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Swiss Innovators Shine: Another Year of Success at ClimateLaunchpad Challenge

Startup Academy Switzerland has just concluded another remarkable year as national partners for the Climatelaunchpad challenge, alongside an amazing cohort of Swiss entrepreneurs.
Learn more about each of the contestants in our Ideas with Impact Stories: https://startup-academy.ch/stories/

This year, Yuon Control AG, a participant showcasing a cutting-edge predictive and optimizing heating control system, clinched the top spot for Europe among 42 finalists representing 14 countries at the Climatelaunchpad European Final. It’s worth noting that over 1400 applicants initially joined the contest at a global level. Additionally, Levron Dynamics, another Swiss finalist team, secured the 3rd place for Europe in the Clean Energy category.

Swiss teams have consistently demonstrated an impressive track record at the largest global clean-tech challenge. Over the last 7 years, they have secured a position within the Top 3 at both European and Global levels five times. Furthermore, numerous Swiss startups have made it into the Top 10 and have won a spot within their respective green categories.

Six months of arduous training and competing

In 2023, Startup Academy Switzerland had the privilege of guiding seven brilliant contestants with innovative green business ideas through their Climatelaunchpad journey. This journey started off with a 3-day bootcamp on how to prepare the perfect pitch deck, followed by several training sessions on business idea development and pitch evaluation. The startups then showcased their learnings in front of a national jury during the Swiss Final in Basel, which welcomed around 50 guests. The national final not only provided a first stage for Swiss teams to compete with their business ideas but also facilitated networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, jury members, and investors.

Swiss winning teams

Three projects were selected as winning teams during the Swiss Final and invited to compete at the European level, where they pitched against 42 startups from across Europe. Levron Dynamics, aiming to revolutionize the energy storage sector, secured the 1st prize with an innovative magnetic bearing solution tailored for flywheel energy storage systems. Kuafu, offering an AI-powered SaaS for building owners and energy vehicle operators, secured the 2nd prize. Yuon Control, with a system that autonomously learns a building’s thermal characteristics and optimizes heating practices, secured the 3rd prize.

The European Final, conducted virtually in two rounds, featured an online Semifinal and Final around three months after the Swiss Final. Swiss teams once again demonstrated their innovative competence and potential to contribute to a greener future with two remarkable awards: Yuon Control AG securing 1st place in the European Final, and Levron Dynamics securing 3rd place in the Clean Energy category.

Levron Dynamics team presenting

Startup Academy Switzerland takes immense pride in celebrating yet another highly successful year at Climatelaunchpad. We are honored to support and empower Swiss innovators in the sustainability field through a high-quality global program like Climatelaunchpad. Together, we are propelling innovation to scale and enabling young entrepreneurs to develop climate solutions for the world.

10 years fostering impactful startups

By enrolling in ClimateLaunchpad, participants gain access to invaluable business development insights, international visibility, and a vast global network comprising like-minded, ambitious entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors.

The year 2023 marked a significant milestone for ClimateLaunchpad, commemorating its 10th anniversary since inaugurating the challenge in 2014. Throughout this decade, the initiative has committed itself to fostering and actively staging impactful startups dedicated to forging a greener future for our planet.