Three Swiss startups among WEF’s Technology Pioneers

The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers community comprises more than 900 companies from all over the world that are dedicated to using technology to scale the impact of initiatives and positively shape the future. Eligible to obtain membership are early-to-growth-stage companies with a high level of innovation with an effective business model that has the potential to make substantial long-term impacts on society and the planet. The startups must also have received a solid amount of funding early in their start-up phase (generally Series A).

By joining the community, startups connect with their peers to learn and collaborate on innovative solutions to global issues. They participate in multi-stakeholder initiatives and co-creating partnerships and get access to the Forum's platform as well as the research and insight platform to enhance their understanding of the world's most pressing issues.

The three Swiss startups recognized as Technology Pioneers 2023 are:

Goodwall supports 2 million youths in 150 countries to build skills and connect to opportunities via its app that enables experiential learning and gamification. The company partners with corporations, organizations and governments to develop programs.

MobyFly designs and delivers fast, efficient, zero-emission hydrofoil boats. Powered by renewable energy sources and built on a technologically advanced, scalable platform, its boats will be capable of transporting anywhere from 12 to 300 passengers comfortably and safely above the waves at speeds more than 70 km/h while requiring up to 70% less energy than current diesel ferries.

Transmutex is developing a non-self-sustaining chain reaction nuclear energy system that can be able to produce carbon-free energy with the highest safety profile, recycle and "burn" long-lived uranium waste, such as plutonium, while operating on thorium metal fuel, which does not produce new plutonium. The system was experimentally demonstrated at CERN.

Until January 2024, interested companies can submit their application. Once selected, Technology Pioneers will be given an opportunity to engage with the Forum for two years, during which the chief executive officers are expected to actively engage in the World Economic Forum's content workstreams under one of the Forum's 10 Centres.

(RAN)