Network before process

The right partner, customer or technology — found.

From strategy to revenue. Through a global sector network built over decades of direct engagement.

Where strategy points to organic growth, the next question is always: who, and how? We open meetings with decision-makers, identify production or development partners with the right technology fit, scout start-up innovations before they reach the wider market — and source the right components for total cost, not the lowest quote.

The five services on this page share the same underlying logic: we have the sector network, the technical language, and the structured process to make the right connection. What happens after the connection belongs with the client.

A

Customer Access & Business Development

Business development is not the same as sales. A sales organisation converts demand. Business development creates demand where none exists yet — by entering new markets, opening new customer relationships, and putting a company in front of decision-makers who do not yet know it. Most technical SMEs are good at sales. Few are good at business development. The difference is access — and access takes time, sector reputation, and a network.

We are not sales agents. We have the sector network and the standing to put our clients in front of decision-makers who can sign — and to ensure those conversations are taken seriously from the first word. The technical conversation, the commercial negotiation, the closing — those stay with the client, where they belong.

When BD is the right answer

The pattern is recognisable: strong technical capabilities; existing customer base concentrated on a handful of accounts or one geography; sales organisation optimised for delivery, not for entry. The questions clients ask sound like:

How we work

In every BD mandate, three things stay consistent: we do not run the sales process; we organise the meetings; the client conducts them.

Step 1

Kick-off

Four to six weeks. Joint alignment on markets, target customers, value proposition, sales material, and the first customer list.

Monthly cadence

Active outreach

Each month we organise two to three meetings with prioritised target customers — fully prepared, with briefing material, target profiles, and a meeting agenda. The client conducts the meeting.

Quarterly review

Review & adjust

Same KPIs each quarter: meetings held, opportunities generated, order intake. Where activity is not converting, we adjust the targets or sharpen the offering.

Business development mandates begin with a working session, not a pitch. If our network would open doors for your business, write to one of us.


B

Manufacturing & Development Partners

Finding the production or development partner with the right technology and cost fit. This differs from component sourcing in one important respect: we are not looking for a supplier who can make an existing part. We are looking for a partner who can develop, industrialise, or produce something new — and who has the technical capability, the capacity, and the organisational maturity to be a long-term collaborator.

We have supported clients relocating manufacturing operations to Eastern Europe, finding joint development partners for new product platforms, and identifying production partners for prototype and ramp-up phases. The approach is always structured: we define the criteria first, then screen, shortlist, audit, and recommend — before the client commits to a conversation. The shortlist includes our assessment of organisational culture and leadership depth, which only becomes visible through a site visit.

Where we have run this process


C

Innovation & Start-Up Scouting

Monthly scouting of the European start-up ecosystem for clients who want to stay ahead of relevant technology developments — without building an internal scouting function. We attend the major events — Pioneers, ViennaUP, 4YFN, Slush, Web Summit, Hello Tomorrow, Money 20/20 — filter for what is relevant to the client’s specific challenges, and deliver introductions with context, not lists of names.

The service is cross-industry by design: thermal management intersects with battery technology, electrification, materials science, software, and manufacturing process innovation. We cover all of it.

The five-step process

01

Scope

2–3 weeks. Joint definition of innovation focus, client challenges, and screening criteria.

02

Scout

Continuous. ~2 events per month. European start-up ecosystem coverage.

03

Filter

Monthly briefing. Relevant findings presented against the client’s defined criteria.

04

Match

On demand. Where a start-up is worth a conversation, we make a warm, context-prepared introduction.

05

Pilot

If agreed. We support the scoping and setup of a pilot project between client and start-up.

The scouting service is available as a standalone subscription or integrated into a broader strategy or BD mandate. If innovation scouting is relevant to your situation, write to us.


D

Engineering-Driven Sourcing

The cheapest quote and the lowest cost are rarely the same number. A part that looks cheaper on paper can cost far more once you add quality problems, rework, a line that stops, or a single source that fails. We source for total cost of ownership — the ratio of quality to price, with security of supply.

That means engineering-driven sourcing, not the lowest bid: we check the specification, judge whether a supplier can truly build it, and make design and manufacturing fit before anyone commits. Qualification runs to IATF 16949 / VDA 6.3, with SATTELO engineers assessing readiness against systems they have built themselves.

See what we source and request a non-binding offer →


E

Cost-Down Engineering

A structured cost reduction programme for thermal management components and subsystems — led by SATTELO engineers, with component sourcing and supplier qualification by JOSA Technologies.

Cost-Down Engineering is relevant when an existing component or subsystem is technically qualified but commercially uncompetitive — and internal engineering teams lack either the time or the external supplier access to address it systematically. The programme does not start with targets. It starts with facts.

The four phases

Phase 1

Transparency

Full cost breakdown of the target component or subsystem. Engineering teardown, BoM analysis, and cost-per-function mapping. Identifies where cost sits and why.

Phase 2

Optimisation

Engineering-led reduction proposals — covering design-for-manufacture, material substitution, specification tightening, and supply-chain alternatives. Every proposal has a technical basis.

Phase 3

Implementation

Execution of agreed measures. SATTELO leads on engineering changes and qualification. JOSA identifies and qualifies lower-cost suppliers where supply-chain substitution is part of the plan.

Phase 4

Impact Monitoring

Tracking realised savings against the baseline established in Phase 1. Documented, auditable, and honest.

SATTELO — engineering lead

SATTELO’s 42 engineers bring over 220 thermal management projects across nine countries. For Cost-Down mandates, they provide the teardown, design analysis, and qualification work. sattelo.com

JOSA Technologies — supplier sourcing

JOSA provides end-to-end supplier sourcing and qualification across Asia and Central Europe (IATF 16949, VDA 6.3), with direct local presence in China. josatechnology.com

If cost reduction is on your agenda, write to us.

Get in touch

If our work is relevant to your situation, write to one of us or give us a call.

Peter Drage peter@md-sg.com
+43 664 8842 1434

Tomas Mrkvica tomas@md-sg.com
+420 778 042 862