Despite this success, Schröter can still walk down the street without being recognised, and he’s clearly relieved that fans tend to focus their fervour on frontman and singer Stefan Buck rather than him. “I’m really grateful to Stefan for doing such an amazing job,” says Schröter. Their friendship runs deep: the two have known each other since their schooldays in the Seetal region of Lucerne and have been making music together for almost 30 years. “I’m not a solo artist,” says Schröter. “What inspires me is being part of a team. There’s no better feeling than working really hard on something as a group, and then everyone enjoying that success together.”
A full suite of services
Team spirit also plays a central role at his start-up. With sites in Zurich, Munich and Riyadh, Evoleen develops innovative health-tech solutions for pharmaceutical companies, doctors and public providers. Unlike conventional pharmaceutical products, which operate on cycles of several decades, these new technologies are all about speed. “When you’re dealing with such different timescales, it’s difficult to drive both types of product forward within the same framework,” Schröter explains. That’s why Evoleen doesn’t just develop products. It also offers a full suite of services – from ideation and clinical validation to market approval and commercialisation.
“I’m convinced that the only reason our projects have been so successful is because we have so many smart and dedicated people working here,” he says. “Everyone has their own area of expertise and contributes in their own way.” And however much he values Evoleen’s success, he adds, it’s the people that matter to him most. The company’s offices feel homely: the corridor leading to the kitchen is lined with postcards, birth announcements and wedding photos, and even the Wi-Fi password sounds suspiciously like “home sweet home”.
But for all his love of teamwork, Schröter also appreciates quiet, focused moments working on his own, mulling over ideas and fine-tuning technical details. It’s a trait that dates back to his student days at ETH Zurich, where he did a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, followed by a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering. “The Master’s was the perfect combination for me,” he says, recalling his struggle to choose between engineering and medicine when going on to higher education. “I’d still love to work as a doctor,” he admits. “But it would be tough combining that with my music.” The current setup means he can pursue the band alongside the start-up – two worlds in which he feels equally at home.