Eight Venture Kick alumni among finalists for De Vigier Award 2025
16.05.2025
On June 18, the W.A. De Vigier Foundation will highlight ten Swiss startups at its annual award ceremony in Solothurn. Eight of the finalists are Venture Kick alumni—strong contenders for the five CHF 120,000 awards.
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The W.A. De Vigier Award is one of Switzerland's most established recognitions for early-stage entrepreneurs. This year's ceremony, taking place on June 18, will feature ten startup founders pitching their ventures to a live and online audience. Up to five of them will each receive CHF 120,000 in non-dilutive funding.
Eight of the finalists have previously received support from Venture Kick, a program designed to help startups validate their ideas and build strong foundations. The finalists span a wide range of sectors—from medtech and robotics to foodtech and AI.
Meet the 10 finalists:
Emmanuel Akpakwu | CEO Axmed AG
ACCESS TO MEDICINES FOR ALL
Julie Böhning | CEO PAVE Space SA
IMPROVING SPACE MOBILITY AND LOGISTICS
Estelle Clerc | CEO CellX Biosolutions AG
USING BACTERIA AS MASTER RECYCLERS
Bilal Fares | CEO Azure Cell Therapies
REGENERATING NEURONS TO DEFEAT PARKINSON’S
Simona Fehlmann | CEO sallea AG
REVOLUTIONIZING CULTIVATED MEAT AND FISH
Moritz Geilinger | CEO Flink Robotics AG
ROBOTS FOR MATERIAL HANDLING
Edwige Guinet | CEO Visienco AG
AI-POWERED ORGANOID HANDLING
Freddy Hunziker | CEO New Roots AG
VEGAN DAIRY MADE IN SWITZERLAND
Matthew Lapinski | CEO Clee Medical SA
ADVANCING PRECISION AND EFFICIENCY IN NEUROSURGICAL TOOLS
Donato Rubinetti | CEO Ionic Wind AG
SILENT, ENERGY-EFFICIENT DEVICE COOLING
Eight of the finalists have previously received support from Venture Kick, a program designed to help startups validate their ideas and build strong foundations. The finalists span a wide range of sectors—from medtech and robotics to foodtech and AI.
Meet the 10 finalists:
Emmanuel Akpakwu | CEO Axmed AG
ACCESS TO MEDICINES FOR ALL
Julie Böhning | CEO PAVE Space SA
IMPROVING SPACE MOBILITY AND LOGISTICS
Estelle Clerc | CEO CellX Biosolutions AG
USING BACTERIA AS MASTER RECYCLERS
Bilal Fares | CEO Azure Cell Therapies
REGENERATING NEURONS TO DEFEAT PARKINSON’S
Simona Fehlmann | CEO sallea AG
REVOLUTIONIZING CULTIVATED MEAT AND FISH
Moritz Geilinger | CEO Flink Robotics AG
ROBOTS FOR MATERIAL HANDLING
Edwige Guinet | CEO Visienco AG
AI-POWERED ORGANOID HANDLING
Freddy Hunziker | CEO New Roots AG
VEGAN DAIRY MADE IN SWITZERLAND
Matthew Lapinski | CEO Clee Medical SA
ADVANCING PRECISION AND EFFICIENCY IN NEUROSURGICAL TOOLS
Donato Rubinetti | CEO Ionic Wind AG
SILENT, ENERGY-EFFICIENT DEVICE COOLING