«STAGE UP 2025 - Top 25»
January 17, 2024 – Kaya Hellbach
STAGE UP – The Bernese Business Creation Competition 2025
STAGE UP has been organised by the Department of Business Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Bern together with Bern University of Applied Sciences, be-advanced and other private and public partners since 2013. The competition is aimed at students, researchers and employees of the University of Bern and Bern University of Applied Sciences – but external participants without university affiliation are also very welcome and strongly represented.
The Top25 of this year’s STAGE UP edition
Individuals and teams had time until December 2024 to submit their innovative business ideas for this year’s STAGE UP competition.
A panel of 30 experts carefully evaluated a total of 69 submitted ideas and selected the 25 most promising projects to move on to the next round. Here we present this year’s Top25 (in alphabetic order):
AcciMed
AcciMed, the innovation in the healthcare sector, uses a trialogue between medicine, employers and employees to bring all parties together.
Experience and technology lead to efficiency in the care and assessment of injured employees in order to reduce absences and save costs.
AI-Powered Detection of Lesions in Capsule Endoscopy Images
The AI-powered platform revolutionizes gastrointestinal diagnostics by automating the analysis of capsule endoscopy images, enabling rapid and accurate detection of lesions such as ulcers, tumors, and polyps. Integrating seamlessly into healthcare workflows enhances diagnostic efficiency, reduces human error, and improves patient outcomes while lowering healthcare costs.
Auto-Mate Robotics
Auto-Mate Robotics enables the efficient automation of multiple workflows in high-mix, low-volume productions. With a user-friendly interface, employees in SMEs can independently contribute to automation without requiring specific knowledge in robotics or programming.
Beyond Diagnostics
Beyond Diagnostics aims to revolutionize diabetes treatment by developing a point-of-care test for insulin efficacy, allowing for more precise dosing during treatment. This will reduce insulin wastage, lower severe health complications and healthcare costs, and enhance care globally.
Blocsy - Shape your Space
Blocsy offers a sustainable alternative to fast furniture by providing modular furniture kits designed for endless assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration, enabling a circular economy that reduces waste and promotes adaptability for modern living.
Bright Minds Academy
Bright Minds Academy presents the Smart IoT Explorers project, a unique initiative designed to introduce children ages 7–12 to the exciting world of Internet of Things (IoT) technology while emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity. This project aims to educate young learners on how IoT devices function, foster creativity through hands-on projects, and instil an early understanding of the significance of data privacy and security in the digital world.
CalmScan VR: AI-Powered Pediatric MRI Preparation
The AI-powered Pediatric MRI Preparation Team uses virtual reality and AI-driven solutions to familiarize children with MRI sounds and train them to remain still during the scan, reducing anxiety, failure rates, and costs associated with pediatric MRI. This innovative approach enhances comfort and efficiency in pediatric care.
chainstaff AG
chainstaff transforms recruitment by leveraging community-driven job sharing. Companies can post job ads with a bounty, while anyone can earn rewards by sharing job opportunities – making hiring smarter, faster, and more cost-effective.
ContiClose
ContiClose is a cloud-based SaaS solution designed to streamline and automate the month-end closing process for finance teams, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency through structured workflows and AI integration. Our platform aims to eliminate manual inefficiencies and enhance collaboration, allowing accountants to focus on strategic tasks rather than operational hassles.
DigeHealth
At DigeHealth, we help you better listen to your gut – Our wearable medical device monitors bowel sounds and vital body metrics to create digital biomarkers. By enabling the early detection of post-operative complications such as ileus, we improve patient outcomes through personalized, accurate, and objective healthcare insights.
Duatic AG - Unlocking robots' true potential
Duatic AG builds human-sized robots for intralogistics that navigate and handle objects like humans, enabling quick deployment and low upfront costs. With advanced actuators, we’ve developed a unique robotic arm that powers solutions for industries like manufacturing, retail, and more.
EPOcel Therapeutics
EPOcel Therapeutics entwickelt eine Autologe zelluläre Therapie zur Behandlung von chronischen Nieren Erkrankung. Die Therapie soll die weitere Degeneration der Niere verhindern und so die Patienten vor der Dialyse bewahren.
Examzone
Examzone enables educational institutions to implement secure, digital and practical examinations easily and efficiently.
freedia - you have free time, we have ideas
Unlock a treasure trove of exclusive events and unforgettable experiences curated with local businesses and freelancers to match your vibe. Whether you’re an expat, local, or tourist, discover a fresh, effortless way to explore the city’s vibrant offerings with freedia!
GoNiña
1/3 of food goes to waste, accounting for 10% of global GHG emissions. GoNina helps restaurants, bakeries and retailers cut waste and costs by using AI to predict demand with 90% accuracy and by selling any surplus through its platform to consumers at a discount.
MaiQ
MaiQ combines AI-supported testing and real user feedback in an all-in-one SaaS platform – for more efficient, data-based and cost-saving product development. This enables companies to reduce testing resources and bring marketable digital products to market faster.
NovoViz
NovoViz is a fabless semiconductor company which designs and manufactures computational single-photon imaging sensors. They combine pixels and processors together on the same chip, decimating the constraints on user hardware and streamlining the integration of SPAD sensors as replacements for current technologies.
PETBench
The mission at PETBench: transforming plastic waste into sustainable furniture! Innovative, environmentally friendly and forward-looking, they recycle plastic waste into durable furniture for the public sector.
PhysioSense
PhysioSense revolutionises physiotherapy and rehabilitation with innovative sensor technology that records movement data in real time and provides patients with haptic feedback for safe and effective exercise – anytime and anywhere.
Plasma Activated Water Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture
PAWER Solutions offers an innovative technology to produce Plasma Activated Water, a liquid enriched with compounds highly beneficial for plant growth and development. This transformative solution supports growers by reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides while promoting sustainable farming practices.
Soully (Matcha Soda)
At Soully, they embrace the Japanese philosophy of elegant simplicity in every sip. Their soda is meticulously crafted with just matcha +3 ingredients.
ValTech Lifesciences
ValTech Lifesciences is a B2B business that helps heart valve manufacturers improve the performance of their devices.
Via Communa
Via Communa enables clinics to comprehensively support stroke patients and their families through patient education, self-efficacy modules, and personalized telemedicine. Our full-cycle solution not only enhances patient engagement but also improves staff satisfaction and reduces workload for clinic personnel.
VIFFFF Holding AG
VIFFFF Holding AG is a Swiss Food Tech startup transforming convenient food with patented fermentation technology, offering vegan, gluten-free products that support gut health and prevent blood sugar spikes.
wearefreemovers GmbH
wearefreemovers is the first one-stop-shop platform for free movers, connecting independent study abroad students with universities and service providers to unlock a new era of international mobility.
The next step: elevator pitches
On 28 January 2025, things will get exciting: the teams will each have three minutes to present their business idea in an elevator pitch at the University of Bern and convince the jury of well-known personalities from the business world of their concept. The best teams qualify for the next phase of the competition, in which they receive customised coaching and practical workshops.
In the following months, the teams will further develop their business models and submit their final concepts to the experts for a second round of evaluation in mid-April 2025.
We are looking forward to an inspiring day full of creative ideas, exciting pitches and enriching discussions with the participating teams and the jury.