Sixth Boldbrain Startup Challenge

The selection process for the twenty new startups participating in the sixth Boldbrain Startup Challenge accelerator has come to a close. The programme is set to officially commence on 31 August at the Suglio Business Center in Manno.

The Boldbrain Startup Challenge, an accelerator program for innovative business ideas in Ticino, has chosen the twenty teams that will participate in its sixth edition. A total of 140 applications were submitted, a number that is increasing compared to past editions.

For the sixth Boldbrain Startup Challenge, 140 applications were submitted. 77 of these applications met the admission requirements and were considered for selection. A commission of assessors, comprised of experts in business, education, and entrepreneurship in Ticino, reviewed all eligible applications. The selection process took into account various criteria such as the idea's value and scalability, degree of innovation, business model, team quality, and willingness to develop the company in Ticino. The top twenty teams that will participate in the program for the 2023 edition were chosen based on these factors.

The names of the selected start-ups (projects) are (in alphabetical order)

• Ai4Privacy
• AIntern
• Alterland
• Cognitive Inspect
• Decentralised Energy Corporation
• Elephants SAGL
• Foldcast
• Innovative desalination process
• IPBEX
• Jobelink
• myDoctorAngel
• MyLivesTalk: Sense. Track. Empathize.
• POND50
• Rotorborne
• Securified
• SKinMind
• TeamFence
• tèra
• TIKI Health
• WiSort

The selection process showcased a diverse range of project submissions representing various sectors, including ICT, consumer products, MedTech, fintech, and cleantech. This highlights Boldbrain's stance as a horizontal accelerator that prioritises innovation and scalability across industries rather than a single economic sector.

Of the chosen start-ups, ten have created a prototype of their idea, and two are already available on the market. A diverse range of sectors is represented, and the level of development varies, with four established as companies and eleven still in the incubation phase. It's worth noting that the Regional Innovation System and network are working well, as some teams have already reached out to the USI Startup Centre incubator or Agire Foundation for project evaluation.

The composition of the participating teams is also interesting, with an average of three people per team and almost seventy participants expected for the 2023 edition of the acceleration programme. It is also interesting to see that the vast majority of start-ups are from Switzerland, with nineteen out of twenty hailing from the country and sixteen of them from the Canton of Ticino. This is a clear indication of the growing culture of innovation in the region, and it is exciting to see so many promising entrepreneurial projects that are poised to make a real impact.

A meeting will be held on 31 August at the Suglio Business Centre Auditorium in Manno, marking the beginning of an acceleration programme for twenty new entrepreneurial projects. Professional consultants, or coaches, will assist the teams throughout the three months, providing support for implementing the various tools acquired during five workshops and developing their business projects. Meetings and events will be scheduled throughout the programme, with only ten finalists selected for the Final Award Ceremony on 7 December at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano.

For further information:
web www.boldbrain.ch
mail [email protected]
tel. 091 610 2710

What is Boldbrain Startup Challenge?

Boldbrain is the Ticino accelerator for innovative early-stage startups, organised by Agire Foundation in collaboration with USI Startup Centre. Boldbrain Startup Challenge was designed to offer 20 entrepreneurs with innovative projects a three-month training path that helps them shape their projects and continue developing their business ideas. Promoted and supported by the Economic Division of the Canton of Ticino, with the important contribution of BancaStato, the program begins in September and closes in early December with the Award Ceremony. Finalists compete for cash prizes totalling CHF120,000 and in-kind prizes for a total value of over CHF80,000 courtesy of sponsors.