THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD
The >>venture>> competition is proud to present the Spotlight Award, a special recognition that shines a light on innovation, creativity, and impact beyond the traditional competition categories. Each year, this award will highlight a new theme, celebrating ventures that dare to push boundaries. Open to all participants, the Spotlight Award reflects the diversity and ingenuity of Switzerland’s most exciting startups and rewards the recipient with CHF 50,000.
2026 Spotlight Award: Apertus
For the inaugural 2026 award, we are shining the spotlight on Switzerland's groundbreaking new open-source Large Language Model (LLM): Apertus. Launched by ETH Zurich, EPFL and Open AI, Apertus marks a significant milestone in sovereign, transparent, and multilingual AI, providing a powerful new foundational tool for developers across the country and beyond while supporting new and underrepresented languages.
The award highlights innovation, technical excellence, and the application of cutting-edge Swiss AI technology in real-world startup solutions. We are looking for the most creative, high-impact, and innovative application of the Apertus LLM within a Swiss startup.
What's at Stake?
The winning startup will receive a non-dilutive cash prize of CHF 50,000. Beyond the financial reward, finalists will gain high-level visibility within the Swiss deep-tech community and direct exposure to a dedicated jury of industry experts.
Participation Requirements
To be considered for the Spotlight Award, your startup must meet the following criteria:
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Meet the standard >>venture>> competition requirements: Your startup must be an eligible and participate in the current >>venture>> competition (i.e., must meet the criteria for legal residence, early-stage status, and submission guidelines as defined in the General Conditions).
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Innovative Use of Apertus: Your startup must be actively utilizing the Apertus LLM as a core component of your innovation.
How to Participate
1. Applicant Expression of Interest
During your standard >>venture>> competition application, you must provide a few lines clearly explaining how you are integrating and utilizing the Apertus LLM in your startup's core product or service, highlighting its innovative nature.
2. Juror Nomination
Startups that did not initially express interest but whose application demonstrates an outstanding and innovative use of Apertus may also be nominated by the >>venture>> competition jurors during the initial review phase.