W.A. de Vigier Prizes 2020: Many Cleantech Startups in the Top 10

The W.A. de Vigier Promotion Prize is considered the oldest award for young entrepreneurs in Switzerland and, with annual prize money of CHF 500,000 (five times CHF 100,000), is one of the most highly endowed promotion prizes in Switzerland. In its 31 years of existence, the foundation has distributed a total of over CHF 11 million in start-up capital across a wide range of sectors. To date, this has resulted in around 90 successful startups, several IPOs, lucrative company sales and, above all, numerous new jobs. In the race for a W.A. de Vigier prize, the personality of the CEO is just as important as a groundbreaking product.

Cleantech startups provide the most finalists

From 192 projects submitted, the jury selected its top 16 in February 2020. The 16 were evaluated and presented their ideas to the Foundation Board, which now selected the top 10. Six of the ten finalists are cleantech companies, reflecting the high proportion of this year's submissions from this sector. "There is no question about how much value startups create for our Swiss economy and globally. Our foundation is very proud to be able to support these startups, especially in difficult times like these. In fact, supporting startups is more important today than ever," said Daniel Borer, a member of the W.A. de Vigier Foundation Board. "We know that our generation has urgent environmental problems to solve. This is reflected in the particularly high number of cleantech startups that applied this year. Instead of taking high-paying jobs in established organizations, these brilliant young minds want to take action and make a difference by becoming entrepreneurs and turning promising technologies into tangible solutions for all of us," says Regula Buob, executive director of the W.A. de Vigier Foundation. "Of course, this is also true for startup founders in other sectors, and it is truly a privilege to work with these smart, strong and impressive young leaders," Buob continues.

These are the top 10 (in alphabetical order)

• Annaida Technologies AG from Lausanne (VD) - Contactless embryo screening for better IVF results
  Fertility clinics are under pressure to fulfill their patients' desire to have children. Annaida is developing a device to help doctors choose the most viable embryo in a non-invasive way. Annaida's customers want to serve their patients with the most advanced technology and will enjoy happy families and numerous referrals.
• Bloom Biorenewables AG from Marly (FR) - Sustainable alternatives to fossil molecules
  Petroleum is present in most everyday products, which is harmful to our environment. Bloom can convert wood and agricultural waste into renewable materials that completely replace petroleum. Thanks to this solution, companies can rely on a green and locally available alternative, satisfy environmentally conscious customers, meet government guidelines, save C02 taxes and contribute to the fight against climate change.
• DePoly AG from Sion (VS) - Profitable PET recycling with environmentally friendly chemicals
  The recycling industry destroys tons of PET plastic every year. DePoly converts low-value PET waste into its high-quality original chemical components, which can be processed into new plastic. This solution turns waste into revenue while contributing to a cleaner environment.
• EH Group Engineering AG from Prangins (VD) - Innovative fuel cell technology for clean energy
  Hydroelectric power would be a productive and clean source of energy, but it is too expensive, too complex, and too unreliable to gain widespread market acceptance. EH Group developed a technology that harnesses the power of hydrogen in a compact, reliable way at low cost and with minimal initial investment. Thanks to our solution, major manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace and marine industries are far ahead of their competitors when it comes to innovating for a greener future - the only future we have.
• FenX AG from Zurich (ZH) - Sustainable high-performance insulation for the construction industry
  When choosing insulation materials, the construction industry must either compromise on price, flammability or environmental friendliness. FenX transforms industrial waste into easy-to-build and high-performance insulation boards that are both non-combustible and recyclable. Our solution meets all customer needs: achieving excellent insulation and meeting all market requirements in terms of safety as well as eco-labels, and all this at no extra cost.
• MEMBRASENZ GmbH from Ecublens (VD) - Membranes for more efficient hydrogen production
  Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, but its production is expensive because it consumes a lot of electricity. MEMBRASENZ developed membranes that reduce the cost of electricity for environmentally friendly methods of hydrogen production. Thanks to these membranes, their customers' electrolysers significantly outperform those of their competitors in terms of electricity consumption. The solution also supports the breakthrough of green hydrogen technology.
• Microcaps AG from Zurich (ZH) - Precise microcapsules on an industrial scale
  Ensuring that drugs are released at the affected body site and at a specific rate is a major challenge because the size of the capsules that deliver these active ingredients has been uncontrollable. Microcaps developed a patented technology that allows us to control the size of these microcapsules with Swiss precision so that they all behave exactly the same. This means we can directly adjust and predict the release profile of a drug. Our solution is also highly relevant for fragrances, flavors and probiotics.
• Oxara AG from Zurich (ZH) - Turning excavated waste into sustainable building products
  Every construction project begins with the excavation of tons of soil debris. However, landfill space for this excavated waste is becoming increasingly scarce. There is also a shortage of concrete, which is needed for construction. Oxara developed a chemical mixture that transforms excavated waste into environmentally friendly building material, saving the construction industry millions in landfill costs while providing it with enough sustainable material to build with.
• REA from Lausanne (VD) - Intelligent panty liners for premature birth diagnostics at home
  Most pregnant women at risk of premature birth, are hospitalized, but then do not deliver too early. REA is developing an intelligent panty liner that analyzes vaginal secretions and alerts the doctor via app when the expectant mother needs to go to the hospital. This allows the pregnant woman to be monitored from the comfort of her own home, saving her months of unnecessary hospitalization if necessary.
• Sevensense Robotics AG from Zurich (ZH) - Transforms manual floor machines into mobile robots
  Many mobile machine manufacturers struggle to take their products to the next level of automation because they lack the necessary knowledge in robotics. Sevensense developed a turnkey solution that transforms manual machines into self-driving robots. This catapults the startup's customers to the top of the highly competitive robotics market at a fraction of the time and cost.

Source and further information: W.A. de Vigier Foundation