A Business Born from Personal Need
Patrick Brigger, Co-founder and Chairman of getAbstract, shared his entrepreneurial journey with Philippe Séjalon, host and interviewer, in a wide-ranging conversation about learning, technology, and the future of knowledge. Brigger, who holds a PhD in computer science from EPFL, co-founded getAbstract in 1999 alongside two friends after identifying a gap in the market. "getAbstract was really a need that we had ourselves," he explained. What started as a vision to summarize the entire Library of Congress evolved into the world's leading business book summary platform, boasting over 25,000 titles and a client renewal rate exceeding 90%.
Building a Scalable Platform Business
Brigger drew a clear distinction between traditional businesses and platform business models, pointing to Salesforce as the ultimate example where clients generate the content themselves. getAbstract operates on a subscription model, ensuring continuous value delivery as new content is added. The company secured its first major client, Swiss Air, in 2000, targeting HR managers, training directors, and corporate librarians. Despite early challenges with venture capital and an aggressive expansion that required scaling back, getAbstract has been profitable since 2003, growing organically ever since.
Microlearning and the Rise of Actionables
Brigger highlighted a significant evolution in getAbstract's offering with the launch of Actionables, bite-sized microlearning modules of 15 to 20 minutes that bundle multiple summaries around practical business topics such as storytelling, remote team management, and employee upskilling. Each Actionable includes a short meditation, author presentations, reflection questions, and text input exercises. "Know better, do better" is the company's guiding principle, ensuring that knowledge translates directly into action. getAbstract also integrates with major learning platforms including Degreed, Cornerstone, and LinkedIn Learning.
AI, Curation, and the Future of Knowledge
On the topic of artificial intelligence, Brigger was optimistic, describing AI as a transformative tool rather than a threat. He noted that the role of getAbstract's editorial team is already shifting from summarizing to content curation, finding credible knowledge in an era of misinformation and fake news. The company is also exploring 3D content visualization using VR technology to better understand usage patterns. Looking ahead, Brigger emphasized that getAbstract's mission remains unchanged: delivering the best knowledge to help people make better decisions in their everyday and professional lives.
Discover getAbstract
getAbstract is the world's leading platform for business knowledge summaries, offering over 25,000 summaries of books, articles, podcasts, and videos across a wide range of professional topics. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Switzerland, the company serves a global client base spanning North America, South America, Europe, and beyond. Its subscription model provides individuals and organizations with curated, high-quality content designed to support leadership development, employee growth, and informed decision-making. With the recent launch of Actionables, getAbstract continues to innovate in the microlearning space, helping users apply knowledge quickly and effectively. The company works in close partnership with major publishers and leading learning management platforms to maximize reach and impact. Discover more about getAbstract and on their LinkedIn page.
