Published
MOUDON (VD)At 16, he founded his business specializing in gaming
Las of latencies and bugs of video game hosts, a Vaudois teenager has created his own company. Some evenings, it brings together up to 4000 gamers on its servers.
Valentin Flückiger heads the company Flowhardware, at the age of 16.” title=”Vaudois Valentin Flückiger heads the company Flowhardware, at the age of 16.” srcset=”https://image.20min.ch/2025/09/30/e079990c-dbe5-4bbe-910a-396ecfb2aee5.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=400&h=400&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2251&s=e2075c3c16c98ffd3e317b4f1661e69d 400w, https://image.20min.ch/2025/09/30/e079990c-dbe5-4bbe-910a-396ecfb2aee5.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=800&h=800&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2251&s=2aa1e0e1c1ad147ae84b5b9b0f234b12 800w, https://image.20min.ch/2025/09/30/e079990c-dbe5-4bbe-910a-396ecfb2aee5.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=1200&h=1200&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2251&s=90887453adbcdfb3cb839abd589f17b6 1200w, https://image.20min.ch/2025/09/30/e079990c-dbe5-4bbe-910a-396ecfb2aee5.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=1600&h=1600&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2251&s=8f26d7411c123f92b0d407703ed49b7c 1600w, https://image.20min.ch/2025/09/30/e079990c-dbe5-4bbe-910a-396ecfb2aee5.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress%2Cenhance&fit=max&w=2001&h=2000&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2251&s=6939bfcffc4e1589e46d2369929d076e 2001w” width=”1200″ height=”675″/>Vaudois Valentin Flückiger heads the company Flowhardware, at the age of 16.
20min/Gilles BrönnimannHis story is incredible, when it all started with an accident. Cloistered at home in recovery, in 2024, Valentin Flückiger played a lot at video games and he had the opportunity to test various servers hosts (see box). With each time the same observation: “a high latency, mediocre support and abusive prices”, recalls the Vaudois. This is how with the support of his parents, this 16 -year -old adolescent developed his own solution and founded his business: Flowhardware.
“Administratively, it was complicated, because of my age. It was my father who had to sign the commercial register and who continues to sign the big contracts, ”deplores Valentin. In addition, he never stops surprising his friends. “When I explain to them that I manage a society, at first, they do not believe me. Afterwards, I show them my site and the commercial register. And there, I am taken seriously. I also recommend people to dare to get started. It is on the ground that we learn the most, ”shares the Moudonnois.
Boss, but also apprentice
To set up his infrastructure, Valentin relied on the advice of a professional, who also helps him with maintenance and technical support. As for accounting, it is mainly managed by her parents. But for the rest, it is he who is at the helm, on the sidelines of his learning as an electrician. “My days are full. But I manage to juggle between my various obligations. My business is my passion and I do not count my hours, ”continues the young man.
Today, the servers he hosts welcome “200 gamers per evening, with peaks up to 4,000 users”, figures the teenager. The most popular games on Flowhardware are: Minecraft, Fivem (GTA RP), Garry’s Mod and Rust. Valentin is also impatiently awaiting the exit of GTA VI, with which he hopes to make a box. For the rest, its objective is to repatriate by the end of the year all its infrastructure in Switzerland, its physical supports currently being in a French data center. “Ultimately, my idea is to offer a 100% Swiss product, primarily intended for communities of Swiss players”. In addition, it offers various other services, ranging from online telephony to IT, including a VPN system.
What is servers.
In the field of video games, servers’ accommodation consists in providing a machine (a server) which will manage the multiplayer part of a game. Rather that each player connects directly to the others, the central server serves as a stable and powerful intermediary. The server is designed to stay online 24/7, which avoids cuts when a player disconnects. In addition, an accommodated server protects better against cheat and can filter unwanted connections. It also allows you to create personalized parts, with specific rules or modes, without depending on the PC of an individual. “With Flowhardware, players can set up their own private servers and thus build independent communities, with their rules and their universes,” comments Valentin Fluckiger.
