Dr. Szymon Hennel, CFA

Your partner for business adoption of emerging technologies

Zurich-based independent consultant

Szymon Hennel
  • Combined expertise in finance, risk control, software engineering, data science and generative AI
  • Work experience in demanding regulatory environments (UBS Group Risk Control)
  • Fluent in English, German, French, and Polish
  • Flexible engagement options

Services

With my rare blend of experience and credentials, I bridge the gap between emerging technologies and practical business applications – particularly in regulated environments where data protection and compliance are paramount.

I work with a wide range of clients: from legaltech startups in need of execution speed to established boutique financial companies with a conservative risk appetite.

Critical early-stage decisions

Are you starting a new project? I help to:

  • Realistically assess technical complexity, timelines and return on investment.
  • Comply with your regulatory obligations and data protection needs.
  • Make future-proof choices: Take decisions informed by upcoming advances in software and hardware to minimize the risk of costly adjustments early into your solution's lifecycle.

Fast-track to MVP

I implement a first version of your solution, hands-on:

  • Quick delivery of a complete implementation, with business logic in place and a modern, reactive user interface.
  • Code architecture designed to transition smoothly into production and integrate into your existing infrastructure.
  • Use of open-source technologies to minimize costs and avoid vendor lock-in.
  • Transparent progress and frequent feedback loops.

Production scaling

I ensure a smooth transition to production:

  • Assessment of deployment options: in-house infrastructure or Swiss cloud services based on your specific needs.
  • Connection to pre-vetted Swiss operations partners.
  • Verification that compliance and data privacy requirements are properly implemented.
  • Structured knowledge transfer and setup for sustainable long-term maintenance.

About me

My experience

  • PhD in Physics (Dr. Sc. ETH Zurich)
  • CFA Charterholder
  • Risk modeling at UBS for 5 years
  • Programming since more than 20 years

I speak both the language of finance professionals and software engineers, ensuring that technical implementations align with business objectives and respect best practices and professional standards of both worlds. I work fluently in English, German, French, and Polish.

My tech stack

I structure your MVP as containerized microservices, allowing for quick integration of additional technologies as needed. This architecture ensures that your prototype can scale to production with DevOps and CI/CD support without requiring extensive rewrites.
My core tech stack includes:

  • Full-stack Typescript frameworks
  • Python for data analytics, ML and generative AI microservices
  • PostgreSQL, Valkey and specialized vector databases

Contact

Please address all inquiries to :

szymon@hennel.swiss

View my profile on LinkedIn