Steve Wozniak is known as a Silicon Valley icon and co-founder of Apple, who has been a tech entrepreneur for more than 40 years. Alex Fielding, meanwhile, is an experienced leader and innovator, having served in leadership roles at companies like Apple and Exodus Communications, as well as co-founding Wheels of Zeus and Ripcord. Together with chief scientist, Dr. Moriba Jah, they are now focused on their latest venture, Privateer.
Privateer was launched as a commitment to the space environment, which in turn, can support sustainability on Earth. As the orbital highways above our planet become more congested, Privateer’s data infrastructure provides a real-time, open-access map of all the satellites and human-made debris surrounding Earth. Our world depends on what’s in space, and this focus on sustainability will allow operators to maneuver safely and effectively, ensuring the space economy can keep growing into the future.
OMEGA has a long and iconic history in space, going back to 1962. Its Speedmaster watches have been worn by astronauts on every Moon landing in history, while even today, the brand continues to be a part of humankind’s continuing exploration of the unknown. Therefore, it made perfect sense to partner with Privateer in 2022 and help keep the brand’s space commitment active and progressive.
During the visit, Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, said, “It’s an honour to welcome Steve and Alex to OMEGA. They have embraced innovation and sustainability to achieve their goals with Privateer, and we’re thrilled to show them how those same values are applied in our watchmaking. I’ve enjoyed showing them our own commitment to technology and how our space heritage is looking ahead to the future.”
Steve Wozniak, Privateer’s Co-Founder, said, “Touring the OMEGA factory for the first time has been amazing. It's just incredible to see the attention to doing things right, and doing them well. That’s something we always valued at Apple, and it’s also what we do at Privateer.”
Alex Fielding, the CEO and Chairman of Privateer, said. “OMEGA is a pioneer in our eyes. Not only with what they’ve done in space, but also in the work we saw today in the factory. What we do at Privateer looks quite different from watchmaking, but we both value the delicate balance between ingenuity and craftsmanship in our work. I’m so grateful for this partnership with not just this iconic brand, but with the incredible people at OMEGA, who share our passion for space and vision of a brighter future…on Earth and beyond.”
The two guests were given a personal tour of the OMEGA Factory – an advanced facility, spread over five floors, which brings the brand’s technical innovation and human expertise together for a fully streamlined manufacturing process. The building is situated at OMEGA’s HQ site on Rue Jakob-Stampfli in Bienne – a location that has been the brand’s home since 1882.
