Foldcast big winner at Boldbrain Startup Challenge

The sixth edition of Boldbrain started at the end of August with 20 projects. They attended workshops to advance their projects, met key players and attended various events to grow their network. The accelerator program culminates in an award ceremony at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano. The national jury, chaired by Thomas Billeter, assessed the 10 finalists and selected the five winners, who won cash prizes worth CHF 110,000, as well as in-kind prizes and consultancy services to help them continue the development of their project. In addition, the audience selected their favorite startup and three companies received a special prize by Agire.

First prize worth CHF40k and audience award woth CHF10k: Foldcast
Innovative software for designing prefabricated cardboard formwork, delivered to construction sites for easy assembly. This sustainable solution reduces concrete usage by 50%, providing a cost-effective and fully recyclable alternative. Project Lead: Fabio Amicarelli

Second place: Cognitive Inspect
Industrial equipment monitoring with AI support. Its solution identifies and prevents potential issues, minimizing downtime and enhancing efficiency and safety across production facilities. Project Lead: Dario Mategazza

Third place: Securified
Introducing a secure data analysis system for the cloud, ensuring independence from specific security mechanisms. It can execute on any cloud or server, providing a versatile and adaptive security solution. Project Lead: Patrick Eugster

Fourth place: SkinMind
An app empowering patients to self-diagnose skin lesions using digital dermatoscopy. Leveraging AI algorithms, it can deliver immediate feedback, determine the need for further analysis, and monitor changes in melanocytic lesions over time. Project Lead: Sepher Beheshti

Fifth place: WiSort
Designed an intelligent waste bin for recycling based on artificial intelligence. The system recognizes waste and moves it to the correct container, avoiding contamination between different waste categories and improving the quality of recycling. Project Lead: Ermes Zamboni

The special prize of the Agire Foundation (3 desk stations for 1 year at Tecnopolo Ticino) went to WiSort, Rotorborne (large drone with maximum modularity) and Archiater (intelligent medication dispenser).

Boldbrain, the acceleration program for innovative ideas is organized by Fondazione Agire with the support of USI Startup Centre and sponsored by the Department of Finance and Economy (DFE) of the Canton Ticino and BancaStato.

(Press release / SK)