From setback to startup: the FlowHardware story
In the town of Moudon, Vaud, a remarkable tale began in 2024. Valentin Flückiger, then just 16 years old, found himself convalescing at home after an accident. Rather than retreating, he immersed himself in the world of video games, testing a range of server hosting providers. The experience left him with a clear picture: high latency, lackluster customer support, and steep prices. Fueled by frustration and curiosity, Valentin decided to do something about it—and FlowHardware was born with the support of his parents.
What followed was not a sudden overnight triumph but a practical, hands‑on journey. Administrative hurdles appeared because of his age; his father took on the responsibility of signing the commercial register and the larger contracts. Yet the teenager’s determination won over skepticism. He recounts how friends initially doubted his ability to run a company, then became impressed when they saw the official documents and the live website. The moral, he says, is simple: real learning happens on the ground—and it’s never too early to start.
Administrative reality and early leadership
Valentin operates FlowHardware as a co-managed venture: while an industry professional assists with infrastructure maintenance and support, the day-to-day leadership rests with him. His parents manage the accounting, but the technical direction, client relationships, and strategic planning sit squarely in his hands. Balancing school obligations with entrepreneurship is no small feat; Valentin is also pursuing an apprenticeship in electrical engineering. He describes his days as busy but exhilarating, noting that his company runs on a blend of passion and practical problem‑solving rather than a traditional nine‑to‑five schedule.
How FlowHardware operates today
Today, FlowHardware hosts gaming servers for thousands of players each evening. Valentin reports regular activity around 2,000 gamers with peak loads reaching up to 4,000 simultaneous users. The platform specializes in popular titles and communities that demand low latency and reliable uptime, with Minecraft, FiveM (a GTA RP modification), Garry’s Mod, and Rust among the strongest performers. The goal is clear: deliver a robust, cost‑effective hosting experience tailored to gamers who want responsive service and predictable pricing.
Foundations built on user demand
The business was born out of listening to the gaming community. The founder’s firsthand exposure to latency and service gaps helped shape FlowHardware’s priorities: performance, accessibility, and an emphasis on customer support. As the platform grew, Valentin began to see the value of a Swiss-centric approach, which informed his longer‑term plan to relocate the infrastructure to Switzerland and bring the entire stack under a national footprint.
Looking ahead: a fully Swiss product and broader services
By the end of the year, FlowHardware aims to rehouse its entire infrastructure in Switzerland. The current setup relies on a French data center, but the ambition is to deliver a 100% Swiss product for Swiss gaming communities—reducing latency, increasing data sovereignty, and simplifying regulatory compliance. Beyond game servers, the company is expanding into supplementary services, including online telephony, IT solutions, and a VPN offering. This broader diversification reflects Valentin’s belief that a modern hosting company can be a multi‑faceted tech partner for its users.
Why this matters: lessons from a young entrepreneur
Valentin’s journey underscores a few important lessons for aspiring founders: start small, stay hands‑on, and leverage mentors to compress learning curves. His path shows that entrepreneurship isn’t confined to adults with established networks; it’s accessible to motivated young people who are willing to learn by doing. He also highlights the value of family support in the early stages of a startup, especially when navigating legal and financial steps. As he puts it, the real education comes from the terrain—building, testing, and iterating in real time.
As FlowHardware continues to grow, the Swiss gaming community watches with interest to see how a home‑grown idea can mature into a national benchmark for gaming hosting. If Valentin’s trajectory holds, the “Swiss‑made” label may soon become synonymous with reliable performance, transparent pricing, and a community‑driven tech ethos.
