva and Geneva Impact Investing Groups. He brings 18 years' experience in corporate strategy alongside product, team and project management in small to multi-national companies. During his move into management, he has remained passionate about his initial technical interests: Computer Science, Physics and Renewable Energy. André is also an early stage investor motivated in supporting the triple bottom line - people, planet & profit. Click here to contact André directly
Dario Caleffi is a member of the Management Team and is leading the launch of Go Beyond in Italy. Dario is also a cross-border Business Angel who invests in start-up companies with strong growth potential and actively provides management expertise and networking support. He is an international senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in a large variety of industries such as pharmaceutical, agro-chemical, tobacco and telecommunications. Dario has proven in-depth knowledge of ICT, operations and supply chain management and provides management consulting services to achieve supply chain process optimization through innovative ICT. He is also committed to improving ICT systems portfolios to ensure they are aligned with a business’s objectives and to Support CIO to manage and rationalize IT internal process. Dario is an enthusiastic guide of multicultural and cross-functional teams through a participative management; being recognized as a strong team builder with excellent interpersonal skills, solid coaching and mentoring capabilities. Dario divides his time between Lausanne and Milan where he lives with his family. He is passionate about photography and enjoys travelling around the globe. When at home, he loves relaxing by gardening and enjoys floriculture. Click here to contact Dario directly
Claire joined Go Beyond's business development and account management team in January 2012 and works closely with high net-worth individual, family office and large corporation clients. In 2009, Claire joined the Board of Be Angels, the business angel network for the Brussels and Walloon region in Belgium and in 2010, their project selection committee. In mid-2011, Claire joined their team responsible for business development projects to recruit new business angel investors in addition to creating a women business angel club. Prior to this, Claire evolved from project manager to general Manager of EBAN, based in Brussels. During her tenure, she successfully spun-off the association from its mother organisation EURADA in 2006 by growing its membership, increasing its budget and expanding staff members. Her key responsibilities included general and public affairs management, business development and growth strategy and new product development. As manager of the world’s unique network, she was a frequent speaker at conferences in Europe and around the world including at high-level policy conferences such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Before moving onto EBAN, Claire was project manager for EURADA, the European Association of Regional Development Agencies and was responsible for the management of EU-funded projects related to the financing of innovation. Claire’s educational background includes a Post-Graduate degree in International Politics (Free University of Brussels - Great Distinction), an MA in Political Communication (EFAP – Belgium – Great Distinction) and a BA in Political Science (McGill University – Canada - Distinction). She enjoys travelling to discover new cultures and gastronomies in addition to reading, cinema and sports. Click here to contact Claire directly
Elizabeth joined the Go Beyond Team as Communications, Client Relations on a full-time basis in mid-2011 having previously worked part-time since the company's inception in 2005. Elizabeth began her career in legal administration at a number of top-tier law firms in Melbourne Australia, specialising in commercial law. In 2001 Elizabeth moved to Malta from Australia where she first met and worked with Go Beyond’s CEO and Founder at iWG, a VC backed global developer of mobile content and began working closely with both the Chairman and CEO. She was quickly integrated into the offspring company iModel Music Holdings, a customer relationship service that allows music artists to connect directly with their fans through cell phones, forming part of the business development/PR team located in Malta and Germany. She was also part of the project team responsible for successfully trialling the business service in Malta at major events as well as for the creative element in developing the offspring business and exploring other avenues for developing new cell phone businesses. Elizabeth holds a Diploma Legal Administration - Melbourne Business Administrative College (Law), dual Maltese/Australian citizenship and enjoys travelling, and experiencing new countries and cultures, reading, writing, cooking and the performing arts. Click here to contact Elizabeth directly
Julie has been a member of the Go Beyond Team since 2010 and is both an entrepreneur and business Angel. Julie brings 10 years' experience in global communication to the Team. Prior to joining Go Beyond, Julie was the Head of communication of France Angels, the French Federation of Business Angels, a post she held for 3 years. Julie's extensive knowledge of the SME French market and current financing players in this region makes her an integral member of the team in this region. Julie’s educational background includes Post-Graduate degrees in Intercultural Management (Institute of Political studies) and in Contemporary History (University of Lyon). She lives in Toulouse and enjoys reading, travelling and all mountain activities. Click here to contact Julie directly
