InnoFaith is not only a great example of a successful company but also substantiates that “innovation” isn’t exclusive to startups. The company makes a deliberate effort to preserve startup traits and even stresses the importance of innovation by including it in the company name. As outlined in earlier articles, teamwork and creativity are key components of their business, and these abilities are used extensively and regularly at all levels. How did this come about, considering that InnoFaith was a startup not too long ago?

As an example of teamwork and creativity right across the work floor, the “look and feel” of the app that accompanies InnoFaith’s main product, the Observ 520x huidanalyzer, has active contributions from practically all the company’s employees. In the end, as Walter Arkesteijn highlights, anyone should be able to use their product without much of a hassle!
 
A look at the customer/patient side of the Observ 520x. The subjects of
optics and electronics blend nicely here.
Alina Neacsu: In the previous interview, it was mentioned you “started InnoFaith Beauty Sciences out of entrepreneurial ambition.” At which point in your journey did engineering first intersect with entrepreneurship? Did you face any challenges?

Walter Arkesteijn: I used to do vacation work for many years which didn’t give me satisfaction because I dreamt of creating things. So, engineering and entrepreneurship first crossed paths when my brother came to me asking if I could solve a problem he had run into at his side job. The pizzeria he worked at had the idea of putting an oven in the delivery truck to keep the pizzas warm during delivery but they did not know how to bring this idea to reality. During this project, I encountered a number of challenges. Here I think it is important to always remember that being naive is the best time to start with something you feel like doing. However, you can underestimate it a lot. You think you can do that without knowing exactly what you are getting into. The desire to create something beautiful does not always match with planning and budgeting as a result. You learn to review things because setbacks are part of the process. This first project sparked my interest in entrepreneurship. I had a challenge here that I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into, but when you finally work out the idea and you’ve been able to create something you could only dream of before, you feel a lot of satisfaction.

Alina: Suppose you were faced with the choice to start InnoFaith again. What do you think would change right now? Is the recipe to success the same as 25 years ago?

Walter: I do believe that the recipe for success has remained the same since 25 years ago and would not want to change much. If I were faced with the choice of restarting InnoFaith Beauty Sciences, with today’s knowledge I would choose to have the operational management part picked up earlier. For me personally, a project feels finished when I have fulfilled it and I prefer to focus on new innovations. Because of this, you miss commercial opportunities. My biggest motivation is not commercial, but organic growth occurred as we tackled bigger and bigger challenges within InnoFaith Beauty Sciences. Space has now been created within the company to further exploit already developing projects while I can focus on innovating.

Alina: Your work brings together electronics, skin beauty, and entrepreneurial skills. I anticipate that your “process of fantasy becoming reality with the help of technology” can inspire some innovators in Elektor’s community to begin exploring how to use various disciplines, including electronics. Is electronica fast forward, the start-up platform powered by Elektor a unique opportunity to showcase their ideas and technology?

Walter: I definitely think it is a unique opportunity for startups to be presented to the market through the ‘electronica Fast Forward’ platform. It is very important for new initiatives to understand the technical developments. Through the startup platform, the opportunity is offered to get exposure. A tech company knows exactly how its product works but it is very important to clarify what the meaning is for the user of that innovation. The bridge is essential to make the value of technical development clear. No matter how beautiful the technology is, if it is not understood, it will not be appreciated.
 
Alina: What do you think of the mindset of the newer generations? Do you have any advice for newcomers?

Walter: One major change compared to 25 years ago is that access to the world out there has become very easy. This gives the advantage of being able to start initiatives at a small scale. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that the amount of information is enormous and it is more difficult to differentiate yourself. So, the question is, how do you stand out and be heard in a crowded and easy, accessible market? My advice is to look for partners who have access to that market. If you start from the technology, there is still a lot of knowledge that you have to gain yourself, this gives a slow trajectory. Therefore, find strong partners to be aware of other aspects such as distribution, marketing and sales. I would also like to add that setbacks are precisely the way to find a path to get back on top, and they provide good motivation to get going.
 

Learn more about InnoFaith Beauty Sciences

In May 2022, Elektor met for the first time with Walter Arkesteijn and paid a video visit to InnoFaith in Eindhoven, the Netherlands to discover how their high-end equipment for skin analysis is created. For more information, you can read the previous articles:


Working at InnoFaith

Technology at the heart of the aesthetic medicine and professional beauty industry, delivered by a small but strong team of 31 who have worked at InnoFaith for years. That shows that InnoFaith is in it to stay. InnoFaith Beauty Sciences shares the mindset towards innovative design and the manufacturing of state-of-the-art high-tech scanning and imaging diagnostic devices. Take a look at their vacancies at www.innofaith.com.
 
Walter Arkesteijn (InnoFaith Beauty Sciences)