Celebrating Innovation: Highlights from the 2026 >>venture>> Award Ceremony at EPFL
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
On June 15th, the SwissTech Convention Center at EPFL in Lausanne came alive as Switzerland's most promising startups, industry leaders, and innovation champions gathered for the much-anticipated 2026 >>venture>> Award Ceremony. The energy was electric, and for good reason. This year marked another milestone in our mission to fuel entrepreneurship and celebrate the bold ideas shaping the future, with a record-breaking 451 applications, the most we've ever received.
This edition was full of firsts. For the very first time, we introduced our new Spotlight Award, a special distinction whose theme evolves each year to reflect the questions and technologies defining society, and which awards CHF 50,000 to the most innovative and theme-relevant startup. This year's spotlight shone on Apertus LLM, celebrating the startups pushing the boundaries of Swiss AI.
We also refreshed our industry verticals to better mirror where innovation is heading. From almost 451 ideas, our finalists rose to the top across six newly defined categories: Business & Finance, Consumer Solutions, Industrials & Engineering, Medtech & Healthcare, Pharma & Biotech, and Social & Environmental Impact. Staying close to emerging trends is part of how we ensure every startup in our cohort benefits from tools and recognition that are genuinely relevant to their journey.
The ceremony capped a year rich with connection, from Kickoffs in Zurich and Lausanne to our Pitch Training Day, expert sessions and hands-on workshops, bringing founders, mentors, and jurors together across Switzerland. That collaborative spirit is the heart of what >>venture>> is all about.
A highlight of the evening was an exciting panel discussion on Apertus LLM and the future of AI, featuring Antoine Bosselut (EPFL) and Isa Müller-Wegner (Swisscom). Over 20 minutes, they took us on a deep dive into the technology, its real-world applications, and what's next for Swiss AI, a fitting reflection of this year's spotlight theme.
And now, the moment everyone was waiting for. We are thrilled to announce our 2026 winners:
Our heartfelt congratulations go to all winners and finalists, and to every single startup that took part. Your dedication and ambition are what make this competition so special.
None of this would be possible without the people behind it. We extend our deepest gratitude to our Advisory Board members, jurors, and mentors, the backbone of the >>venture>> competition, whose expertise, generosity, and belief in early-stage founders make this platform truly exceptional.
As we close this chapter, we're already looking ahead: the next >>venture>> cohort will kick off in October 2026. We can't wait to see what bold ideas and remarkable founders will emerge next.
Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for being part of this incredible journey.
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