Manuel was born and raised in St.Gallen – growing up in the Riethüsli neighborhood – and has
maintained a deep connection to the city ever since. For him, St.Gallen hits the absolute sweet
spot: not too big, not too small, perfectly balancing a welcoming community feel with a touch of
anonymity. His youth was shaped by the local hip-hop and graffiti scene alongside creative
minds like artist Dominik Rüegg (Drüegg) – one of his absolute favorites.
After completing his apprenticeship at the skate shop Doodah and working with his family, he
transitioned into gastronomy. He spent several years at «Milchhüsli» and co-founded
«Esswerk» in 2017. During his time at Bamboo, working alongside Howdy Mai was an
invaluable learning experience where he helped shape the concept from early on.
Following the birth of his daughter, Manuel shifted gears to fully focus on his family. Driven by a
fascination for sustainable mobility and urban transformation, he then took the step into the
micro-mobility sector. Today, he serves as Managing Director at Dott, dedicated to shaping eco-
friendly city transit – and even relocated the company’s Swiss headquarters to his home town of
St.Gallen. When he isn’t trying to redefine urban mobility or hitting the Waldeggtrail in Teufen on
his mountain bike, he enjoys quiet moments early in the morning at his favorite spot: the small
jetty at «Bubenweier».
