The Spring edition of Business Concept closes with a pitch competition
USI Startup Centre
29 May 2026
The Spring 2026 edition of the Business Concept course, Module 2 of the Innosuisse Entrepreneurship Training Programme, concluded on 19 May with the final pitch session. Over three months, 43 participants in Lugano and Mendrisio gained valuable insights from expert trainers and applied the learnings to real startup projects.
Business Concept is tailored for researchers, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs aiming to develop science-based ideas and deepen their understanding of the startup ecosystem. During the thematic sessions, participants, organised into teams, refined their value propositions, assessed market potential, defined target customer segments, explored funding options, and enhanced their pitching skills.
The programme culminated in the Business Ideas event, bringing together participants from both locations. Each team pitched their project to a panel of experts from the startup ecosystem, received constructive feedback, and celebrated their progress.
Winners of the Spring 2026 edition:
Octo Imaging (Best Pitch Lugano) – Helping radiologists monitor disease progression faster and more accurately with explainable AI
BuildX (Best Pitch Mendrisio) – A matchmaking platform for architects and clients
Earth Form (Audience Award) – Near-zero-waste, circular earthen formworks for efficient concrete structures
List of Participating Projects (Alphabetical Order):
- Algafoam
- Amiora Care Systems
- Architect-Founder Hospitality Model
- BuildX
- ClearVest
- Earth Form
- Octo Imaging
- SCOPS-HPC
Business Concept will return in October for another edition that will be held in Lugano.
Pre-register here to find out when applications open and to stay informed about other opportunities related to the entrepreneurship training programme: