Solothurn, February 20, 2025. The W.A. de Vigier Foundation, renowned for awarding Switzerland’s most prestigious startup prizes, is set to host its highly anticipated Selection Day on February 25. In a single day, 50 standout startups—chosen from well over 200 applicants—will pitch their groundbreaking ideas to the Foundation Board, investors, a live audience and viewers online.

The competition spans a broad range of industries, including Life Sciences, Biotech & Pharma, Cleantech, Medtech, Micro- & Nanotechnology, ICT, Interdisciplinary, and Services. Each startup has three minutes to make its case. After the event, the jury will select 15 companies to advance to the next rounds, ultimately narrowing the field to up to five winners, each receiving CHF 100,000 in non-dilutive funding at the grand award ceremony on June 18, 2025.

Unmatched Visibility for Swiss Startups

To ensure maximum exposure, the foundation will livestream the entire event at www.devigier.ch, allowing audiences across the globe to witness Switzerland’s next wave of entrepreneurial talent in action.

“Selection Day is an unparalleled opportunity—not just for the 50 startups pitching, but also for investors and industry leaders looking to discover the next big thing”, says Céline Bedu, COO of the W.A. de Vigier Foundation. “In a single day, we showcase a cross-section of Switzerland’s most promising ventures, giving startups invaluable exposure while connecting them with key decision-makers who can fuel their growth.”

For more information and to watch the event live, visit www.devigier.ch.

About the W.A. de Vigier Awards

The W.A. de Vigier Award is the oldest award for young entrepreneurs in Switzerland and, with annual prize money of up to CHF 500,000 (five times CHF 100,000), is one of the most highly endowed startup prizes in Switzerland. Over the past 36 years, the foundation has distributed almost CHF 15 million of seed money. The results are over 150 flourishing startups, successful IPOs, multiple company exits and above all, many newly created jobs.

The following aspects are relevant for the evaluation of the projects: The entrepreneurial personality, the degree of innovation, the value for society as a whole, the technical and financial viability, market prospects and the potential for job creation.