Aseptuva wins Swiss Startup Challenge

The Swiss startup challenge 2020 received 170 applications from which the jury nominated 21 finalists. The award ceremony took place within the framework of StartUpForum Aargau organised by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and Standortförderung Aargau Services. The jury nominated and awarded five winners; Aseptuva, Tuyoh and Beeyond secured the first three positions winning themselves CHF 10,000, CHF 3,000 and CHF 2,000 respectively. Spontastic and SOLEXTRON AG each received CHF 1000 in the fourth and fifth positions.

The first three winners are:
Aseptuva is developing a device that regularly cleans the tracheal tube to combat Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). The ventilation tube in the patient’s airways prevents the natural flow of mucus, and thus, the continuous removal of pathogens. Moreover, more dangerous germs are present hospitals than in a natural environment. For patients, especially those in intensive care units, exposure to such germs can result in respiratory infections. In the USA alone, 150,000 people contract VAP every year. Aspetuva is currently building its in-vitro set up at the University of Zurich.

Tuyoh is building a one-stop platform for sustainable household appliances. As global welfare rises, more people will be able to access household appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines. However, purchasing low-quality, cheap and unsustainable products will result in spiking numbers of CO2 emissions. Tuyoh's solution is to combine the services of capital providers, insurance companies and manufacturers, making sustainable appliances desirable and affordable. Customers get a better product at a lower monthly cost at the time of purchase and save money over the life of the product. As an environmental impact, Tuyoh massively reduces CO2 emissions through energy-efficient appliances.

BEEYOND is a sustainable clothing brand that saves bees. The streetwear brand aims to raise awareness of the challenges bees face, highlight their importance in biodiversity and life, while offering sustainable, locally and fairly produced fashion that sets an example. An end-to-end sustainable concept enables the distribution of clothing combined to contribute to the rescue of endangered bees. Therefore customers support a regional bee project with every purchase. The company behind the brand is SWARM Movement GmbH, which was founded in 2019 by Fabian Zbinden & Giacomo Travaglione.

(RAN)