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Empowering Climate Solutions | A Recap of the Swissnex ClimateTech Bootcamp

On April 26, 2024, our Swissnex ClimateTech Bootcamp powered by Innosuisse came to an end. For two weeks, our office became a hub for the internationalization of five Swiss Climatetech startups working towards a better tomorrow.

Looking Back at the Swissnex ClimateTech Bootcamp

Published on May 15, 2024.

On April 26, our Swissnex ClimateTech Bootcamp powered by Innosuisse came to an end. For two weeks, our office became a hub for the internationalization of five Swiss Climatetech startups working towards a better tomorrow.

Our five participants each came to San Francisco with their vision for a more sustainable future.

  • Irmos Technologies is developing structural health monitoring software, a technology that could potentially make our buildings and bridges safer and more environmentally friendly.
  • Borobotics is pioneering geothermal energy with autonomous compact drilling robots, a significant step towards a more sustainable energy source.
  • Biosimo is making strides in sustainable biomolecule production, a field that could greatly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Vatorex is championing bee conservation and commercial beekeeping with its innovative heating coil beehives, a solution that could revolutionize the industry.
  • KITRO is leading the way in automated food waste tracking, a crucial tool for the hospitality industry to enhance its sustainability efforts.

The Bootcamp was a mix of expert sessions, events, and mentorship meetings, providing our startups with knowledge and insights, in particular relating to differences between the Silicon Valley and Swiss startup ecosystems. They had the opportunity to explore topics ranging from Impact & Reporting to Market Research strategies. The Startups also received guidance on legal matters, including Immigration Law, Incorporation & Taxation Laws, and US IP/Trademark Protection, equipping them with the necessary tools for their future endeavors provided by experts from within our network.

The first week of the Bootcamp culminated in the Swiss Climate Bites—Swissnex Startup Pitch Night. Here, the startups showcased their ideas to an experienced panel of Climatetech investors, featuring Matthieu Soulé from BNP Paribas, Maggie Fried from S2G Ventures, and Máire P. Walsh from Belayer. The jury crowned Vatorex’s Pascal Brunner‘s pitch for the beehives with heating coils as the best of the evening, leaving the CEO buzzing. The momentum continued into the second week, offering more insights and learnings. The startups gained an understanding of the current climate market trends and were introduced to possible fundraising opportunities in the US, such as angel investors and VCs. Adding to this, they looked into the latest U.S. sustainability policies and received legal insights on flip transactions and VC financing.

The second week of the startup BootCamp coincided with SF Climate Week, where we had our Swissnex Climate Networking event. It gave the startups an additional chance to network with a new audience and foster new connections.

Now, the startups head back to Switzerland, taking with them a full backpack of knowledge and experiences. Meanwhile, our Startup team is shifting its focus to our upcoming startup BootCamp at the end of May with a mixed cohort. If you’d like to get to know this cohort, join us for the Mixed Startup Bites – Swissnex Pitch Night in Palo Alto on May 30, 2024, or connect with the startup team by reaching out to [email protected].

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