Juries play a fundamental role in our acceleration program Boldbrain. Divided into key phases of the journey, they ensure an objective evaluation of the participating projects.
Regional Jury
At the end of the first phase, the Regional Jury evaluates the documentation prepared by the teams and the pitch presentations of the twenty competing projects. Based on these elements, it selects the ten finalists who advance to the final stage and participate in the Award Ceremony.
National Jury
In the final phase, the National Jury determines the ranking of the five winning projects. Their evaluation is based on the documentation developed by the finalists throughout the acceleration program and the pitch presentations delivered by the ten finalists. After the presentations, jury members can ask questions, and the teams’ responses are also taken into account in the evaluation process.
Impact for Ticino
Will you be able to set up a company in Ticino? Will you be able to create qualified job positions in Ticino in the next few years? Will you be able to attract investments in Ticino? Will you be able to have the R&D in Ticino? Do you already have a network of contacts in Ticino? Which public or private organizations relevant to your business are you in contact with? How do you plan to leverage them to grow your startup?
Market potential
Does your project address and solve a specific need or problem? Do you offer a reasonably adequate solution to it? Have you clearly defined your target customer? Is the potential market big enough to create a sustainable company?
Business model
How do you make money? Is your cash flows sustainable? Is your business model profitable? Is your business model scalable? Did you consider the entire value chain? What impact does it have on your margins?
Team
Do you have sufficient competences to access the next stage? Did you not forget the essential skills to reach the next level? Are the roles of founders and key team members clearly defined within the team?
Innovation
Does your value proposition provide a competitive advantage? Does your business model capture more value than competitors? Is your competitive advantage based on technology? Does the value proposition include distinctive, original, or novel aspects? Do you have a clear intellectual property strategy?
Pitch & documents quality
Do the project pitch and documents clearly communicate key points to future stakeholders (clients, suppliers, investors)? Are you able to manage the stage during your pitch in front of, for example, an audience of investors or a general audience?
At the end of the journey the team should be able to answer the following questions
The Boldbrain Startup Challenge Award Ceremony is not just the closing act of the program but a true showcase of innovation in Ticino. It marks the culmination of three intense months of acceleration and represents the final challenge for the ten finalists, who present their projects in front of a large audience.
This event allows teams to engage with a real audience, receive immediate feedback, and gauge genuine market interest in their solutions. Additionally, with an exhibition of all participating teams’ project posters, attendees can discover the full range of innovations that have been part of the program.
The ceremony takes place in the prestigious Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, in the presence of political authorities, sponsors, and leading figures from Ticino’s business and academic sectors. After the awards are presented, the final aperitif offers the perfect occasion for networking and a celebration of the entrepreneurial talent showcased by the participating teams.
The 2026 Ceremony will take place on
Thursday, December 10 with access from 5:30 PM
Special Audience Award
CHF 10’000.–
in cash
Special opportunity MassChallengeCH
The 10 finalists are automatically admitted to the second round of the selection process for MCCH 2027
Special opportunity
Direct entry into the second stage of the Swiss Economic Award selection process