Philip Salmony, Germany
Philip moved to Odense at the end of 2020 after his teammates stumbled across his YouTube channel ‘Phil’s Lab’ and reached out. In recent years, he has worked with a first-class research institution and world-leading technology company – but nothing has quite compared to joining the team at VikingDrone. Today Philip is a key member of the team, designing the technology which makes their drones fly.
“I’ve always been really fascinated by technology, which is what ultimately led me to study a Bachelors and Masters in Engineering at the University of Cambridge in 2015. After undertaking internships at the universities’ computer laboratory and at Raspberry Pi, I moved back to Germany and worked as a freelance consultant within hardware design.”
My current teammates found me through my Youtube channel and invited me to Odense to join Viking Drone
“The story of how I ended up in Denmark is pretty unique. For a year or so, I’ve been running a YouTube channel where I teach PCB and electronics design. My current teammates found me through my channel and asked if I wanted to join their startup. From a young age, I’ve always been interested in building things and understanding how devices work – at 10 years old I began to pick up programming. My dad was a big influence on me. He often showed me how things worked, as he himself had studied engineering.”
Explore: What career opportunities are you looking for?
“At Viking Drone, my main task is to design all of the electronics that go into our drones. This includes drawing schematics and circuits, designing printed circuit boards, and getting bits of the hardware manufactured by a third party. Additionally, I run tests on the technical components and play a part in business decisions. Right now, I’m designing the hardware for our own flight control system that will make our drone fly.”
Working in a startup has definitely been the most positive work experience to date
“After university, I wanted to see more of the world and try living in a new country. The opportunity to move and be part of an early-stage team was super exciting. Being in a startup is a fast-paced experience with lots of moving parts. Every day is different, so bringing a collaborative mindset to work is fundamental.”
“Working at Viking Drone has definitely been the nicest work-related experience I’ve had so far. We have a relaxed working environment but are still incredibly passionate about what we do. Each of us believes in our product 100%, so there’s a real sense of momentum behind what we’re doing. We’re always talking about where we should take the company next and what new features we should be building, both inside and outside of work. It’s not just a job – it’s a lifestyle.”
There are many good opportunities out there for young companies in Denmark
“I’ve been super impressed by the Danish tech scene so far and specifically by just how many opportunities there are for young companies. There seem to be so many systems in place that help startups with technical knowledge, funding, and mentorship. The welfare structure is so well organised and regulated. It really feels like there’s a system for everything! The weather is of course not the best, but I honestly don’t think it could be any worse than the UK.”
“I’m definitely planning on staying in Denmark for the foreseeable future. Who knows how much our company can grow. For those considering moving here, I’d say definitely give it a shot. You’ll receive support in many different ways and feel like everyone has your best interests in mind.”
Explore: Robotics in Denmark.
