to success

to result

From idea

to success

to result

From idea

Juries

Juries play a key role in our accelerator program. Divided into key stages of the journey, they offer an objective assessment of participating teams’ projects.

Regional Jury

At the end of the first phase of the acceleration program, the Regional Jury evaluates the documentation prepared by each team and the pitch of the twenty participating projects. It decides on the ten finalists admitted to the final stage of the program, who will participate in the Award Ceremony.

National Jury

The National Jury is involved in the final phase of the program, to decree the ranking of the five winning projects. It is called upon to evaluate the documentation prepared by each team during the acceleration program and the pitch of the ten finalist projects, at the end of which each member of the Jury may ask questions, the answers to which are also subject to evaluation.

Evaluation criteria

Impact for Ticino

Are you able to set up a corporation in Ticino?
Are you able to create job opportunities in Ticino in the coming years?
Are you able to attract investments to the Canton?
Are you able to develop your R&D in Ticino?

Market potential

Does your idea address and solve a specific need and/or problem?
Do you offer a reasonably adequate solution to it?
Is the potential market large enough to create a viable business?

Business model

How do you earn money?
Are your cash flows plausible?
Can your cash flows become scalable so you can make a profit?

Team

Do you have the essential skills to reach the next stage?
Have you adequately assessed the essential skills needed to reach the next level?

Innovation

Do you have a clear competitive advantage regarding your value proposition?
Do you have a clear Intellectual Property strategy?

Quality of pitch and documents

Are the contents and layouts appropriate?
Are you ready to present yourself and your project in front of an audience of experts?

At the end of your journey you should be able to answer the following questions:

AWARD CEREMONY

The Award Ceremony of the program is not just a closing moment, but a true showcase of innovation in Ticino. It is the culmination of three intense months of acceleration that also provides an opportunity for the ten finalists to present their projects in front of a large audience. It is the ultimate testing ground for these teams as they confront a cross-section of the real market and compete to win the Special Audience Award. This event gives them a chance to receive immediate feedback from the audience in attendance, getting a first taste of the real market interest in their projects. In addition, the display of all the participants’ posters allows guests to discover the full range of projects that have taken part in the program in the current year. All this takes place in the renowned setting of the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, with the presence of political authorities, sponsors and other leading figures from Ticino’s business and academic worlds. Following the awarding of the prizes, the informal aperitif atmosphere offers moments of exchange and celebration to celebrate the entrepreneurial talents of the different teams.