With the official announcement of the twenty selected projects, the the eighth edition of the Boldbrain Startup Challenge, the acceleration program dedicated to innovative business ideas promoted in Ticino. The inaugural event is scheduled for August 28th at the Suglio Business Center in Manno, headquarters of the Agire Foundation, from where an intensive three-month course will begin that will accompany the teams until the The final will be held on December 3, 2025, at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano..
According to data released by the organizers, this year's applications reached 141, of which 85 were submitted successfully. A total of 78 were considered eligible based on the criteria established by the regulations, a record number never seen in previous editions.
An ever-growing pool of innovation
La Boldbrain Startup Challenge It confirms its role as a "horizontal" accelerator, capable of attracting initiatives from diverse sectors: from ICT (which represents approximately 22% of the submitted projects) to social entrepreneurship, sports, tourism, and lifestyle. This diversity highlights a trend: Ticino innovation is no longer focused solely on pure technology, but is also exploring social, cultural, and experiential spheres.
The analysis of the proposals also shows an increasing level of maturity: the 27% already have a prototype, 7 projects have reached the beta phase, 8 are already on the market and 19 have been incorporated.
The selected winds
The expert committee, composed of professionals active in the economic, educational, and entrepreneurial sectors of Ticino, has selected the twenty teams that will participate in the 2025 program. The selected startups, in alphabetical order, are:
AIceberg – ALBA – Carbon Dioxide Valorization – CC Cardio – Dialog Experience – Green Targets – METEORA – MethylX – OOVIE Studios – POWSH – Regenia – SciFind – SheSync – SwissVeritas – Tellus GreenTech – Travis Legal – urbansnitch – VocalHUM – WeSherpa – Windtracx.
A fact that marks this edition is the completely Swiss originSixteen projects originate in Ticino, three in Zurich, and one in Zug. This is the first time the competition has not included teams from abroad, confirming the growing roots of Swiss entrepreneurial culture and the initiative's notoriety beyond the Gotthard Pass.
A path between training and comparison
The twenty selected teams will participate in a program that combines workshops, individual coaching sessions, and networking opportunities. Six training sessions are planned, designed to provide concrete tools for business planning, market validation, marketing, and resource management.
Each group will be supported by a professional coach who will monitor their development and facilitate the practical application of the content learned. The goal is not only to develop the business idea, but to transform it into a scalable and sustainable project.
The Boldbrain Startup Challenge 2025 Final
The route will culminate on December 3, 2025 with the public ceremony at Palazzo dei Congressi in LuganoOnly ten finalists will have access to the stage to present their idea to an audience of investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives from the institutional world.
The final event isn't just a prize, it's also a launching pad: over the years, many startups that have passed through Boldbrain have consolidated their market presence, attracting collaborations and funding.
A signal for the Ticino ecosystem
With growing numbers and an increasingly evident quality of projects, the Boldbrain Startup Challenge confirms Ticino as a fertile ground for innovative entrepreneurship. Collaboration with organizations like the USI Startup Centre and the Agire Foundation further strengthens the Regional Innovation System, creating a virtuous cycle that enhances local expertise and international appeal.
The message from this selection is clear: the Swiss business community, and Ticino in particular, is now more ready than ever to compete in diverse sectors, with ideas capable of combining creativity, technology, and social impact.
