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In a thrilling culmination of Switzerland's 2025 Venture startup competition, three standout startups emerged victorious across the Finance and Insurance vertical. The winners were announced during an Award Ceremony on June 23, following a final pitch session that showcased their innovative ideas.
The first-place winner, UpGrid, is a Climate fintech and energy community platform that empowers communities and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to finance, own, and benefit from local renewable energy projects. By connecting businesses with solar plant owners, UpGrid offers the opportunity to rent fractions of solar plants, aiming to cut emissions and costs under Scope 2. As the grand prize winner, UpGrid was awarded a total of CHF 150,000 and a business consulting package from McKinsey & Company.
Second place was awarded to Terensis, a company that has developed a groundbreaking global grain supply forecast. This innovative tool allows for precise calculation of price risks for the agrifood chain, contributing to a more stable and sustainable food industry.
The third-place winner, an all-in-one renewable energy platform, was not identified by name in the provided information. However, it was revealed that this platform enables businesses to connect with solar plant owners, offering the option to rent fractions of solar plants.
The 2025 edition of Switzerland's Venture competition featured winners across six verticals, including Finance and Insurance. The winners were determined following final presentations before the Venture Advisory Board. The updated rankings were revealed during the Award Ceremony, marking the end of a competitive and exciting competition.
The featured image for this article was edited by our platform Switzerland, based on an image by wirestock via Freepik.
[1] Source: Venture Switzerland (2025). Winners of the 2025 Venture Startup Competition Announced. Retrieved from https://venture.ch/news/winners-of-the-2025-venture-startup-competition-announced/
- UpGrid's innovative climate fintech and energy community platform, which empowers SMEs to invest in local renewable energy projects, won first place in the Finance vertical of the 2025 Venture Startup competition.
- Terensis, a startup that has developed a global grain supply forecast tool, taking calculated risks for the agrifood industry, secured second place in the same competition.
- A business platform that connects renewable energy projects with businesses, enabling them to rent fractions of solar plants, claimed third place in the Finance vertical of the 2025 Venture Startup competition, but its name was not disclosed in the provided information.
