Newcomers
Experience a transformative journey with our refreshing pitching format: Newcomers. It is designed to discover Switzerland’s hidden startup gems who are on a promising track and ready to be shown to the world!
Switzerland’s most promising early-stage tech startups
On 21 May 2026 in Bern, ventures in the pre- or seed phase will showcase their innovation on our national stage to approach investors and to receive valuable market insights from experts. The application window ended 15 March 2026.
Unlock hidden treasures to boost innovation in Switzerland!
Newcomers to the spotlight
We’re on the lookout for Swiss startups who fulfill the following facts:
- Promising tech startup: Your startup has a evident scaling potential in the tech sector.
- Stage: Your startup is in the pre-seed or seed phase and has been recently founded or is about to be founded.
- Track record: Your startup must have either a pre-MVP or an MVP that demonstrates a clear problem-solution fit.
- Swiss location: Your startup must be based in Switzerland or intend to found in Switzerland.
- Full commitment: Your founders must be fully dedicated and passionate about their startup.
Newcomers Class 2026
AuscultaNet
GPs miss 56% of serious heart valve disease — the human ear has reached its ceiling. AuscultaNet turns any stethoscope into an AI-powered cardiac screening tool: offline, GDPR-compliant, 91.7% AUROC. 60 seconds. Auto-referral letter. No hardware lock-in.
powered by Innosuisse
Bios Medical AG
BIOS Medical enables safe rehabilitation at home instead of costly inpatient care by making orthopedic implants smart.
powered by Innosuisse
femtoG
Powder quality failures cost industry $25B annually because all existing analyzers assume particles are spherical. femtoG’s non-optical analyzers simultaneously measure particle mass, size, and density without assumptions, giving powder producers the structural fingerprint they need to control quality, accelerate R&D, and enable new materials.
powered by Innosuisse
FireDrone AG
FireDrone builds heat-resilient drones for firefighting and high-temperature industrial inspections, delivering real-time situational awareness and data collection in environments up to 200°C where people and conventional UAVs cannot operate.
powered by Innosuisse
IMPLANZ AG
Our AI-powered clinical decision intelligence platform transforms 3D scans with cutting-edge computer simulation to predict treatment outcomes before implant surgery. IMPLANZ enables confident surgical planning with peace of mind for dentists, smoother patient experience, and increased operational efficiency for dental clinics, and labs.
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InTeeth
Today, every patient looking for orthodontic treatment face this trade-off: metal braces are visible, lingual braces are costly and painfull, and clear aligners have limited efficacy. InTeeth lifts this compromise with InLiner™: a truly invisible, behind-the-teeth aligner that combines comfort, precision, and faster treatment.
kuafu
kuafu develops the grid-edge copilot for the energy system, enabling grid operators to manage congestion and prevent blackouts by leveraging resources such as EVs, batteries, and heat pumps in buildings. As a grid-edge orchestration hub, kuafu coordinates these resources to reduce grid costs while ensuring efficient operation for buildings.
OnconiX AG
Cancer treatments are often selected without knowing how a patient’s tumor will respond. OnconiX enables oncologists to test approved cancer drugs on patient-derived tumor avatars – living models grown from a patient biopsy – before treatment begins, providing real functional evidence beyond genomic predictions to guide therapy selection.
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OrthoSens
Hospitals lose millions on post-surgical complications they can’t see coming. OrthoSens turns standard orthopedic implants into connected data revenue engines, using battery-free sensors to enable continuous remote patient monitoring, 250x smaller than battery-powered alternatives. Zero surgical workflow change or 2nd extraction surgery risk.
PolaSight
PolaSight’s AI-powered scanner replaces frozen section pathology with 60-second, label-free tissue assessment during cancer surgery. At $31K, 10x cheaper than competitors, it delivers 97% accuracy, saves hospitals $1,580 per case, and needs no staining, no preparation, no pathologist. Validated at 2 clinical sites in CH and DE.
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Prevision Medicine AG
Prevision Medicine commercializes a precision oncology tests that measures, on live cells of each patient, which drugs or combinations are most effective to treat the patient’s cancer.
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RAROG
RAROG develops portable RF detectors that help rescuers quickly locate people in distress by detecting the WiFi and Bluetooth emissions of personal electronic devices such as smartphones, watches, and other wearables, turning devices people already carry into rescue beacons.
powered by Innosuisse
Santella
Santella provides a sustainable and innovative solution: the world’s first targeted probiotic live vaccines for use in livestock species. By reducing the reliance on antibiotics, it directly supports the goals of the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR, while offering producers a practical and effective tool to safeguard animal health and productivity.
