Boldbrain: In Virtuo Labs wins the seventh edition

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The 2024 edition of Boldbrain Startup Challenge concluded with the highly anticipated Award Ceremony. Held at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, the event attracted over 500 attendees, including notable figures and political representatives. Another hundred people followed the event via live streaming on Fondazione Agire’s YouTube channel and the Corriere del Ticino platform.

The National Jury, led by Thomas Billeter of SICTIC, evaluated the 10 finalist projects and awarded a total of 110,000 CHF in prizes, along with additional in-kind services and consultations to help further develop their projects. The in-person audience overwhelmingly voted for SynthEnergy, awarding them the Audience Award worth 10,000 CHF.

The first-place prize of 40,000 CHF went to In Virtuo Laboratories Sagl, which also earned a 56,000 CHF scholarship for the Executive MBA at the Università della Svizzera italiana and a 5,000 CHF legal consultation package from Bär & Karrer. Second place was claimed by SynthEnergy, which received 30,000 CHF. GraphSight SA, in third place, won 20,000 CHF. Fourth and fifth places went to Deutelio AG and FarmAid, each receiving 10,000 CHF. The top three winners will have the opportunity to participate in the selection for the Swiss Economic Award and MassChallenge Switzerland, which aim to support the growth of advanced startups. Additionally, each of these three will receive coaching packages offered by Connect Switzerland. All finalists will also benefit from a voucher for a patent search provided by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, as well as a one-year Premium membership to the Swiss Startup Association. I primi tre classificati avranno l’opportunità di partecipare alla selezione per lo Swiss Economic Award e MassChallenge Switzerland, programmi che favoriscono lo sviluppo delle startup in fase più avanzata. Inoltre, ciascuno dei tre avrà accesso a un pacchetto di coaching offerto da Connect Switzerland. Tutte le finaliste beneficeranno, infine, di un voucher offerto dall’Istituto Federale della Proprietà Intellettuale per una ricerca brevettuale e di una affiliazione annuale Premium offerta dalla Swiss Startup Association.

Fondazione Agire will provide FarmAid, ReSportApp, and SynthEnergy with a year-long desk space at the co-working area of Tecnopolo Ticino. A special award from Hemargroup was also given to FarmAid, offering them the opportunity to further develop their prototype.

“Startups are key to the economy’s future, ” stated State Council President Christian Vitta during his opening remarks. “But the future doesn’t grow by chance; it requires the right foundation. In Ticino, we believe and invest in innovation, offering an ideal environment for talent and ideas to flourish. The Boldbrain program is a fundamental piece of this ecosystem, providing startups with fertile ground to grow and transform insights into business realities that, in turn, contribute to building a dynamic, cutting-edge, and forward-thinking Canton,” concluded Vitta.

 

Winning project
In Virtuo Laboratories Sagl
Platform that combines artificial intelligence and molecular simulations to accelerate drug discovery. It can explore up to 1 billion compounds per day, validated through advanced simulations and with a 100% increase in success rate.

 

Second place + Audience Award
SynthEnergy
Developed a process to convert alcohol into sustainable synthetic fuels compatible with existing infrastructure, requiring no modifications to engines, refineries, or fuel stations. For example, their SynthEnergy Road synthetic gasoline has been proven identical to standard Unleaded 95 fuel.

 

Third place
GraphSight SA
Uses artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms to provide real-time, accurate energy forecasts, enhancing market efficiency and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources into power grids.

 

Fourth place
Deutelio AG
With its revolutionary Polomac model, it transforms nuclear fusion into a scalable and accessible technology for industry, providing clean, unlimited, and sustainable energy ready for everyday integration.

 

Fifth place and Hemargroup Award
FarmAid
A modular IoT device that protects crops by deploying protective nets or customized covers in seconds. It can be controlled via an app or operate autonomously using data from weather stations and field sensors.