Behind the Product

Discover the people behind Survalyzer.
We’ve interviewed many members of our team so you can get to know a different side of Survalyzer. Over the past 20 years, the team has evolved in many ways. Some have moved on, others are still here, and new faces have joined. Each one brings something valuable.

Here’s the “Side B” of those who work every day to keep Survalyzer growing.

Bartosz Moszczenski - Product Manager

• What excites you most about Survalyzer as a product?
  I have to say that the most exciting thing about our product is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of possibilities – both through intuitive UI settings, and for advanced users, deeper customization with low-code oriented solutions. From a development perspective, I’m also excited about how the back-end and front-end building blocks are well crafted, making it fast and simple to extend the platform with the new features.

• What’s one feature you think changed how people see Survalyzer?
  I believe the Dashboard Builder, introduced about three years ago, could be perceived as such feature. Before that, Survalyzer was mainly associated with survey creation, distribution and basic analysis. For advanced analytics or real-time dashboards, users typically relied on external tools like Excel or Power BI. With the Dashboard Builder, these capabilities are now available directly within Survalyzer. This not only simplifies the process but also positions Survalyzer as an alternative to tools like Power BI for market research data, offering an all-in-one solution without the need for complex integrations and development.

• What’s one product decision you’re especially proud of?
  I’m especially proud of the early introduction of AI open comments analysis. We launched the first version of AI text analytics about two years ago and have iterated on it since. This feature significantly accelerates the process of turning qualitative feedback into insights – helping users quickly understand themes, main points, and overall sentiment without manually reviewing every single response.

• What’s your favourite kind of user feedback, even if it’s tough to hear?
  No feedback is tough for me to hear, and I find critical feedback the most valuable because it highlights areas for improvement. The type I value most is when users describe a specific problem in a specific scenario. Rather than suggesting a particular solution, those users explain what they’re trying to achieve and how the current setup prevents them from doing so, or makes it unnecessarily difficult. This kind of feedback gives real insight into the user needs and helps guide meaningful product improvements.

• How has working at Survalyzer changed your way of thinking about technology?
  It has changed my perspective quite a lot. Before joining Survalyzer, I worked as a product manager focused on user requirements, often without diving deeply into technical details. Survalyzer, however, has a very engineering-driven culture. Example: at our company, not only developers and product managers, but also customer success and sales teams are expected to understand and work with APIs. This environment has greatly expanded my technological capabilities. I can now achieve many goals independently, such as creating prototypes by using our APIs, and engaging in much deeper, detail-oriented discussions with engineers about solution design and implementation.

• Can you remember a moment of thinking, “I have no idea how to make this happen”?
  Oh yes, naturally I’ve had several moments like that. One recent example was when a sales team member told me about a prospect considering switching from another solution. Their dashboards supported a feature that worked in a completely different way than our reporting approach. At first, I honestly had no idea how to even start addressing it. But after a deeper analysis, focusing on the customer’s actual goal and exploring how it could be translated into our reporting framework, we identified a potential solution. Situations like this don’t happen every day, but it’s not unusual to initially feel stuck – before breaking it down and finding a path forward.

• What do you think is the next big challenge Survalyzer will face in the future?
  The main challenge will be balancing growth, intuitiveness and speed, both on the product and organizational levels. On the product side, our goal is to preserve Survalyzer’s core values: flexibility and intuitive user experience. As we continue to expand features and capabilities, we must ensure that the platform remains easy to use without sacrificing functionality. On the organizational side, scaling brings its own challenges – such as processes, communication, and coordination across larger teams. Managing both dimensions effectively will be crucial to our future success.

Christian Hyka - CEO

• Looking back 20 years, did you ever imagine Survalyzer becoming what it is today?
  As a young man, I couldn’t even imagine a period of 20 years.

• What has surprised you most about leading this company?
  How far you can get if you are persistent.

• What’s a belief or principle that’s never changed for you as CEO?
  Make a virtue out of necessity, It sounds a little better in German: Mach aus einer Not eine Tugend

• If you had to describe Survalyzer in 3 words, which would they be?
  I’ll be open and honest: I used chatGPT to help me with this question.
  This is the answer:If Survalyzer were a person, they’d be:
  – Trustworthy – because of its strong focus on data protection and compliance.
  – Analytical – since it excels at turning complex data into clear insights.
  – Adaptable – as it flexibly serves many industries and use cases.

