Share
Interview with Sven Albrecht, VP of Engineering, Navenio
Sven, can you tell us about your role as VP of Engineering at Navenio and how you support your healthcare customers?
I joined Navenio as VP of Engineering to lead the development of our indoor location technology. My responsibilities include guiding engineering projects, aligning our solutions with the specific needs of healthcare providers, making sure that we’re technically ahead of the competition and that our systems scale to customer demand. I oversee research and development, ensure rigorous testing, and facilitate seamless integration of our systems into healthcare operations.
Navenio’s intelligent workforce solution ensures that the right person is in the right place at the right time. Our core goal is to leverage technology to enable nurses and other healthcare professionals to spend more time at the bedside and perform their jobs to the best of their ability. We achieve this through our infrastructure-free system, which requires only a smartphone.
What is Navenio hoping to achieve in the next five years?
We are committed to expanding our presence internationally. Our technology is designed to save time and money for overworked healthcare teams, and we aim to deploy our solution broadly to enhance workflows, increase efficiency, and ultimately improve patient care. Our AI capabilities, particularly task triggering, which automates task allocation in real time,
have been transformative for the healthcare sector, and we will continue to develop and refine these features.
You hold a Doctor of Philosophy in Quantum Physics from the University of Copenhagen. How did you decide on a career in engineering?
I hold a PhD in Quantum Physics from the University of Copenhagen, where my research focused on hardware for topological quantum computers. While I deeply respect long-term fundamental research, I was eager to see my work have a direct impact beyond the lab. This led me to a role in software engineering, where I’ve spent my career building AI-based optimisation systems that deliver actionable recommendations to end-users, enabling them to make decisions with immediate real-world effects.
In my previous roles, I have seen the disruptive potential of AI firsthand. With rapid advancements in foundational models, AI promises at least 20 years of transformative applications if implemented effectively across various industries. The technology is ready, so I want to invest my time in developing solutions that address urgent needs today!
Navenio exemplifies such a solution. In the face of a critical crisis in the healthcare sector, Navenio's software has the potential to significantly alleviate the burden on caregivers.
Having previously worked in two other startups, if you could offer just one piece of advice to startups and those who work there, what would it be?
My key piece of advice for new startups and their teams is this: focus on adaptability. In the early stages, while the problem is often clear, the solution is not—neither you nor your customers may have it figured out yet. Therefore, prioritise building a team motivated by solving the problem rather than by a specific technology. Ensure they are enthusiastic about addressing the issue, capable of improvising quickly, and able to iterate based on customer feedback. Assemble individuals with experience in the problem space and those who can challenge conventional approaches.
At Navenio, we embody this approach by integrating expertise from diverse fields. Our team includes professionals with deep knowledge of healthcare and nursing, as well as experts in software development, AI, and real-time location technologies. This multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for developing effective solutions that enhance patient outcomes in a healthcare setting.
What significant milestones are you aiming to accomplish in 2024 and beyond?
In 2024 and beyond, we have several significant milestones we are aiming to accomplish at Navenio. Most importantly, we want to significantly improve our analytics offerings.
One of our primary objectives is to help hospitals identify, understand, and improve bottlenecks in their operations. By providing heat maps that show how crowded or over-utilized different parts of the hospital are, we can offer crucial insights for enhancing efficiency and optimising workflows, ultimately leading to better patient care.
Moreover, by leveraging predictive analytics, we aim to empower hospital staff to make informed decisions that can prevent waiting times before they even occur.
I am genuinely excited about these advancements. It's thrilling to be part of a journey that not only enhances the technological landscape of healthcare but also has a profound impact on patient outcomes and the daily lives of healthcare professionals.
In terms of engineering advancements, what invention are you hoping to witness within your lifetime?
Looking ahead, I anticipate significant progress in assistive technologies for individuals with mobility impairments. Navigating our world remains challenging for those with mobility issues, especially in cities like London, where many tube stations are not barrier-free.
The development of foundational AI models will play a crucial role in advancing embodied AI technologies, such as self-driving cars, robotics, and bionics. These advancements could lead to new assistive devices, like wheelchairs that can walk on legs and navigate obstacles
independently. While the core technology for these innovations exists today, it remains prohibitively expensive and lacks the reliability needed for widespread use.
As these technologies become more affordable and dependable, we will be able to deploy them on a larger scale, making public spaces more accessible to individuals facing mobility challenges. This progress will not only enhance their independence and quality of life but also promote a more inclusive society where accessibility is the standard.
What question do you find yourself answering more frequently than any other?
A key question for me is how to support remote work while keeping the team connected. This issue reflects a broader tension within the software industry today. Many companies are urging employees to return to the office, yet people have grown accustomed to the benefits of remote work experienced during the pandemic.
Remote work allows software engineers to be highly productive from home, which is often beneficial for deep, concentrated technical tasks. As collaboration tools improve and augmented reality becomes more prevalent, remote work will increasingly compete with in-person interactions. While its potential might be overestimated in the short term, it is likely underestimated in the long term. The trajectory of technological progress suggests that remote work will become more commonplace.
However, it's crucial to balance remote work with building a strong engineering culture where team members can interact face-to-face and connect beyond work tasks. At Navenio, we embrace a flexible policy: we don’t enforce strict office attendance but provide a flexible workspace that adapts to the number of people coming in. This approach aims to offer the best of both worlds—enabling productive remote work while also facilitating in-person collaboration when needed.
To what do you attribute your success in your career?
I’ve always looked to put myself in environments where I wasn't the smartest person in the room. Surrounding yourself with capable individuals, especially those who excel in areas different from your own, allows you to benefit from their insights and expertise. While this can be uncomfortable, it is a powerful way to ensure continuous growth and learning.