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Boldbrain Startup Challenge: 2026 cohort announced

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USI Startup Centre

4 September 2026

An expert jury has selected the 20 projects that will take part in the 9th edition of the Boldbrain Startup Challenge, Ticino’s accelerator for innovative early-stage startup ideas, from a record number of applications.


The 20 projects were selected from 102 eligible applications received for the 2026 edition, showing a 30% increase compared to last year. This year’s candidates span a wide range of industry sectors, including ICT, Life Sciences, Fintech/Insurance Tech, Social Entrepreneurship/Education and Sport/Leisure/Tourism/Lifestyle, and represent different stages of development and geographic backgrounds, with teams coming from several Swiss cantons as well as from abroad.

Over the next three months, the selected teams will take part in an intensive programme designed to equip them with the tools and expertise needed to accelerate the development of their projects. The programme includes six workshops, 30 hours of coaching with industry experts for each startup, as well as several community events.

Ten startups will progress to the final stage of the competition and have the opportunity to present their projects to the public at the Award Ceremony on December 10th at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano.

Here are the names of the selected startups (in alphabetical order):

  • AlpGuard 
  • Amorph
  • ARCO 
  • authentica 
  • EORA Energy
  • GMESH
  • GridSphere
  • MediStrata
  • Neosens
  • Nomera CH
  • Numyra
  • Octo Imaging Technologies
  • Physical AI for Exosceletons and Robots
  • QBone 
  • Real Frame
  • Splinter
  • Swisshome AI 
  • Veles Analytics 
  • Virgil.ia 
  • Yu!  

 

What is Boldbrain Startup Challenge?

Boldbrain is the Ticino accelerator for innovative early-stage startups, organised by Agire Foundation in collaboration with USI Startup Centre. Boldbrain Startup Challenge was designed to offer 20 entrepreneurs with innovative projects a three-month training path that helps them shape their projects and continue developing their business ideas. Promoted and supported by the Economic Division of the Canton of Ticino, with the important contribution of BancaStato, the program begins in September and closes in early December with the Award Ceremony. Finalists compete for cash and in-kind prizes totalling over CHF210,000, thanks to the support of numerous sponsors.

For more information: www.boldbrain.ch
 

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