• What part of our culture are you proudest of?
  Our persistence. See previous question and answer,  ChatGPT did not recognise this term directly, but adaptability is very close to persistence.

• What’s one topic you’re endlessly curious about, even outside work?
  No matter where you look, contradictions arise in life. Contradictions such as: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? How we deal with contradictions in life is an incredibly exciting topic that I would definitely like to understand better.

• Is there a story from the early days that still makes you smile (or cringe)?
  The handover from my first boss, Ronald Zwartkruis, to me was paved with exciting anecdotes. There were even private detectives involved. Unfortunately, I can’t say any more here, but I’d be happy to tell you in private.

• How do you recharge outside of your role as a CEO?
  Sleep, sport, family and techno raves.

Andreas Schröder - Project Manager/Customer Success Team

• You are one of the longest-standing members of Survalyzer. When did you start, and how do you remember the company in its early days?
  When I started working here in the summer of 2011, the company was still called NetQuestionnaires Schweiz. Our survey product back then was the Collector, software licensed from our former parent company in the Netherlands, which we distributed in the German-speaking region. With our Compass software, we were already taking our first programming steps towards online data analysis. At the Zurich office, we were only four employees at the time. It was a typical start-up — the journey had begun, but it was still open where it would lead.

• Do you remember your first impression when you started working at Survalyzer?
  The small office sometimes felt like a workshop. Although our servers were always hosted in professional data centers, we had plenty of hardware around — for example, two dozen tablets for offline surveys with interviewers, which we regularly had to prepare for use.

• Looking back, what would you say has been the biggest change you’ve experienced within the company?
  The transformation from a start-up — a question mark — into a professional company — an exclamation mark. Tasks and workflows became clearly structured and documented internally. In the beginning, employees had to be all-rounders. Today, we have specialists working together in different teams. This evolution ultimately led to our successful ISO certification, a quality seal that not only has external value but also strengthens internal processes.

• What is the most challenging part of managing client projects?
  When certain things aren’t delivered on time or in full according to the project plan, improvisation is required. This often means extra work within a shrinking timeframe — the perfect conditions for mistakes. It’s important to keep a cool head, avoid stress, and stay focused.

• If you had to name one thing that makes you truly proud to work at Survalyzer, what would it be?
  Our goal has always been to provide real added value to our customers. The software must fully meet users’ needs while remaining intuitive to use. Support must deliver solutions quickly. In the marktforschung.de image study, which is conducted every few years, Survalyzer has repeatedly been voted among the best providers by its users. Contributing to this success and helping to maintain our leading position makes me proud.

• If someone followed you around for a day, what would surprise them most about your job?
  Besides project work, I support colleagues across different teams — the Support team with database research and forensic data analysis, the Product team with methodological concept ideas, and the Development team with UI translations, among others. I’m not only a user of our products but also a contributor and programmer. This broad knowledge beyond pure project work is invaluable when it comes to finding solutions for complex project requirements.

• What’s one thing you’d like more people to understand about project management?
  Both the client-side decision-makers and our own project leads need as much detailed information as possible from each other. We need to know: What can our software do, and where are its limits? What are the client’s absolute must-haves, and what can be implemented in an alternative way? An early, intensive exchange about requirements and implementation options is the key to a successful project.

• How do you unwind and recharge when you’re not managing projects?
  I find balance through sports — I’m a player in one and a referee in another. Whenever possible, I spend time in my favorite canton, Ticino, where I enjoy nature and cultural activities.

Alexander Kucherenko - CTO

• When you look at Survalyzer’s tech today, what makes you feel proud?
  That it actually works the way we always dreamed it would. We went from “please don’t touch that, it might break” to “sure, spin up another service, no problem.” The tech is modern, fast, scalable, and—most importantly—fun to work with.

• Any anecdotes you remember from your early days as CTO?
  On my first week as CTO, I opened the backlog and thought, “Wow… this is like inheriting someone’s attic—full of surprises, mostly dusty.” Now it feels more like a well-organized toolbox.

