Lio Mendonca, CTO and Head of Development at Nimbus

Lio Mendonca’s journey towards joining Nimbus is fascinating. He was born in Brazil, grew up in several countries and was shaped by entrepreneurship and technology. He thus brings his international experience and visions to the Glarus region. But what was it that guided him to Nimbus? His desire for something genuine, for honest work… and an environment that embodies these very values.

A global background broadens one’s horizons

Lio Mendonca was born in Brazil. His father was a writer, so the family stayed on the move: to Portugal, Madeira, the USA.

Lio came to Switzerland when he was 15 and completed an apprenticeship as a vehicle electronics technician in Zurich. He showed an affinity for technology early on, as well as curiosity and the desire to understand and develop things.

A creative entry into the digital world

After his apprenticeship, Lio studied audio engineering, sound and web design. He produced radio adverts, developed websites and worked on short films. Further training at the HF Technikerschule Zürich enabled him to specialize further and to become a frontend developer. It didn’t take him long to move on to self-employment: Lio founded his first company… and sold it successfully later on.

Entrepreneurship and AI

In 2018, Lio started engaging intensively with artificial intelligence. His interest led him to create another company in the area of AI-supported ecommerce. He transferred his business to the USA and continued to expand it there. Then, however, he decided to move on, out of a desire to start something new.

A deliberate change of direction

After many years of working in the dynamic, buzz-filled world of AI, a desire began to grow in Lio: to find something tangible. Something that would stand the test of time. Surprisingly, he found what he was looking for in the Glarus region: in a Nimbus job advertisement.

On the same wavelength

Speaking with former CTO and today’s CEO Daniel Stucki, he quickly realized how good the vibe was. They both share the wish to adhere to honest values, to find genuine solutions and to support sustainable business potential. Soon, ideas on how to further develop Nimbus solutions presented themselves: web-based, forward-looking and supplemented in some areas by new technologies such as AI.

Trust as a product

What most impressed Lio is Nimbus’ approach. “The company sells trust in a sensitive areaˮ, he says. “And the team lives by these values.” For him, this means honesty, confidentiality, reliability, and taking action instead of making empty promises. “Not hot air, but solutions that work.” These are precisely the values he had found lacking in some of his previous roles.

A CTO in a special environment

Today, Lio is CTO and Head of Software Development at Nimbus. Alongside CEO Daniel Stucki, he forms a closely-knit management team: flexible, quick, dynamic… and full of ideas. Their common goal: maintaining Nimbus’ established corporate culture while keeping a firm focus on the future. Lio appreciates the team’s diversity: everyone is represented, from young talents to highly experienced specialists. He greatly values this wealth of experience: “The team has welcomed me with open arms”, says Lio. “The people are generous, direct and top-notch professionals.”

Between Ziegelbrücke and Dübendorf

Living in Dübendorf, Lio commutes to the Glarus region regularly, often listening to podcasts. He works from home two days a week.

He finds an outlet in sports: skiing, wake surfing, and fitness workout.

And in music: under his nickname “Lionardoˮ, he produces RnB that can be heard on Spotify.

Shaping the future

Lio sees himself as part of the next generation that engages in Nimbus’ further development. “I want to do my best to help carry on what the founders built – and at the same time bring new ideas to the table.” His conclusion is short and sweet: “It’s brilliant.”