I'm an ecologist by training, a software engineer by profession, and an entrepreneur by practice. I'm passionate about the intersection of tech, sustainability, and social change.
As a freelance software developer, I deliver stable, scalable, and secure sites & apps.
My clients range from small associations and businesses to Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) and the 18 job and career information centers of five Swiss cantons. I'm an open source software contributor.
As entrepreneur I co-founded Lytefire, an impact company unlocking the humanitarian potential of solar energy.
Since I started my journey as freelance developer 12 years ago, I'm a true full-stack developer in web technologies, building solutions from the ground up and able to deliver solutions at each layer of the stack. Starting with the server setup, I implement the data structure and backend, the design and frontend, and because I have the expertise on the full stack, I am sure to deliver on the client's needs, and that I will always be able to adapt the project to evolving needs in the future.
For larger projects, I create a project-specific team relying on my network of curated developers, designers and content creators.
For the Swiss Cantons of Bern, Zug, Fribourg and Basel-Country I built the interactive Biz-Links Product that helps Swiss people make career choices.
Users pick a job-related postcard, scan it, and can access videos and job-related resources.
Since 2019 the system is operational and continuously expanded based on different client needs. The stable SPIP core and modular architecture makes this possible.
Available on the web, the product also streams to Android and iOS with a custom Android App and iOS Web App to over 15 locations and to over 200 devices at the job information offices in Switzerland.
As a result of the modularity, each client has their own, bespoke look & feel as well as custom feature set.
Project for SRF, the Swiss National News Service.
Custom design, custom map, custom CMS, and interactive custom dashboard for management of submissions of over 1 million square meters of biodiverse areas newly created as part of the campaign. Scalability to 150k hourly users. Built with SPIP and in collaboration with von salis communication AG.
Custom design and website creation.
Development of online-shop with customized offerings per geography, implementation of custom CRM to capture leads. Custom newsletter design. Creation of multi-lingual customer hub with forums, resources, and user interactivity. Many other missions with this Finnish company for the last decade. Built with SPIP.
Implementation of the association’s website and custom membership CRM tool.
Custom design with interactive map feature, contact and membership forms.
Design by Appear.
Creation of website, graphic identity and communications material, in cooperation with SiSustainable.
Project for SRF, the Swiss National News Service.
Custom design, custom map, custom CMS, and interactive custom dashboard for management of submissions of over 1 million square meters of biodiverse areas newly created as part of the campaign. Scalability to 150k hourly users. Built with SPIP and in collaboration with von salis communication AG.
Project implemented for SRF by von salis communication.
Visit site: www.missionb.ch
Custom design and website creation.
Development of online-shop with customized offerings per geography, implementation of custom CRM to capture leads. Custom newsletter design. Creation of multi-lingual customer hub with forums, resources, and user interactivity. Many other missions with this Finnish company for the last decade. Built with SPIP.
Implementation of the association’s website and custom membership CRM tool.
Custom design with interactive map feature, contact and membership forms.
Design by Appear.
Cooperation with Adrienne Pearson
Backend and map frontent implementation of event creation and signup process for thousands of events.
Cooperation with von salis communication
Online Platform NatureChallenge.swiss: Front-End and Backend fullstack development.
Project implemented for Festival der Natur by von salis communication.
Systems migration
Migration of 8000 news articles between Typo3 and Drupal systems. Cooperation with Mischwald (http://www.mischwald.ch)
Visit new site: www.zeitpunkt.ch
Creation of website showcasing contemporary and past worldchangers.
Creation of website for Rosegghof organic farm in Solothurn, Switzerland.
Pet project to build a social networking platform for UWC graduates. Scaled to 3000 users over few months.
Senior project as part of my Bachelor’s at College of the Atlantic.
Here is a presentation I gave part of graduation week at College of the Atlantic, 2012. You can also read my senior project report as PDF, here.
Workflow-optimizing task management system based on SPIP framework.
Financial simulation software to model business plans.
Implementation of Floretia Plus, a project helping Swiss municipalities and individuals to plant using local, adapted species and help them avoid invasive plants. Implementation of programmatic PDF generation, XLS data import and various UX elements.
Web-App with Push-Notifications for the management of livestock.
Moving Web-App to native tablets for 12 job information centers. Custom CMS for editing and linking national job information.
Finnish sustainability blog and local events calendar.
Interactive website for publishing of TAMK students’ content in relation to impact and sustainability.
Social-Media Kampagne und Webseite in Zusammenarbeit mit Vonsalis Communications.
Creation of crowdfunding website for NeoLoco solar bakery and roastery in Normandie.
Collective blog for French women artists sharing about art and nature.
Website to order organic seedlings in Tampere, Finland.
Implementation of SPIP-based Website for an ecologic project.
On-site payment gateway and crowdfunding infrastructure.
I get involved in things that make sense to me, have impact or bring learning and creation with it.
June 2012 - now
Solar thermal technology solutions in the humanitarian and industrial sector.
– Technological development, project management, IT consulting, web and communication.
February 2017 - May 2017
– Industrial CNC machine training (Waterjet, Lasercuting, 5 axis CNC)
– Rapid prototyping using state of the art CNC machinery
2014 - 2022
Development of custom web-platforms for the Zurich-based environmental communications agency.
2014 - now
Creation of web-development agency of impact and sustainability projects and beyond.
February 2013 - July 2013
– Development of exhibition on renewable energies.
August 2013 - February 2014
– Support in research and development.
– Instructors from the fields of architecture, construction and joinery/Carpentry
– Application of principles of sustainability and sustainable design in the architecture of a "tiny house" of 227 square feet.
– Project planning and management with different build milestones.
– Construction of entire tiny house, see it in New York Post "Tiny House 227".
– Study and implementation of HVAC systems.
September 2008 - June 2012
– Relevant Coursework: Agroecology, Economic Development, International Water Resource Management, Physics II, Collaborative Leadership, Fieldwork: Seminar in Community-based Research, Documentary Film Making, Webdesign, Fixing Food Systems, Sustainability, Local Production - Global Collaboration.
– Senior project in Nepal installing renewable energy framework at rural school
– Spanish proficiency during project-stay in Yucatán, Mexico
– Davis UWC Scholar: full scholarship awarded
September 2006 - May 2008
– International Baccelaurate (IB) with major biology and economics.
– Course language English.
– Extended essay: Sugarcane Cultivation in the Mulshi Valley, India.
– Full Scholarship from the Swiss Association for UWC
1990
Contact Urs Riggenbach:
info@ursrig.com, 079 918 0663
Bitte kontaktieren Sie mich:
Urs Riggenbach, info@ursrig.com, 079 918 0663
