Top 15 Information Hub

Congratulations on making it to the Top 15 of the W.A. de Vigier Awards 2025!
Here’s everything you need to know about the next steps in the selection process.

NEXT STEPS

Submission of further documentation: by March 20

Connection Day – April 9, 2025, in Basel

Presentation Days – May 7 & 8, 2025, in Solothurn (Sommerhaus de Vigier)

Präsentationstage 2024

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUBMISSION

FOR EXPERT REVIEW

We will assign an expert from our network to conduct an in-depth review of your case. All experts have signed an NDA before accessing any application materials.

Their assessment, along with the additional information you provide, will be submitted to the foundation board ahead of the Presentation Days.

Required Documents

Deadline: March 19, 2025

  • Business Plan (max. 8 pages, mandatory).
    • Format A4 with text (= not a slide deck). In addition to the usual business plan content description of your product/service, we recommend including a clear description of your product/technology and how you manage operations and logistics around it to support the expert evaluation.
  • Proof of residence (mandatory)
  • Company logo (mandatory, a vector file is preferred or PNG with transparent background)
  • Product description & photo (optional)
  • Updated Commercial Registry Entry (if applicable)
UPLOAD YOUR FILES

FOR PRESS RELEASE

To ensure we have the most accurate details for the press release, please send an email to info@devigier.ch by March 19 with the following information:

  • Company name
  • Legal form of the company (if not founded yet, leave empty)
  • CEO name
  • Product name (if different from the company name)
  • Company headquarters (City and Canton)
  • Website address (if none, leave empty)
  • LinkedIn page of your company (if none, leave empty)
  • Affiliation to educational institutions

PRESENTATION DAYS

PRESENTATION FORMAT

Each startup will present privately to the Foundation Board. There will be no external guests.

Presentation Format

  • Total time: 30 minutes
    • 15 minutes – Presentation
    • 15 minutes – Q&A with the Foundation Board members
  • Languages: English, High German, or French
  • Present alone – No team members allowed

Presentation Structure recommended

  1. Your Product/Service (Approx. 7.5 minutes)

    • Clearly explain the problem you are solving and your solution
    • Avoid overly technical terms – make it understandable for everyone

  2. You as an Entrepreneur (Approx. 7.5 minutes)

    • Share your inspiration, challenges, and motivation
    • What drives you as an entrepreneur? What are your ups and downs?

Technical requirements

Unlike Selection Day, you will be using your laptop, and you are free to define the number of slides.

  • Bring your own laptop
  • Bring a clicker to advance slides
  • Presentation format: 16:9
  • HDMI output – Bring necessary adapters if needed
  • Headphone output (jack 3.5 mm) on your laptop – if your presentation includes sound

SCHEDULE & LOGISTICS

Schedule

Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 (afternoon) or Thursday, May 8, 2025 (until 15:00 max)

You will receive your day and presentation time by email. Make sure you arrive at least 40 minutes before your presentation time!

  • 5-minutes setup/preparation time
  • 15-minute presentation time
  • 15 minutes for Q&A

Location

Sommerhaus de Vigier, Untere Steingrubenstrasse 25, 4500 Solothurn

  • Parking: Bieltor or Baseltor parking or maybe Lidl parking. The Sommerhaus has no parking available!
  • By train: 15 min walk from Solothurn train station or you can take the bus to “Kunstmuseum”
CONFIRM AVAILABILITY

PHOTOSHOOTING

Please note that we will shoot your portrait photo on that day.

CONNECTION DAY 2025

A full day dedicated to connecting with fellow Top 15 startups and preparing for your company presentation at the W.A. de Vigier Awards and beyond.

This year, the event will conclude with the Alumni Dinner in Basel, giving you the opportunity to meet and network with former winners.

Location

ODELYA – Stadthotel im Park, Missionsstrasse 21a, 4055 Basel

Schedule

  • 09:30 – 10:00 | Arrival
  • 10:00 – 17:00 | Workshop & interactive sessions, including Q&A on the de Vigier Selection Process
  • 17:15 | End of the official program
  • 18:00 | Alumni Dinner (held at a separate location)

Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible.

RSVP CONNECTION DAY
Connection Day 2024