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Andreas Lorenz
managing director - dctrl — studio for creative technology - building things for the connected world since 1998
Professional Background
Andreas Lorenz stands out in the realm of creative technology and digital strategy as a Managing Director at "dctrl — studio for creative technology" and the Co-Founder & Managing Partner Technology at "digitalMedLab GmbH". His visionary approach to merging technology with creativity has established him as a leading figure in these industries. With extensive experience across multiple sectors, Andreas has cultivated a wealth of knowledge in digital health, UI and UX design, data visualization, and mobile security.
Before his current prominent roles, Andreas had a remarkable career trajectory that includes pivotal executive positions such as Managing Partner and Head of Mobile at Achtgrad AG, and co-founder and CTO at digitalMedLab GmbH. His entrepreneurial spirit is reflected not just in his current ventures but in several companies he founded, including dctrl™ — interactive media gmbh and emit neue medien. His dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and design has led him to create innovative solutions that address contemporary challenges in a digital landscape.
As a thought leader, Andreas has made significant contributions to various influential conferences and seminars. He has been an invited speaker at renowned institutions such as ETH Zurich, University of Basel, and the Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW). His insights, particularly in digital strategy and UX design, resonate well beyond Switzerland, contributing to the global dialogue on technology and creativity.
Education and Achievements
Andreas Lorenz's foundational knowledge came from his studies in architecture, despite not being associated with a specific institution listed in public records. This background provides him with a unique perspective on design and functionality, allowing him to approach digital challenges with creative insight. His education has played a sacred role in shaping his understanding of space, aesthetics, and user interaction in digital environments, enriching his work in both digital strategy and design.
His experience ranges across numerous disciplines, where he has not only participated but also led projects that integrate architecture with advanced technological solutions. He has accumulated a diverse portfolio, illustrating his adaptability and forward-thinking mindset. Throughout his career, Andreas has emphasized collaborative innovation and continuous learning, hallmarks of a successful leader in technology today.
Notable Speaking Engagements
Andreas Lorenz has an impressive roster of speaking engagements that showcases his authority in the fields of UX and digital transformation. His participation in events like UX-Switzerland and MobileMonday highlights his role as a key influencer in promoting user-centered design. Some notable venues where he has shared his expertise include:
- ETH Zurich - A testament to his academic prowess, Andreas has engaged students and professionals alike in their pursuit of excellence in technology and design.
- University of Basel - Here, he has imparted knowledge and insights that blend theory with practical applications in real-world scenarios.
- Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW) - Andreas has inspired the next generation of designers and technologists through workshops and lectures.
- Swiss Flash User Group and other conferences - As a co-organizer and speaker, he has significantly contributed to the community by fostering dialogue and collaboration among peers in the tech industry.
Specialties and Skills
With a specialization that covers a broad range of competencies, Andreas Lorenz is well-versed in:
- Digital Strategy: Crafting long-term visions and actionable strategies for businesses looking to thrive in a digital world.
- UI & UX Design: Advocating for the importance of user experience in technology, ensuring products not only meet technical requirements but also deliver delightful user experiences.
- Data Visualization: Transforming complex data into compelling visual narratives that empower users to comprehend and act on information effectively.
- Front- & Backend Development and API Architecture: Understanding both sides of development helps him bridge gaps between design and functionality.
- Digital Health: Recognizing the critical importance of technology in healthcare and championing solutions that enhance patient engagement and outcomes.
- Mobile Security & Development: Addressing crucial concerns in a landscape where security and usability are paramount, especially in mobile applications.
- Growth Hacking: Implementing innovative marketing strategies to drive growth and retention, particularly in startup environments.
Contributions and Legacy
Andreas has left an indelible mark on the tech community through his various leadership roles and his commitment to fostering innovation. His projects at dctrl and digitalMedLab focus on the intersection of health, technology, and design—areas critically affecting our daily lives. Moreover, his efforts as a co-founder and chief technical officer at key organizations illustrate his relentless pursuit of combining creative solutions with cutting-edge technology to address user needs effectively. His impact extends beyond his immediate work environment; through his speaking engagements and community involvement, he continuously influences the fields of UX, digital technology, and design.
In summary, Andreas Lorenz embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration that is essential in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. His unique blend of skills in design, technology, and passion for human-centered experiences enables him to change how we interact with technology and each other, paving the way for future generations of creators and innovators.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Clay encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Clay work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Clay is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
Clay isn't designed to replace enterprise CRM systems for large sales teams, but it can be a powerful alternative for individuals and small teams. Many people use Clay instead of Salesforce, Hubspot, and Pipedrive. Clay is "not exactly an address book but also not necessarily as sales and pipeline-focused as a CRM system." The founders refer to their app as a "home for your people," carving out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. For solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small teams focused on relationship quality rather than sales pipelines, Clay can absolutely serve as your primary relationship management tool.
Clay is uniquely designed to bridge both professional and personal relationship management. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay helps you organize your contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. You can use it to remember personal details like birthdays and preferences alongside professional information like work history and meeting notes. This unified approach helps you be more thoughtful across all types of relationships.
Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.