This year's annual Startup Days event in Bern will include some changes, including a new pitching format called Youngsters. The jury will select the finalists to present at the event, and the best startups will be recognized as the ‘Catch of the jury’. Early-stage startups with promising business ideas and early traction are invited to apply, and players in the ecosystem are invited to nominate startups. Applications close on 30 April.
The Startup Days event has an annual attendance of about 1500 visitors including startups, investors, enablers, SMEs and corporates coming from different parts of Switzerland to network, learn and share insights on business, society and political issues around the startup ecosystem. More than 150 speakers deliver inspiring speeches and keynotes and lead workshops that typically cover about 45 sessions. The exhibition area gives startups and supporters the platform to present their offers and 1:1 meetings the chance to engage in a deeper discussion. Tickets for the startup Days are up for grabs.
As of this year, the pitching battle will be replaced with the Youngsters program. Unlike the previous format, which involved the audience voting for their favorite startup, the new format will focus on the jury’s decision. Following the closing of the application phase, the jury (investors, mentors, coaches and other influential players in the ecosystem) will nominate the eight most outstanding candidates who will pitch to the audience during the event.
There will be no winners; however, the jury will select three or four startups deemed to have the highest potential, naming them the “catch of the jury”. They will be featured in one podcast episode by Swisspreneur and receive a ticket to the Secret Launch in the following year. The pre-event brings together invited key players to network.
Eligible to apply are early-stage startups in the pre-seed or seed stage that already have some first traction. The startup must not be older than two years. While the award is industry agnostic, the startup should have a scalable business model based on technology and innovation in deep-tech or applied-tech. The application deadline closes on 30 April.
In addition to the Youngsters format, Startup Days offer extensive networking opportunities before and during the event. The Collective side-event, which launched last year with breakfast, will take place again. This year, it will be held prior to Startup Days and last an entire afternoon, giving the ecosystem ample time to learn and exchange ideas on how to boost female entrepreneurship. Registration for the event is still open.
(RAN)
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