Micro-Sharing Project-Aqua wins the StartCup Ticino 2016

The Micro-Sharing Project-Aqua came in first of four final projects winning the grand prize: a check of 50,000 CHF and a scholarship offered by USI’s Executive MBA.

This year, all finalists of the StartCup Ticino received a prize. 30,000 CHF were assigned to Skypull (2nd place), 20,000 CHF to Liberty (3rd place) and 10,000 CHF to both SkyWhere and SmartCuff (tied 4th place).

Thanks to the cooperation between CP Start-Up and Swiss Startup Invest (former CTI Invest) and the Swiss Economic Forum, the five finalists were able to pitch their projects to potential investors during the Swiss Venture Day Ticino held this afternoon in the Auditorium on Lugano Campus.

The five finalists will also automatically gain access to the finals of the Swiss Economic Award, the prestigious national competition for the best up-and-coming start-up.

The winning project

Micro-Sharing Project-Aqua

Projct-Aqua is linked to the concept of Micro-Sharing. It aims at helping people in developing countries by micro-sharing products and services. The one-month pilot project was carried out with Migros Ticino. With the purchase bottles of “Gazusa Nostrana” especially label Project-Aqua, a four-year supply of water was granted to a village of 330 people in Mali (on location support offered by Helvetas Switzerland).

The nomination process

The final part of the competition comprises 2 phases: the first on November 30th with the presentation of the 10 semifinalists and the nomination of the 5 entrepreneurial ideas that will then access the finals on December 1st. Tonight during the final event, the finalists pitched their projects and the audience in the room casted its e-vote. Guest of honour of the evening was Benjamin Simona, CEO and Co-Founder of Ectica Technologies AG.

The other four finalists

Skypull

Skypull is a system based on an independent drone that generates electricity using high altitude wind energy. An efficient and cheap solution that represents a step forward in the field of wind energy. The current wind towers are bulky and expensive, and they can capture only a small part of the wind energy.

Liberty

Liberty is a project that allows disabled people to move around freely during bedrest. The Liberty system helps solving mobility related problems (blood circulation, sleep disorders, muscle pain etc etc.) and stimulates the body’s natural movements, thus providing a chance for physiotherapy.

SkyWhere

Natural light has a great impact on productivity. However, many people spend much of their working days inside. SkyWhere is a sustainable lighting system able to shine daylight inside of buildings, thus improving the people’s well-being and allowing companies to cut down on energy consumption.

SmartCuff

The SmartCuff bracelet is a non-invasive device that measures the vital signs of the elderly to determine the level of stress, pain and hydration, for a clear picture of their health conditions. SmartCuff is worn on the wrist like a bracelet, and it monitors the health of the elderly to ensure autonomy and independence of the individual, and to contribute in reducing the costs of hospitalisation, treatments for chronic diseases, etc.

The ad-hoc jury of StartCup Ticino

President
Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier, Managing Director Swiss Startup Invest

Members
Claude Amiguet, CTI Coach
Christian Brand, Co-Founder BG&P AG, Bern; start-up Expert
Silvia Panigone, Managing Director Europe I-Bankers Direct, LLC; CTI Coach
Valesko Wild, Canton Ticino, DFE, Capo dell'Ufficio per lo sviluppo economico
Claude-Alain Cariola, Direttore Corporate Advisory BSI SA
Pascale Vonmont, Deputy Director Gebert Rüf Foundation; Delegate of the strategy board of venture kick