• Do you have a personal “tech philosophy” or motto you live by?
  Keep it simple. If it’s too complicated, you probably haven’t found the right solution yet.

• What’s something your team probably doesn’t know you appreciate about them?
  That they keep pushing forward even when I throw in “just one more small feature” during planning. And that they somehow still laugh at my jokes.

• What’s your mindset when you hit a wall on a complex problem?
  Step back, breathe, maybe walk around the block. Problems rarely get smaller if you keep staring at them—unless it’s in the debugger, then yes, stare harder.

• How would you describe Survalyzer’s evolution from a technological standpoint?
  From a monolithic, old-stack beast to a sleek, service-oriented machine running the latest .NET on Azure in the backend and Angular on the frontend. It’s like going from a flip phone to a flagship smartphone—without losing all your contacts.

• How do you recharge outside of the digital world?
  Family time, driving a car, some outdoor activities, and occasionally doing absolutely nothing. (Highly recommend the last one.)

• What’s something you’re still eager to learn?
  More about AI and machine learning—because I’m pretty sure they’ll be sitting in on our stand-ups one day.

Giovanni Bonomi - UX Expert

• Do you remember your first impression of Survalyzer, as a user or as a designer?
  I joined Survalyzer nearly 10 years ago, back when we still operated with two separate applications. The first version of Survalyzer had just launched, and I was hired to support what we now refer to as “Survalyzer Classic.”I remember finding the software quite intuitive, even during my initial assessment. But what stood out most was the company culture. From day one, I experienced an open and welcoming atmosphere, with friendly colleagues who were always receptive to new ideas. Everyone worked together with a shared sense of purpose—and that spirit is still very much alive today.

• You are one of the longest-standing members of Survalyzer. Could you tell us about the journey that led you to your current role?
  I started at Survalyzer supporting Andreas with application-related tasks. At the time, the support team was quite small. Thanks to my background in web development, I also took on the responsibility of creating custom survey layouts for our clients.Over time, I was fortunate to be given opportunities to expand my skill set. With the company’s support, I transitioned into a UX Designer/Engineer role, where I now apply my full range of expertise to help shape the user experience.

• Is there a feature or interface element you’re especially proud of—and why?
  One of the first major projects I contributed to was the transition from “Survalyzer Classic” to the modern application we use today. I collaborated closely with our CEO and an external partner to introduce what we now call the “Wizard.” This feature breaks down complex processes into manageable steps, significantly improving usability in intricate scenarios. It’s something I’m particularly proud of.Another highlight is the upcoming redesign of the application. After more than a decade, it was time for a refresh. I’m proud of the entire team for making this transformation possible. Many of the elements you see in our application are the result of collaborative effort—we always work together, discuss ideas thoroughly, and think through the entire user journey. It’s truly a team achievement.

• Can you mention any project that has been particularly challenging?
  One of the most challenging projects was the development of the Dashboard Builder. It’s a powerful and flexible tool, but that flexibility comes with a high level of complexity. At some point, that complexity becomes difficult to conceal, making the tool best suited for advanced dashboard creation rather than quick, everyday reporting.Fortunately, we now have the Expert Report Wizard, which combines the capabilities of the Dashboard Builder with the simplicity of a basic report. It’s a great example of how we’ve evolved to meet user needs more effectively.

• What question do you always ask yourself before signing off on a UX decision?
  We always strive to put ourselves in the users’ shoes—a challenging but achievable task, especially with the valuable feedback we receive from our clients. We ask ourselves: What is the user trying to accomplish? Can they do it without needing extra help? Will this feature enhance usability and reduce friction?As Don Norman once said, “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.” If our clients don’t notice any design flaws, then we’ve done our job well.

• Looking back, what would you say is the most significant change the software has undergone in the past 10 (or 20) years?
  The most significant change was undoubtedly the decision to replace “Survalyzer Classic.” It was a bold and risky move, but it paid off. The new platform dramatically improved performance and laid the foundation for Survalyzer Enterprise.

• Is there anything you struggled with in the design process, but that was ultimately worth it?
  In a way, every day presents a new challenge—especially if you define struggle as the ongoing pursuit of excellence. But one of the biggest undertakings has been the redesign of the application. It’s not just a cosmetic update; we’re rebuilding the UI to align with modern tech standards and reflect the innovative spirit of our company.Our goal is always to improve the daily experience of our users, even through behind-the-scenes changes like this one.

