Jun 7, 2018

The Boldbrain Startup Challenge is an accelerator program and competition for early-stage start-ups. Applications are open. Boldbrain offers coaching, sector-specific workshops, targeted training, as well as easy access to the support and innovation network in Ticino. This will make it easier to develop the company, get in touch with potential business partners, receive financial support and attract investors. The small size of the Canton facilitates networking and brings companies closer to institutions and renowned academic institutions. The program is a further development of the StartCup Ticino. Last year, prior to its 10th anniversary, StartCup Ticino, a well -known startup competition in the region, changed is strategy with the introduction of a coaching program. The new program received over 110 entries, accelerated the first cohort of 25 startups. The first award and prize within this award framework went to the startup Dicronis. Open to early-stage startups from all sectors StartCup Ticino has now been renamed to “Boldbrain Startup Challenge” to re-positioning itself as a main accelerator program for early stage startups in Switzerland. Initiated by the Fondazione Agire and Centro Promozione Start-Up , with the institutional and financial support of the Department of Finance and the Economy, BoldBrain aims to attract startups and innovative ideas from all sectors. Eligible to participate are startups that are younger than 3 years with at least one of the team members being Swiss. It is possible to apply even before the company has been officially founded. Additionally, the team should be willing to establish their venture in Ticino. The objective of the program is to attract promising startups from all over Switzerland, and possibly from abroad, and enabling them to be established in Ticino. The new Ticinese acceleration program for innovative startups will be held in two phases. In the first phase, the selection committee will select 20 startups to join the accelerator from the end of August to November. During the 3 months, they will benefit from personalized coaching and training. In the second phase, 10 startups compete further for the final selection. The ten finalists will pitch their ideas in front of the audience and the jury during the award ceremony held within the framework of the Swiss Venture Day Ticino on 4th December 2018. The jury will award five most outstanding startups with a cash prize CHF 120’000 and in kind awards worth CHF 50’000. BoldBrain Startup Challenge takes no equity and charges no fees. Registration for the BoldBrain Startup Challenge is now open. Deadline closes on 5th August. (GP / RAN /SK)