31st Prix Strategis crowns HeroSupport

Geneva-based HeroSupport SA won the 31st edition of the Prix Strategis, convincing a jury made up of renowned experts and influential figures from various fields. The Swiss femtech had to satisfy demanding criteria in terms of innovation, product realisation, capacity for expansion and impact, while demonstrating a favourable potential for the Swiss economy. Led by Giovanna Dipasquale, HeroSupport SA offers the VENUS SHELL™, a custom 3D printing solution for accurate radiotherapy treatments. This innovation improves MRI accuracy and comfort, reduces the need for staff training and patient set-up time, while increasing hospital profitability and optimising patient outcomes.

In second place was Tide Ocean SA, which specialises in the upcycling of marine plastics. In collaboration with the Swiss Institute, they are developing advanced methods for transforming the material #tide® ocean into granules, threads and filaments used in various products, thereby improving their environmental and social value. As part of the "Road to 1 Billion Bottles" initiative, the company active in Thailand and Mexico aims to recycle one billion plastic bottles, actively contributing to the protection of coastal and ocean environments. 

In third place was Testmate Health, a healthcare start-up developing the first true home urine test for common STIs (sexually transmitted infections), offering PCR-quality results in minutes. Testmate Health's mission is to make self-tests accessible, easy to use and accurate. The company aspires to become the Clearblue of STI testing, revolutionising home diagnostics and widening access to sexual health resources.

There were also two deserving start-ups that failed to secure a place on the final podium. TissueLabs stands out by revolutionising medicine with its biofabrication technology, enabling the creation of bioartificial organs such as the heart. For its part, BrayZ is innovating by creating a digital work environment incorporating AI to improve breast cancer diagnosis at every stage of patient care.

New Sustainability Prize unveiled

This year the Prix Strategis unveiled a major innovation: its "Prix Durabilité". In partnership with B-Lab Switzerland, this award celebrates the start-up with the biggest impact on sustainability. The first winner of this award is Tide Ocean. The Swiss Cleantech startup will have the opportunity to participate exclusively in the Swiss Triple Impact programme, enabling it to
develop a tailor-made sustainability strategy!

The Strategis Prize is organised by HEC Espace Entreprise, an association of students keen to encourage exchanges between the business world and students at HEC Lausanne. This year's organization team was led by Noé Délèze.

(PR - ES)