"Switzerland's most extraordinary pitch event returns – on the topic "Tech & Sustainability" on September 11, 2026 in Basel."

... get ready for

Fähripitch 2026

Name: Fähripitch 2026
Start: 2026-06-01
Location: A66 • St. Alban-Anlage 66, 4052 Basel

September 11, 2026

A66 • St. Alban-Anlage 66, 4052 Basel

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The Winners – Fähripitch 2026

Congratulations to the three startups that won over the jury on the ferry.

1st place

Greenmind

Traver Dinten

Plants speak. GreenMind listens.

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2nd place

EcoTool

Oliver Kirschbaum

The copilot for sustainable and economical construction

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3rd place

klaro

Göknur Bektas

klaro – the platform that turns waste into money.

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What?

Switzerland's most extraordinary pitch event

8–10 Startups

To be announced soon

St. Alban-Fähri (Wilde Maa)

Startups pitch on the St. Alban-Fähri (Wilde Maa) in the middle of the Rhine.

Inspiring Keynotes

To be announced soon

Livestream to Event Location

To be announced soon

A66 – Unique Location

The A66 at St. Alban-Anlage 66 is a unique and amazing venue right in the heart of Basel.

Networking & Apéro

After the pitches: networking with flying dinner & drinks.

Speaker

Thierry Gilgen

Build What You Can Still Control: Entrepreneurship, AI and Sovereignty in an Age of Dependency

Thierry Gilgen knows entrepreneurship from the inside: he helped build a Swiss tech startup from its first steps to an internationally funded company, was part of the 2025 Venturelab Fintech National Team, and brought products to market together with Swiss banks. Today he is building several new ventures and works as an AI Systems Architect and author on a question that goes far beyond technology: How do we stay in control when our systems grow ever more powerful — and our dependencies ever greater?

Thierry Gilgen ICT

Startups

The following innovative startups will pitch to a distinguished jury on the St. Alban-Fähri (Wilde Maa).

The Trendshift

Your innovation partner, with a sustainable edge.

Richa Khetawat

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Maus Robotics

Robotics that make you smile.

Robert Hennig

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audiobreeze

We pioneer the global shift from passive background sound to immersive, scientifically grounded 3D soundscapes that turn any B2B space into an experience.

Pitt Weiss

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NEXSURF

Turning captured CO₂ into value.

Younes Abghoui

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EcoForentis

Turn sustainability claims into proof.

Colino Neves

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klaro

klaro – the platform that turns waste into money.

Göknur Bektas

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Salvage Studio

Material deserves a second life.

Parinati Tamboli

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Greenmind

Plants speak. GreenMind listens.

Traver Dinten

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OCTROIS

From Knowledge to Action. Uniting the Sustainable Economy.

Frédéric Gasser

EcoTool

Der Copilot für nachhaltiges und wirtschaftliches Bauen

Oliver Kirschbaum

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The Prizes

Cash prize – announced at the event
Coaching program by the Startup Academy
Hosting by cyon

Program

Basel – Friday September 11, 2026

17:30

Doors Open
18:00

Welcome
18:20

Keynote: Thierry Gilgen
18:45

Jury Introduction
19:30

Pitches on the Ferry
21:10

Results & Winners
21:25

Closing
21:30

Networking & Apéro

Our Jury

Our jury brings a broad background and deep roots in the startup and sustainability scene.

Moritz Kistenmacher

President

@ Startup Academy

Moritz Kistenmacher is an organisational developer and business economist with a focus on innovation and project management. As CEO of Startup Academy Baselland and President of Startup Academy Switzerland, he supports founders on their journey from idea to market and in building their companies. He is also an entrepreneur himself, having built his own company and been involved in several startup projects.

More about Moritz

Anja Nieveler

Co-Founder

@ BaselCircular & Doughnut Economics Switzerland

Anja has extensive experience in developing startup programmes and sustainability consulting at Impact Hub. Today she is active at BaselCircular and FHNW, driving the development and implementation of circular economy activities.

More about Anja

Thérèse Susan Schmutz

Startup Innovation Manager

@ BaselArea

Thérèse Susan Schmutz is Startup Innovation Manager at BaselArea, supporting the startup community in the Basel region.

More about Thérèse

Michael M. Nussbaumer

Founder

@ M8

Michael M. Nussbaumer is the founder of M8 in Basel and an interim CIO for energy utilities and industrial companies. For over 30 years he has been getting digitalisation projects off the ground, usually where business, IT and OT have to grow together and cybersecurity is not optional. His work has earned him multiple awards. In a pitch, he is less interested in the tech stack alone than in whether the technology delivers what the business model promises.

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Janene Liston

Certified Pricing Professional & Commercial Strategist

@ The Pricing Lady

Janene Liston is a Certified Pricing Professional and Commercial Strategist who helps businesses move beyond pricing guesswork to building pricing they can stand behind.

More about Janene

Hosts

Our two co-hosts will guide you through the evening.

André Konrad

Managing Director & Co-Founder

@ Suan

I'm André Konrad, Managing Director and co-founder of the Basel-based branding agency Suan. For over 20 years I have advised brands at the intersection of strategy and design. As a strategic sparring partner, I support C-level executives and marketing leaders through branding and transformation processes.

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Roland Schelling

Project Manager Web Solutions

@ cyon

Project manager for web solutions – from SMEs to large enterprises, from concept to launch, at cyon.

More about Roland

Partners

We are proud and grateful for our partners & sponsors – and can't wait to celebrate local startups together with them.