Symactiv
Symactiv develops triple‑action natural fertilizer pellets that use biomimicry to regenerate soils, combining a nutrient core with beneficial microbes and fungi to pre‑digest biomass and nourish the whole soil ecosystem. With 40+ pilot users, a validated MVP and partnerships with Kernser Edelpilze and Proxipel as examples.
Tasteomics
Tasteomics empowers food producers with best-in-class, natural flavorings with no off-tastes to increase profit margins, sales volume while reducing unhealthy fats, salt and sugar.
powered by Innosuisse
Thermal Transformer AG
Data center operators’ #1 pain point is rising power and cooling demand. Thermal Transformer de-electrifies AI data center cooling by turning low-grade GPU waste heat into cooling for the rest of the facility with a novel, heat-driven adsorption chiller – lowering site power draw, easing grid constraints, and unlocking more compute.
Versive
Today’s mobility aids like wheelchairs focus on compensating for disability rather than unlocking movement and freedom. Versive changes that. With its steering-by-leaning system, users can move further with less effort – transforming the wheelchair from a tool of exertion into an intuitive extension of the body.
Winner Packages
The winner of Newcomers 2026 will select one of five exclusive Winner Packages. We thank Helbling for their outstanding support in fostering the Swiss startup ecosystem, as well as CUPRA for their mobility support.
Expert Sparring Session
Take your innovation to the next level with an exclusive coaching session led by selected experts from Helbling Technik. In a focused and hands-on exchange, we work together to challenge ideas, explore technical opportunities, discuss key innovation questions, and shape valuable impulses for the next stage of your product or technology journey.
IP-Landscape Check
Take your innovation to the next level with an exclusive coaching session led by selected experts from Helbling Technik. In a focused and hands-on exchange, we work together to challenge ideas, explore technical opportunities, discuss key innovation questions, and shape valuable impulses for the next stage of your product or technology journey.
Legal Services
Startups with big plans need the right legal partner. Kellerhals Carrard is one of the leading Swiss law firms for startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Whether it’s structuring, contracts, financing, or employee stock options—we’re right partner for NEWCOMERS. We are proud and honored to provide half a day (4 hours) of legal services to the Winner/Best in Class 2026.
Programmed for Success
Rewire your Researcher‘s Brain for Startup Success! Learn how to efficiently rewire your brain for startup growth or stepping into a leadership role. Learn how to quickly master this role change: by shifting yourself towards success with confidence and clarity. Use neuroscience to reprogram yourself and identify your real success accelerators.
Life Science Networking
Gain insights from Dr. Heiko Visarius, seasoned Medtech executive and startup coach with experience supporting 600+ Life Science ventures. Receive direct feedback, strategic input, and access to his extensive network across investors, clinics, healthcare professionals and industry experts—helping you accelerate growth and unlock new opportunities.
Newcomers journey
Application window opens
Application window ends
The Expert Jury evaluates applications
Launch: 18 outstanding startups in Class 2026
startup days: 18 Newcomers live on stage in Bern
Award final: 3 Runners up of the Class 2026
The main jury selects three startups who stood out. They will be announced in the afternoon.
Audience votes for the Best in Class 2026
Immediately after the announcement of the Runners up, the 3 startups will pitch on the Center Stage. The audience will then vote live for ‘Best in Class 2026’.
Effort rewarded
Required efforts
All applicants
- Fill in the application form.
All 18 selected Newcomers
- Participate in the pitch briefing.
- Prepare yourself for the pitch on our national stage.
- Promote your participation at #SUD and publicise the session.
- Make time to join #SUD26 on 21 May 2026.
Expected reward
All 18 selected Newcomers
- Visibility boost: Be featured with your logo on our websites, newsletter and social media.
- Pre-event connections: Access all participants via our app and schedule 1:1 meetings in advance.
- Pitch instructions
- Full-day access to #SUD26: Attend startup days on 21 May 2026 in Bern with two guest tickets.
- Pitch your startups: Showcase your innovation to the Swiss startup ecosystem.
- Exclusive networking: Join the private networking sessions with jury members, the Newcomers partners and the Swiss Startup Supporters.
- Poster presentation: Highlight your startup with a poster in our networking zone.
- Learn and grow: Gain insights from 40+ insightful sessions.
- Alumni access: Join the exclusive alumni group for continued support and connections.
The 3 Runners up
- Final Award Pitching: Showcase your innovation on the Center Stage
- Podcast feature: Get featured in a Swisspreneur podcast episode.
