From Vision to Validation: Announcing the 60 Finalists of the 2025 >>venture>> Competition

Each year, >>venture>> opens its doors to Switzerland’s boldest early-stage entrepreneurs—and this year was no exception. With a record-breaking 396 applications submitted from across the country, the 2025 edition of the competition has already made history.

A Growing Community of Innovators

The application period kicked off with an impressive wave of ideas spanning our six industry verticals: Health & Nutrition, ICT, Finance & Insurance, Industrials & Engineering, Retail & Consumer Services, and Social & Environmental Impact. Founders from almost every corner of Switzerland shared their visions, validated their markets, and competed for a chance to take their startups to the next level.

Thanks to the tireless support of our community—including universities, incubators, and ecosystem partners—we were able to reach more aspiring entrepreneurs than ever before.

Inside Jury Round 1

Following the application deadline, jury round 1 round commenced, bringing together 215 expert jurors from academic, business, and investment sectors to assess the startups. They evaluated the startups based on criteria including innovation, market potential, feasibility, and team strength.

Every application received detailed attention, with multiple jurors reviewing each entry to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process. Their insights were crucial in narrowing down the list and identifying the top contenders in each vertical.

Introducing the 2025 Finalists

Now, we are proud to introduce the 60 finalists of the >>venture>> 2025 competition—ten in each vertical—who stood out for their innovation, clarity, and potential for real-world impact. These teams will move on to the next phase of the competition, where they will benefit from tailored mentorship and pitch training in preparation for the second jury round.

https://www.venture.ch/finalists-2025

What’s Next

In the weeks ahead, finalists will be paired with mentors, connect with each other and other experts at our Pitch Training, and prepare for the second jury round, where only three startups per vertical will emerge as >>venture>> winners.

We look forward to celebrating the journey of these exceptional teams at our Award Ceremony on June 23, 2025, at ETH Zurich.

Stay tuned and follow their progress—because the next big thing in Swiss innovation might just be among them.