Four deeptech startups to accelerate growth with Microsoft

Smartest Learning – accelerating digital learning solution
Smartest combines computer vision with natural language processing to automatically turn study materials into interactive exercises. The EdTech solution allows users (learners and teachers) to create personalized and playful quizzes from their own study materials in just a few clicks, and track their progress effortlessly. With Smartest, the creation of engaging study material is reduced from hours – of manual, often tedious material preparation – to mere minutes, simplifying learners’ and teachers’ lives. With a focus on the B2B marker, the startup offers its solution to schools in German, English, French and Spanish speaking countries.

As part of the Microsoft program, Smartest Learning receive 120’000 USD Azure Cloud grant to train their NLP and Computer vision models. Through the Swiss Mentoring program the startup will be able to connect with important stakeholders at Microsoft to receive technical expertise and access to customer and partner networks. Smartest will also profit from Microsoft’s co-selling program.

Iprova – platform for data-driven inventions
Swiss AI scale-up Iprova is a pioneer in data-driven inventions, providing machine learning and NLP (Neutral Language Processing) technologies that augment and enhance the human ability to invent. Its clients include Sony, Philips, Nokia, Panasonic which represent some of the world’s best-known technology companies across North America, Europe and Japan. The stationery and shaving company BIC has recently launched a dedicated invention lab based on Iprova’s technology. The Microsoft for Startups program will help fuel Iprova’s growth by providing access to technical resources and mentoring and support in areas such as business development. The offer includes the ability for Iprova to host the Iprova Invention platform on Azure and access to the Microsoft sales channel.

Axedras – connecting and digitizing the precious metal industry
Through a blockchain-based B2B industry platform, aXedras provides harmonized data standards for product integrity and process workflows for one global industry and all its stakeholders along the value chain. Digital twins of physical products act as data carriers of their provenance, the chain of custody and are the technical foundation of these digitized B2B processes. aXedras’ solution also has a societal and environmental aspect. The general public is informed about the origins of the precious metals, starting with documentation of sourcing methods, transportation routes, and production processes.

AXedras has recently joined the Microsoft for Startups program. It will benefit from Microsoft’s holistic software offering, support from Microsoft employees. The startup will also get access to Microsoft’s Swiss data centers, which is essential for aXedras’ international and local customers.  

Alkelio – accelerating digital transformation
With offices in Geneva, Singapore and Boston, Alkelio enables startups to find qualified leads and corporations to accelerate their digitalization and innovation journey by making new technologies accessible and easy to implement and use. Its core product lies on an automated matchmaking platform that brings together business needs with tested startups technologies. To fuel its growth, the company has received USD 25.000 of Azure Cloud credits in addition to business and technical support.

(Press release/RAN)