Swisscom has launched the 2023 Swisscom Startup Challenge in search of three outstanding deeptech startups. The winners will participate in a business acceleration program in Silicon Valley which will be organized for each team individually and will get the chance to explore collaboration opportunities with Swisscom. In addition the program will put winners in contact with investors including Swisscom Ventures.
The Swisscom StartUp Challenge was launched in 2013 and has since accompanied many startups on their journeys. Besides training and exposing them to their network of mentors and industry leaders, the program has given startups access to an attractive network in Switzerland and the USA and the chance to enter collaborations to validate their solutions further. Experiences from past cohorts are a good example: Ecco2 partnered with the Swisscom subsidiary, Cablex, while SmartHelio won a proof of concept with the same company.
The 11th edition now seeks to replicate the past trajectory and support startups in their growth phase. Focusing on deeptech, the program aims to support startups developing solutions in the fields of industry, robotics, space, fintech, agtech, edtech, smart cities and clean tech. The aspiring candidates must demonstrate how they actively contribute to social issues such as climate protection, education and location attractiveness.
Eligible to apply are startups with an experienced and ambitious team, a functional prototype or a product aimed booth for the Swiss and international market. The applicant should also have clear goals for the acceleration programme in Silicon Valley.
Registration is open until June 11, 2023. Following the deadline expiration, the jury, in collaboration with Venturelab, will select and invite ten outstanding candidates to a pitch session in September 2023 to further evaluate them. The three best startups will be chosen and awarded a ticket to participate in a tailored Accelerator Programme organized by the Swisscom Outpost in Silicon Valley.
With the support of experts, the program will allow the selected startups will advance their marketing, sales and pitching skills. They will meet and exchange with top entrepreneurs and venture capitalists and build their network of potential customers and business partners.The Swisscom team will organize the trip to Silicon Valley for each team individually. Winners also have the chance to obtain investment or a business partnership with Swisscom.
(Press release/RAN)
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