Roaadent: Combining the best of two startup ecosystems—Kosovo and Switzerland

At the beginning of 2020, as a dentist friend was explaining the challenges he faced with managing his practice, Ardian Aliu wondered how to bring dental practices into the 21st century. The idea for Roaadent was born.

Ardian conceptualized his solution to modernize dental practice management in Switzerland, where he was based, during the COVID pandemic’s lockdown period.

As a member of the Kosovo diaspora, Ardian realized he could benefit from accessing both startup ecosystems to support Roaadent’s growth:

Though Roaadent operates as a single startup in Kosovo, it benefits from both worlds. Kosovo offers cost-effective talent and an agile startup culture, while Switzerland provides access to a global market and a robust ecosystem of experts and potential partners. Balancing these strengths and overcoming logistical barriers has been both a challenge and an enriching learning experience.

For Ardian, the highs have been leveraging the best of both worlds: developing the product in Kosovo while connecting with Swiss partners and clients for global scalability. The lows have included navigating the cultural and regulatory differences and ensuring seamless collaboration across borders.

Soon, help was needed. Since the Swiss EP operates in Kosovo and has strong connections with Switzerland, we could support Ardian. During our work, one of the gaps we observed in Kosovo's startup support landscape is a lack of international contacts and opportunities for internationalization.

Since Roaadent was on a mission to secure its international status and strengthen its presence in the global market, our paths quickly crossed. The Swiss EP team first met the Roaadent through the Founders Retreat in 2024. During the event, Ardian was inspired and mentored by five Swiss EP experts: Ethan Mayers, Helen Vasilevski, Katrin Kiviselg, Kamen Bankovski, and Jamie Reynolds. Among them, Jamie Reynolds made the strongest impression and influenced Ardian’s approach the most:

Jamie Reynolds stands out for his expertise in fundraising and pitch development. His mentorship helped us refine our narrative and develop a compelling pitch deck, making engaging with potential investors and partners easier. Swiss EP experts provided invaluable insights into market entry strategies and business scaling, but Jamie's guidance was pivotal in positioning Roaadent as a standout product in the dental tech market.

In November 2024, Swiss EPe invited Ardian to join the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Basel, Switzerland, with other regional health-tech startups. The event aimed to showcase the best of the Balkan region and make introductions to the Swiss health-tech scene. Ardian used the opportunity to pitch his solution to a room full of investors and potential business partners.

Roaadent is now gearing up to expand beyond Switzerland, targeting key European markets and North America. The startup also aims to forge partnerships with dental depots and health tech companies, creating an integrated ecosystem for dental practices.

Or, as Ardian frames it, "Our ultimate vision is to become the global leader in AI-powered dental practice management solutions."

Roaadent demonstrates how combining Kosovo's agility and affordability with Switzerland's innovation-driven ecosystem can yield great results. by simultaneously enabling rapid, cost-effective product development while accessing global markets, expert networks, and high-profile investors.