About Nothing

Nothing is a builder of technology start-ups with a singular mission: To reimagine work—one start-up at a time. And we're off to a strong start.

Past

Launched in 1999, Nothing operated as a service agency until October 1, 2022, providing digital product design for major Swiss brands. After two successful decades, Bastiaan van Rooden, the founder, became increasingly inspired by the pioneers of the new working world and the thinkers about the future. Bastiaan realised that what got our civilization here won't get us to where we want to be next. Coupling this insight with frustration about the current, exploitative version of the economy, the time was ripe for action: To use technology and our imaginative capabilities to deeply impact how, where and what we work on.

Present

Based on the unshaken belief that business is humanity's most productive mechanism for creating change in the world, Nothing is a now network of highly ambitious, entrepreneurial minds. Operating under this umbrella, Nothing builds technology start-ups that change the nature of work as we know it.

Future

Nothing imagines and build start-ups that will create a future where companies do not compete, where organisational barriers cease to exist, and where even the most wicked problems can be solved with proper coordination. We tap into humanity's fullest potential by augmenting cooperation via technology. We believe in a working world where coordination happens without coordinators, supervision is offered without supervisors, direction is provided without directors and governance is done without governors.

Why “Nothing”?

The name “Nothing” is inspired by the concept of a beginner's mind as perceived in Zen Buddhism:

Having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would.

The logo is visually defined by three dots that represent this beginner's mind attitude and further inspired by a Möbius strip to evoke an infinite feedback loop.