The cognitive Iron Man suit
Zixio, a start-up located in the CHIC, develops tailor-made software and digital products in the field of cognitive systems and AI
Joanna Czarnecka’s father was an entrepreneur and artist in Poland. He taught her that self-employment is hard work. Nevertheless, in 2019, she co-founded the company Zixio with Andreas Salzmann, developing tailor-made software and digital products in the field of cognitive systems and artificial intelligence (AI).
Her entrepreneurial journey began with sofas—and the idea to make specialist knowledge available in digital sales processes. “In the past, if you went to a specialty store to buy something, whether it was a TV or a sofa, you’d get an employee to help you,” she says. This is typically lacking in online retail. They quickly had a mail order company become interested in the idea, developed a prototype, and created a compensation system: a commission from the sales generated by the digital consulting service. The response was positive, both in terms of feedback and financially. “Anyone wanting to grow in this market needs capital, lots of capital,” Czarnecka says, looking back.
External capital always means losing independence. Those who pay also want a say. Consequently, the start-up developed a hybrid business model, shifting from the business-to-business-to-consumer market (B2B2C) to the B2B market. On the one hand, they developed user-friendly software systems for the medical and industrial sectors and, on the other, they continued their own innovations in highly specialised complex cognitive systems and AI. “Both areas complement each other,” says Joanna Czarnecka. “We’ve always wanted to stand on our own feet—without external capital.”
In a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies, cognitive systems play a central role. But, as the founder is aware, the world does not function solely through data collection and processing. “We face the challenge of integrating human knowledge and experience into complex cognitive systems and making it accessible at the right time and place.” Zixio’s aim is “to empower people to achieve things faster and more efficiently. We’re putting people in a cognitive Iron Man suit.”
Zixio’s technology combines artificial intelligence (AI) with qualitative methods and approaches from the social sciences—particularly anthropology. This hybrid approach focuses on quality and requires specialisation in specific, knowledge-intensive contexts. The goal is to provide people with the right information at the right time. To this aim, the technology takes on an advisory and supporting role by combining situational knowledge, contextual understanding, and adaptive solutions—a breakthrough for knowledge-intensive fields like consulting, healthcare, and industry.
Her degree in social sciences and anthropology—the “scientific study of humanity”—provides her with valuable insights in several ways. “Our systems,” says Czarnecka, “are designed not only for technical efficiency but also take ethical and human values into account.” Especially in the areas of education and learning, anthropological and social science principles are helpful. “By integrating holistic, creative, and ethical approaches, we can develop technologies that are not only functional and efficient but also humane and sustainable,” she says with emphasis.
Rico Bigelmann for POTENZIAL