- VIP experience: Be our guest at the Secret Launch the following year – an exclusive pre-event for key players only.
Best in Class 2026: 1 startup
- Access to partner services
Explore the jury
Meet the Newcomers jury! Our selection process consists of two stages: a dedicated Expert Jury carefully selects the most 18 promising startups to pitch live. The Main Jury provides real-time feedback at startup days and selects the prestigious 3 “Runners up”.
Discover the jury
Newcomers FAQs
When does the next application window open for startup days 2026?
We’ll open the application window for the next pitching opportunity in December 2025 until 15 March 2026. Stay tuned – we’ll announce it in our newsletter and social media. Apply now: https://newcomers.awardsplatform.com/
Who is eligible to apply for Newcomers?
- Promising tech startup: Your startup has an evident scaling potential in the tech sector.
- Tech sector refers to startups based on scientific and technological innovations that aim to solve fundamental challenges through breakthrough discoveries (Deep-Tech) or create practical applications for everyday use (Applied Tech).
- Stage: Your startup is in the pre-seed or seed phase and has been recently or is about to be founded. The founding date will be requested and used as a reference.
- Track record: Your startup must have either a pre-MVP or an MVP that demonstrates a clear problem-solution fit.
- Swiss location: Your startup must be based in Switzerland or intend to establish a base in Switzerland.
- Full commitment: Your founders must be fully dedicated and passionate about their startup.
What does tech startup mean?
A promising tech startup refers to startups based on scientific and technological innovations that aim to solve fundamental challenges through breakthrough discoveries (DeepTech) or create practical applications for everyday use (AppliedTech):
- DeepTech: solutions and products based on very expensive basic or applied research
- AppliedTech: general software or technology-based solutions
Can startups outside of Switzerland apply?
Newcomers is dedicated to startups within Switzerland. That means your startup is founded in Switzerland, your headquarter is in Switzerland or you intent to found your startup in Switzerland.
What’s the benefit for investors?
For investors, the “Newcomers” format offers a unique opportunity to discover and engage with early-stage, high-potential tech startups before they scale. Investors gain direct access to innovative founders, exclusive networking sessions, and a curated group of startups with breakthrough solutions. It’s a chance to connect with emerging talent and be part of the next big success in the Swiss startup ecosystem.
What makes Newcomers different from other pitching events?
What makes “Newcomers” stand out from other pitching events is its exclusive focus on early-stage startups in the pre-seed to seed phase, particularly those from the DeepTech / AppliedTech sector with proven, innovative concepts. Unlike traditional pitching events, Newcomers targets startups that have already demonstrated early traction with a prototype or MVP, offering them their first national stage to showcase their ideas. The platform is designed for newly founded or soon-to-be-founded startups in Switzerland, with a clear emphasis on market-ready potential, excluding more established scale-ups.
What are the criterias that will be checked?
The following objective criteria are used to select the startups for the “Newcomers” pitching format:
- Eligibility: Startups must meet the defined participation criteria.
- Document review: Submitted documents will be checked for completeness.
- Exclusion of last year’s edition: The 18 pitching startups from the previous years (2024 & 2025) are not eligible.
The Jury evaluates the startup cases by the following criteria:
- Product-Solution Fit: How clearly does the startup solve a real, validated problem? How is their solution protected/ unique?
- Business Model Viability: How compelling and scalable is the startups revenue model?
- Market Opportunity: How large and accessible is the target market, and how well is the startup positioned to capture it?
- Traction and Momentum: What evidence is there of user adoption, revenue, partnerships or other traction?
- Vision and Differentiation: How clearly does the startup solve a real, validated problem?
- Team Strength: How strong is the founding team?
What are the “Runners up”?
Among the 18 startups selected to present their innovation on stage at the startup days, there are 3 Runners up that particularly impressed the main jury during the pitches the most. They are chosen in the afternoon of the startup days. At that point the three Runners up will pitch their innovation again on the Center Stage in front of the whole audience for a chance to be voted as “the Best in Class 2026”. Also they will be featured in the Swisspreneurs podcast and invited as guest at the Secret Launch 2027.
What does “the Best in Class 2026” mean?
After the three Runners up are announced in the afternoon, they will all pitch on the centre stage in front of the entire audience. The public will then vote live for their favourite pitch and innovation. The selected startup will be announced as the ‘Best in Class 2026’.
Is there a fee to apply or participate?
No, there is no application or participation fee. We believe in providing equal opportunities for all qualifying startups.
Empowered by Helbling Technik
