The Data Startup Pitch
The event that boosts Data & AI entrepreneurship in Switzerland
Applications open until 31 August 2026
An event organised by
One pitch, ten minutes, one stage. The Data Startup Pitch brings together in Geneva the most promising Data & AI startups from French-speaking Switzerland in front of selected investors: VCs, business angels, family offices.
The most convincing finalists gain direct access to The Night of Data Talents: Swiss Edition, on 10 December.
THE CONCEPT, WHY THIS EVENT
Spotting talent before it becomes obvious
French-speaking Switzerland is full of strong data founders: senior profiles, often from the field, who understand the real costs and the real stakes of a product or service that must stand the test. What they rarely lack is skill. What they sometimes lack is the right stage, at the right time, in front of the right people.
The Data Startup Pitch is that stage.
Supported by DatAfterwork, C-Square, Techfirm, French Tech Switzerland and LegaSwiss, this event serves a dual purpose: to provide Data & AI startups with a stage to pitch in front of a panel of qualified investors, and to identify the finalists who will represent Swiss data excellence at The Night of Data Talents: Swiss Edition, the grand gala on 10 December in Lausanne.
No endless administrative filter, no lengthy file. Just your story, your traction, and ten minutes to convince.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The profile we are looking for: We are not looking for an idea on PowerPoint, we are looking for founders close to the technology.
Data & AI
Your offer is based on a clearly identifiable Data or Artificial Intelligence component.
Whether it is a product (software, platform, tool) or a high value-added data/AI service (proprietary methodology, differentiating expertise).
Traction
You have a measurable start of traction: first customers, first revenues, first signed contracts or recurring missions, regardless of the form.
What matters is the proof that the market is responding.
Switzerland
Your company is headquartered in Switzerland, or you have a genuine and documented intention to establish yourself there.
Beyond these three criteria, the field remains open: all sectors of application of Data and AI are welcome, all nationalities of founders are welcome, including our French Tech entrepreneurs.
What we do not ask for: No requirement for a minimum team size, no threshold of funding already achieved, no 40-page business plan. What we evaluate is the strength of your approach and the clarity of your vision.
THE SCHEDULE, FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER
Two stages, one trajectory
Stage 1, September: The Data Startup Pitch
You pitch in front of a panel of investors in Geneva. This evening serves as sourcing to identify the strongest profiles among the applications received.
Step 2, December: The Night of Data Talents
The finalists selected in September gain access to the grand evening on 10 December in Lausanne, the gala where startups, talents, and visionaries are in the spotlight.
TO WIN at the grand final
One stage, one community, a real accelerator
The finalists selected for The Night of Data Talents: Swiss Edition, on 10 December in Lausanne, do not simply take the stage: they leave with concrete benefits, designed to meet the real needs of a data startup in a growth phase.
Coaching
Support prior to your presentation to maximise the impact of your pitch, with reusable marketing content for your communication.
The stage
Present your project to an audience of experts, managers, and decision-makers in Data & AI, potential clients, and active investors.
Video capture
Your pitch filmed and professionally edited, an asset that you can reuse for your own communication long after the evening.
Visibility
A highlight on our communication materials and those of our sponsors, as well as direct exposure to our community of VCs, business angels, family offices, and the French Tech network.
The talent pool
Exclusive access to our community of senior Data & AI profiles, to accelerate your recruitment.
The network of organisers
A direct connection with the complete ecosystem supported by DatAfterwork, C-Square, Techfirm, French Tech Switzerland and LegaSwiss, beyond just the day of the event.
Jury Prize & Public's Favourite Prize
Two awards, two complementary perspectives: that of our investors and industry experts, and that of the community present on the evening of the event.
On the agenda for the winners: a tailored support programme designed to meet your concrete needs, whether it be funding, strategic coaching or consulting services. The details of these two prizes will be communicated soon, as our partners finalise their contributions.
Application form
An event organised by
