Startup Days break a record

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20.05.2022
Winners pitching battle

With 1200 visitors, the Startup Days event was fully booked this year. The participants at the event discussed extensively, exchanged experiences and networked intensively. Incon.ai, Muvon, Aktionariat, Casus and Enerdrape came out as the winners of the pitching battle.

The first Startup Days gathering after the pandemic was very well attended. 1200 entrepreneurs, investors, supporters and representatives of corporates participated. This record is certainly related to the growing Swiss startup scene and the fact that the participants were delighted to meet again in-person without restrictions finally. There was a lot of networking throughout the day, and all the 50+ sessions attracted a great audience. The decentralised conferencing model, therefore, worked successfully. 

The atmosphere was generally optimistic, as one would expect at a start-up conference. The fact that the Swiss start-up ecosystem was able to withstand the crisis during the pandemic probably contributed to this. Nevertheless, speakers and startups also addressed concrete challenges such as the enduring human resources scarcity, and some startups are also affected by the global chip shortage. Many entrepreneurs also wondered how investments will develop considering the inflation and the Russian attack on Ukraine. Some deep-tech start-ups have already complained about an increasing risk aversion among investors, which will take several years before their products are ready for the market.

Competitive Pitching Battle

Out of 200 Applications, 40 start-ups in four verticals got selected for Pitching Battle at startup days. The finale saw eight startups compete and a winner for each category, selected by the audience, was announced.

Autonomous systems

Winner: Incon.ai – uses computer vision and AI algorithms to turn smartphones, tablets, or AR headsets into tools that give intuitive instructions and real-time feedback to guide construction projects. The solution replaces printed plans and blueprints, empowering both professionals and hobbyists to achieve complex construction projects.

Runner up: Witty works – developed a text-editing tool that checks texts for discrimination in real time and suggests inclusive writing for companies to unlock more diversity. Companies such as Microsoft and Deutsche Bank ­ already use the tool.

Healthtech

Winner: Muvon Therapeutics – is working on a regenerative therapy designed to address personalized skeletal muscle regeneration, targeting first stress urinary incontinence in both men and women.

Runner up: Inkvivo – developed a bioresorbable implant that will increase the therapeutic efficacy. When imbued with pain-relief and anti-inflammatory drugs, the biopolymer can be applied to patients after surgery for pain relief and reduced perioperative interventions.

ICT 
Both Aktionariat and Casus won the pitch contest in this vertical.

Aktionariat – offers tools enabling companies to tokenise their shares and build a market for them. Its mobile wallet app allows for tracking and managing investments while the corporate dashboard provides administrators with an automatically updated shareholder register and tools to configure their shares market.

Casus – makes it easier for SMEs to access legal advice and legal services. Its platform enables companies to automate their templates for creating contracts, speeding up internal processes and relieving the legal department.

Sustainable Technologies

Winner: Enerdrape – develops the world’s first underground thermal panels that allow new and existing underground infrastructure, such as garages and tunnels, to be transformed into renewable energy sources for the heating and cooling needs of buildings.

Runner up: Xilva – creates a global digital marketplace for forests by mobilising capital for forest-positive projects at scale. The team works with companies and financial investors to bring the necessary attention to forests, encouraging investment.

(SK)

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