The ninth edition of the Boldbrain Startup Challenge kicks off

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Last night in Manno, home to Fondazione Agire and Tecnopolo Ticino, the ninth edition of the startup accelerator Boldbrain has officially kicked off.

The 2026 edition opens with a record-breaking result: out of 243 applications started, 112 were successfully submitted and 102 were deemed eligible under the programme’s regulations. For the first time since Boldbrain was launched in 2018, the number of eligible applications has exceeded 100, representing growth of more than 30% compared with the 78 applications recorded in 2025.

Of the 102 eligible applications, 75 come from Switzerland. Ticino remains the leading canton of origin, with 58 applications, accounting for 77% of the Swiss total. Zurich follows with 7 applications, while Geneva and Lucerne submitted 2 each. Six other cantons – Basel-Stadt, Jura, Aargau, Vaud, Schwyz and Nidwalden – are represented by one project each. This geographical distribution confirms the programme’s growing ability to attract entrepreneurial projects from beyond the canton.

The most represented sectors include ICT/Software & Data Engineering, Life Science, Fintech/Insurance Tech, Social Entrepreneurship/Education, and Sport/Leisure/Tourism/Lifestyle, reflecting the diversity of the ideas submitted.

The startups (projects) selected this year are, in alphabetical order:

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

Of the 20 projects selected, 18 come from Switzerland and 2 from Italy. Among the Swiss teams, 16 are from Ticino, while Schwyz and Nidwalden are each represented by one project. In terms of sectors, ICT/Software & Data Engineering is the most represented field, with 9 startups, followed by Life Science with 4 projects and Energy/Cleantech with 3. The selected projects also demonstrate a good level of maturity: 8 startups have already been incorporated, 2 of which are already on the market.

Over the next three months, the teams will be supported by professional coaches and will take part in six workshops, applying the tools and skills acquired during the programme to their own projects. The projects will only be officially presented to the public at the end of the programme, during the Awards Ceremony scheduled for 10 December 2026.