Jurre Fledderus - Head of Customer Success

• How do you remember your early days on the Survalyzer Customer Success team?
  I received a very warm welcome in Zürich, and after two weeks my time in Utrecht started. In the early days, there wasn’t really a dedicated Customer Success team: there was a support inbox, and the onboarding processes were open to optimization. It was a small group working mainly on experience, with the opportunity to define new guidelines. It’s been a wonderful journey to see the software, the team, and the processes grow into the structured, client-focused approach we have today.

• What do you consider to be the biggest challenge you faced when you took on your role?
  Survalyzer already had a wealth of knowledge across teams, but much of it lived in separate corners of the company. The challenge was to strengthen the collaborative spirit so this expertise could flow freely. By aligning around shared, customer-first goals, we’ve made it easier for clients to enjoy smoother onboarding, a better product experience, and a journey that feels consistent from first contact to the first fieldwork and analysis of the survey.

• What type of inquiries do you receive most often?
  We often get questions that start with, “This might be a silly question…” but in reality, those are often the best ones. Sometimes a fresh perspective leads to improvements that make the experience better for everyone.

• What do you wish every customer knew about the Customer Success team?
  That behind the scenes, we’re a wonderfully diverse group with different personalities, backgrounds, and skills that make us stronger together. Our team includes multilingual problem-solvers, a Dungeons & Dragons game master, seasoned project managers, onboarding specialists, and technical experts who build entire survey portals. Some focus on day-to-day support, others on guiding new clients or rolling out advanced modules, and others on complex survey projects. This mix of perspectives ensures we approach every challenge with creativity and insight — and that everyone can contribute.

• What does “Customer Success” mean to you, beyond KPIs?
  For me, Customer Success is about uncovering solutions clients didn’t even realize they needed. While every project starts with a desired outcome, the real value comes from exploring different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and refining that outcome when a better path emerges. We act as a trusted sparring partner to achieve even more meaningful results.

• What’s a skill you’ve developed in your role that you use outside of work too?
  A skill I’ve developed in my role is learning not to assume I have all the answers. Instead, I question my assumptions and try to see challenges from other people’s perspectives. Even in conversations with friends, I’ve learned that there’s often a problem behind the problem — and by asking the right questions and considering different perspectives, you uncover the most valuable insights.

• What do you think the Customer Success team excels at most?
  We excel at helping clients clarify their goals from the very first kick-off, asking the right questions to shape a clear plan. By offering guidance and alternatives, we empower clients to use the software confidently while achieving the most effective results.

• Can you recall any specific cases that were difficult to resolve?
  The most challenging cases are usually connected to projects that involve multiple departments and even third parties, all of whom are used to doing things their own way. Change management can be complex, especially when you can’t bring all parties together at once. But when you push through the hurdles and get everyone on the same page, the results make the effort worthwhile.

Robin Setzer - Senior Account Manager

• What’s your personal approach to building trust with clients?
  I listen carefully to truly understand, not just to respond.

• In addition to the moment when you close a deal, what do you consider to be the reason that motivates you in your role?
  We get to know so many different companies across all kinds of industries. Each has unique challenges, and in most cases, we can help and make a real impact.

• What do you consider to be Survalyzer’s strongest feature that you highlight in meetings with clients?
  I’m not sure if we can call it a single feature, but I’m impressed with the usability of our solution and how easy it is to gather, analyse, and visualise complex data. I’ve worked with many tools, and in my opinion, we are leading when it comes to usability.

• What’s the most surprising thing a client ever said to you?
  In our first web meeting, I was directly invited to their office. I didn’t expect that.

• What skill have you developed the most since joining Survalyzer?
  Constant learning. Everything is fast-paced, and all teams challenge the status quo, which is fantastic for the development of our solutions.

• What part of your personality do you think really makes a difference in this role?
  Empathy. Being able to put myself in the client’s shoes helps me understand not just what they’re asking for, but why it matters to them.

• Outside of work, what’s something that inspires or recharges you?
  Nature photography. I completely switch off, forget everything else on my mind, and just enjoy the moment.