Three Swiss startups awarded as Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Thursday announced its selection of the world’s 61 most promising Technology Pioneers 2018. The early stage start-ups were selected by a selection committee of more than 60 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact and leadership. Past recipients include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla and Spotify.

Over the last years only very few Swiss startups were selected as Technology Pioneers. All the more remarkable, therefore, that in 2018 three companies from Switzerland made it to the list. These include:

Bestmile, the leading mobility services platform enables transportation service providers to manage, operate and optimize autonomous and human-driven vehicle fleets. In addition to being selected for the Technology Pioneers program, Bestmile is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  

H55, a technological legacy from Solar Impulse produces electric propulsion systems for existing airplane designs and new aviation solutions such as flying taxiones and VTOLS. André Borschberg, former pilot of Solar Impulse is CEO and co-founder of H55. 

Melonport uses blockchain technology to build software that enables users to set up and manage technology-regulated investment funds. The startup aims to reduce barriers to entry, impose more efficient regulation methods and increase transparency.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also dubbed “Summer Davos” will be held in Tianjin, China, September 18-20. Many Pioneers will also attend the Annual Meeting in Davos, in January 2019, and continue to contribute to Forum initiatives in the course of the next two years. 

(Press release / SK)

Picture: Blue skies arrive at the Annual Meeting 2018 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 23, 2018
Copyright by World Economic Forum / Greg Beadle