*zünder honors award winners
Horw/Root - At the conclusion of the *zünder accelerator 2024, the organization for the promotion of start-ups awarded prizes to successful businesses. Kiyo, Visienco and Nettle Circle were the winners, while Gaisbock claimed the public award sponsored by EY.
At a gala event held by the start-up promotion platform *zünder on board of the MS Diamant on Lake Lucerne, the six finalists of this year’s *zünder accelerator competition presented their respective projects. A six-strong jury chose the three winners of the *zünder award from the Central Switzerland start-up scene, which, as detailed in a press release, comes with prize money of 25,000 Swiss francs.
The prize of 15,000 Swiss francs donated by the cantonal banks of Central Switzerland was won by Kiyo - Zero Waste GmbH from Merlischachen in the canton of Schwyz for its waste-free toothpaste tablets. The second prize of 7,500 Swiss francs went to Visienco from Alpnach in the canton of Obwalden. The prize sponsored by *zünder was awarded for the start-up’s development of organoids to avoid pharmaceutical animal testing. Nettle Circle, which operates two locations in the canton of Lucerne in Oberkirch and Technopark Luzern in Root, claimed the third prize offered by *zünder of 2,500 Swiss francs for its traceability and controlled harvesting of nettle fibers.
The public award, which is sponsored by EY and comes with prize money of 10,000 Swiss francs, was presented to the natural cosmetics specialist Gaisbock from Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden for the production of natural care products.
In addition to the presentations and awards ceremony, 16 start-ups had the opportunity to meet on board with investors, promoters and foundations to discuss their businesses and share experiences.
