Winner of the 2024 EPFL Alumni Award, Hadi Barkat looks back on an unusual career path that took him from technological innovation to venture capital and on to the creation of an internationally renowned game and book publishing house. In the first part of the conference, he explores the parallels between venture capital and publishing. In the second part, he reveals how games have become a universal tool for him: to engage a group, stimulate reflection and inspire leadership. Concrete, entertaining and sometimes surprising examples will illustrate how games can transform the way we collaborate and create.

Founder and director of Helvetiq, Hadi Barkat is a Swiss entrepreneur of Algerian origin. He began his career at Shockfish in 2000, before moving into venture capital in 2003 as an investment manager at Logispring. In 2008, he created Helvetiq, an educational board game, during his preparation for Swiss naturalization. The immediate success of the game prompted him to dedicate himself full-time to Helvetiq from 2010 onwards. The company stands out for its simple concepts and clean design, and it quickly internationalized. Today, Helvetiq offers a wide range of games and books and continues to grow. In 2024, Hadi Barkat received the EPFL Alumni Award. In 2025, Helvetiq’s game Odin won the prestigious global As d’Or award.