Kickstart's new cohort includes 17 Swiss startups

Since its foundation five years ago, Kickstart has become one of the largest European innovation platforms. It has initiated over 120 pilots and commercial projects between startups, established organizations and companies from various sectors.

According to Katka Letzing, Co-Lead of Kickstart, the program has attracted high-quality applications from over 55 countries. There is also a significant increase in the number of deeptech ventures with the appetite to scale in Switzerland. This year’s cohort comprises over 50 startups from 11 countries.

From September to November, the startups will have the opportunity to co-create in the form of Proof-of-Concept partnerships, pilots and commercial projects with Kickstart partners, leading organizations and companies. Startups will also have the opportunity to engage newly in the Romandy region next to Greater Zurich Area.

The selected startups from Switzerland are:

EdTech & New Work

SkillGym – Artificial Intelligence-based digital role-play platform for businesses

Coorpacademy – digital learning platform for corporate training.

Gravity Global - onboarding software

FinTech & InsurTech

decentriq – offers software for businesses to identify analytics potential in datasets without having access to the data

Ratyng – developed OnLoan, a ratyng-powered solution that digitizes the SME loan process for banks.

tilbago – offers an online platform to creditors to handle the debt collection process.

Yova – investment platform for sustainable investing

Food & Retail Tech

iSense – operates the first B2B digital flavour marketplace

Prognolite – helps restaurants to predict the number of guests on a given day.

livealytics – offers an analytics solution for measuring and benchmarking the performance of sales and live experience promotion activities, trade shows and retail spaces.

HealthTech

Klenico –  its Klenico system supports professionals in recording patient complaints.

mementor – offers training programs to address sleeping disorders.

Uplyfe – developed an AI-powered digital self-care app that reacts to users’ nutritional behaviours and exercises as well as analyses symptoms.

Smart City & Technology

Animatico – provides interactive avatar guides to assist users through various customer service tasks.

HeatNeutral – develops efficient, cos- effective and scalable heating system for homes and industry.

MOBBOT –the first robotic and automation platform to print concrete infrastructure directly at the final location

Neustark – develops climate positive construction materials by turning CO2 into minerals.

Intrapreneurship drives established companies to generate new business growth and creates sustainable cultural change. Nine intrapreneurship teams from Swisscom, Mobiliar, Migros, PostFinance, Holcim Switzerland and Energie360° will also be part of the 2020 cohort.

(Press release/RAN)