How Alain Fresco Co-founded Wavemind – Take Control Now Podcast

For the first episode of the Take Control Now podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Alain Fresco, co-founder of Wavemind, a software development agency based in Lausanne and Yverdon.
In this conversation, we talk about academic background, entrepreneurship, team management, and the financial challenges that young founders face.

Who is Alain Fresco?

Alain Fresco is 30 years old. He is a software engineer who co-founded Wavemind in 2017.
Today, the agency has a team of around eight people and delivers a wide range of projects: web and mobile application development, as well as WordPress site creation.

Alongside that, Alain is also a teacher at Le Wagon, a coding bootcamp, where he shares his passion for programming and stays connected with the next generation of developers.

From Idea to Founding Wavemind

It all started during his studies at HEIG-VD in Yverdon. Together with a classmate, Alain completed a bachelor's project for an external client.
The project was a success, and the client wanted to continue working together. That was the turning point: rather than looking for a salaried job, Alain decided to start his own company.

The early days were varied — network setup, troubleshooting, development… Over time, the focus narrowed to software and web development.

💡 Key takeaway: seizing opportunities, even small ones, can be the starting point of an entrepreneurial journey.

The Challenges of Entrepreneurship

Throughout the episode, Alain reflects on several critical topics:

• Money, an uncomfortable subject:

  "Money is always the root of tension. We've had conversations between co-founders about salaries, but I've always put the stability of the company first."

• Hiring and growing the team:
  The agency grew organically through demand and word of mouth. Hiring often happened through their network or via Le Wagon.

• Workplace culture as a priority:

  "When I go to work, I feel like I'm going to see friends."
  For Alain, a great atmosphere and day-to-day flexibility matter more than a high salary.

• The tough moments:
  Some periods of debt or project overload were hard to get through, but team spirit made it possible to push past those obstacles.

His Vision and Advice

👉 Quality of life: the freedom to take an afternoon off when needed, but also the responsibility to go the extra mile during critical periods.
👉 Leadership: involving your team in decisions and building a culture of trust.
👉 Lessons learned: take time to think before diving headfirst, and run regular retrospectives to keep improving.

"I'm happy to go to work. That's my greatest achievement."

His Inspirations and Routines

• Inspired by his parents — his father as an entrepreneur, and his mother for her human qualities.
• Passionate about teaching and coding, he keeps his skills sharp with daily challenges on Codewars.
• Reads books on management and personal development.
• Recommends the film The Game (David Fincher) for its gripping storyline.

Where to Find Alain Fresco

• On Instagram: @fresco.a
• On his agency's website: wavemind.ch

Conclusion

In this first episode of Take Control Now, Alain Fresco shares an honest and grounded account of what entrepreneurship looks like in Switzerland.
From financial pressures and team management to work-life balance, his story captures the courageous choices that independent founders have to make.

👉 Whether you're already self-employed or thinking about taking the leap, you'll find plenty of inspiration and practical advice here.