October 30, 2018, LAUSANNE – MassChallenge Switzerland, part of MassChallenge’s global network of zero-equity startup accelerators, today awarded CHF 500K in zero equity cash prizes to eight startups in the program’s 2018 cohort. Four additional MassChallenge Switzerland 2018 startups received in-kind prizes, valued at CHF 200K.
“We have come a long way since our first accelerator program in 2016, when a strong group of founding partners had the vision to change the world through entrepreneurship without taking anything from startups; for the past three years, we have been turning this into reality,” said Thierry Duvanel, Managing Director of MassChallenge Switzerland. “This year, MassChallenge Switzerland passed a milestone of accelerating over 200 startups – from addressing major healthcare challenges, to redefining the sharing economy and producing products that make our planet and lives better, our startups are solving, disrupting and creating change worldwide.”
Held at Casino Montbenon in Lausanne, the 2018 MassChallenge Awards Ceremony brought together more than 450 representatives from corporate and institutional partners, experts in innovation across industries, and entrepreneurship enthusiasts from around the world. The Awards Ceremony also featured MassChallenge Switzerland 2017 Diamond Winner TasteHit, which was acquired the same night as the Awards Ceremony in 2017. Co-founders Christopher Burger and Alexei Kounine presented the 2018 Diamond Award, in a powerful example of the tight-knight MassChallenge Switzerland community and of the impact entrepreneurs can have when they work together.
The night capped an incredible four month-long program during in which the MassChallenge Switzerland startups leveraged expert mentorship, tailored programming, corporate partnerships, and industry resources to accelerate their efforts – all at zero cost and for zero equity.
To select this year’s prize winners, MassChallenge Switzerland turned to its pool of experts, industry professionals, and MassChallenge volunteers, who helped evaluate each startup based on its ability to demonstrate growth and impact.
MassChallenge Switzerland 2018 Winners
CHF 100K Diamond Winner
Switzerland | General, Retail & Consumer Goods
Uses AI technology to unlock single-cell data for biomedical research, pharmaceutical discovery and precision diagnostics.
CHF 80K Platinum Winners
Switzerland | Healthcare & Life Sciences
Effective, non-invasive and automated treatments of heart arrhythmias using proton beams.
Switzerland | High Tech
A unique professional image solution that solves all issues of displaying pictures online for any image of any size on any device.
Switzerland | Healthcare & Life Sciences
Has developed a novel anticoagulant that does not increase the bleeding risk, thus overcoming the safety issues related to current drugs.
CHF40K Gold Winners
Switzerland | Social Impact
Creating and distributing products to help children understand and master digital technologies and sciences thanks to programmable robots.
Switzerland | Healthcare & Life Sciences
A proprietary solution that transforms any smartphone into a medical device without any additional hardware to measure blood pressure.
Netherlands | General, Retail & Consumer Goods
A smart-materials/smart-packaging company with an aim to reduce food waste and improve food safety.
Switzerland | Healthcare & Life Sciences
Is the world’s fastest antibiotic resistance test. It saves lives by determining the right antibiotic for the patient on time.
Silver Winners
Switzerland | Energy & Clean Tech
Prize: 2 vouchers from Kellerhals & Carrard and Reuteler & Cie + SEF Awards fast-track
Brings clean, safe and affordable on-demand energy to the poorest.
Switzerland | General, Retail & Consumer Goods
Prize: 2 vouchers from Kellerhals & Carrard and Reuteler & Cie+ 2 tickets to Product Management Festival Zürich
An online clothing rental business for women. Renters and owners can exchange high-end outfits for few days.
United Kingdom | General, Retail & Consumer Goods
Prize: 2 vouchers from Kellerhals & Carrard and Reuteler & Cie
An online security personnel sourcing and management platform that makes hiring security professionals more globally accessible.
Spain | Healthcare & Life Sciences
Prize: 2 vouchers from Kellerhals & Carrard and Reuteler & Cie
Helps physicians better diagnose, treat and follow-up allergies with the use of a data platform.
About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators. Headquartered in the United States with locations in Boston, Rhode Island, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, Texas, and the UK, MassChallenge is committed to strengthening the global innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential early stage startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world. To date, more than 1’500 MassChallenge alumni have raised more than $3 billion in funding, generated over $2 billion in revenue, and created over 80’000 total jobs.
MassChallenge Switzerland Founding Partners
Barry Callebaut, Bühler, GEA, Givaudan, Inartis Foundation, Nestlé, Swiss Economic Forum