History of the Organization
Waleli1 is a high tech company which utilizes the latest proven technological developments in wireless communication to bring innovations to the market. It aims to develop wireless communications to solve needs, both between people (mobile applications) and between machines and apparatuses (machine-to-machine, or M2M, communication), in a simple way.
Siete Hamminga, the founding entrepreneur, graduated with a master’s degree in industrial engineering and management from the University of Twente in 2001. During his time as a student he ran a one man business, Well-Suited, selling suits to students. He also completed an internship with Unilever in Switzerland and while enjoying the work, this experience reinforced his desire to start his own business. He completed his Master’s thesis in Silicon Valley studying the business models of Internet service providers (ISPs). His study period coincided with the collapse of the Internet bubble and his thesis was accordingly entitled “Back to Basics.” Inspired by his stay in Silicon Valley, he, along with Roel Pieper (former vice president of Philips, current professor of e-business at the University of Twente and chairman of Favonius Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in funding software start-ups), and Vincent Kouwenhoven wrote the book Beyond the Hype (see Figure 1). In this book, top Dutch executives give their vision on e-business now that the hype is over. Based on these experiences, Siete Hamminga founded Waleli in February 2002.
Armed with the knowledge he obtained in Silicon Valley, Hamminga recognized that current mobile technology ideas were far ahead of consumer needs. The practical idea for the business came from his brother, who posed the question “Why can’t a mobile phone be used to answer the doorbell?” To answer this he conducted some formal research, borrowed some money, built the prototype, and launched the “GSM-doorbell.” While developing this product he continued to come up with ideas to bring practical solutions to meet needs in a simple way using wireless communication; this became the mission of his company.