Start-ups & Scale-ups

Badger is a mobile app that provides businesses access to digital tools for monitoring customer loyalty and performance, enabling them to build a stronger community. For customers, Badger alleviates the challenges linked to traditional loyalty solutions and makes the experience more personal and rewarding.

BehaviorSMART is more than just a consultancy...it's a movement that programs visitor happiness and sustainability directly into the design of travel experiences. By leveraging the latest in behavioral science, the company helps destinations and tourism businesses make sustainable choices intuitive and effortless for guests while ensuring long-term benefits for host communities.

Founded in 2020, BehaviorSMART operates globally, with team members across Europe, India, and the U.S. and is in the process of relocating its headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland. The company has already worked in over 20 countries, pioneering behavioral science in the tourism industry and delivering insights at 70+ industry events across four continents.

Now, BehaviorSMART is scaling its impact through the beSMART Platform, a digital tool that turns behavior-change strategies into easy-to-execute, high-impact actions. By optimizing communications, operations, and product design, the platform helps tourism businesses and entire destinations drive sustainability through small but powerful shifts—reducing plastic waste, conserving energy, and promoting responsible travel behaviors

Founded in 2018 in Switzerland, NexSwiss Sàrl leverages technology to offer a sustainable tourism experience with real-time audio guides accessible directly through a smartphone browser, no app needed! Their flagship product, CityTourPlayer, syncs with GPS on bus, tram, or train routes, adapting to travel speed and offering content in multiple languages. With enriched travel experiences that include images, 360° panoramas, and detailed texts, NexSwiss Sàrl ensures tourism is not only engaging but also environmentally conscious.

Led by Joel Junius, Founder of NexSwiss Sàrl, CityTourPlayer, and Pepadocs, the startup is making waves in cities such as Montreux, Morges, Vevey, Villeneuve, and Yverdon, and beyond. Their work enhances the travel experience by combining adaptive, multilingual content with immersive visuals, ensuring accessibility and ease of use for modern-day explorers.

Discover more about NexSwiss Sàrl at nexswiss.ch and join us in supporting this sustainable tourism initiative on its journey to redefining travel!

Co-founded by Noé Zaabi from EPFL and Ilan Varasteh from ETHZ, an innovative startup from the EHL Innovation Hub transforming WhatsApp into an ordering platform for restaurants. 

Châtaigne lets customers place their orders through voice or text messages and pay directly in a WhatsApp conversation. Simple, fast, and natural. It’s powered by an AI clerk who understands all languages natively, handles customizations, and answers questions about opening hours, budget recommendations, allergens and so on. There is no app to download and no account to create. Just a WhatsApp chat.

Launched in 2024, châtaigne operates in Switzerland and France, serving both independent restaurants and larger chains in the Food & Beverage industry. Unlike traditional delivery apps, Châtaigne is commission-free, making it a more profitable solution for restaurants.

Their vision: to make food ordering feel as natural as chatting with a friend. Their team continuously improves the platform, adding new features based on real-world feedback, like advanced analysis of ordering data. Every update brings châtaigne one step closer to that vision.

Founded in 2022 in Innsbruck, Austria, CRQLAR is a cutting-edge SaaS (Software as a Service) platform tailored for luxury hotels. By enhancing efficiency and elevating the guest experience from pre-stay to post-stay, their solution empowers hoteliers to deliver personalized and exceptional service.

Led by Fabian Rauch, Co-Founder and expert in online marketing, e-commerce, and business development, CRQLAR exemplifies leadership in hospitality tech innovation. Supported by a skilled team of 11 members, they continue to grow and shape the future of the industry.

CRQLAR stands out with its focus on automating processes to save time and reduce errors, ultimately improving profitability and delivering unparalleled service to clients. Their work sets a new standard for operational excellence in luxury hospitality.

Discover more about CRQLAR at https://www.crqlar.com/ and join us in supporting this forward-thinking startup on its journey to success!

Co-founded by Christian Kramer in 2021 and based in Zurich, Switzerland, FOOD2050 offers a digital food guidance system that supports conscious, personalized nutrition while promoting adequate and sustainable food offers. By measuring and monitoring the environmental impact of each stakeholder group within the food industry, FOOD2050 enables businesses to make informed decisions that improve their environmental footprint—bite by bite.

With a mission to bridge the gap between consumers, operators, and producers, FOOD2050 is paving the way for a smarter, more sustainable food ecosystem.

Discover more about FOOD2050 at food2050.ch and join us in celebrating this inspiring startup shaping the future of food sustainability.

Inntelo AI is transforming hotel operations with the UK’s first AI Concierge that talks to guests via WhatsApp and phone, no apps or downloads required. Combining conversational and agentic AI, Inntelo AI streamlines workflows, boosts guest satisfaction, enables in-stay upselling, and replaces outdated tech with scalable, multilingual automation.

Lobby is the AI inbox that turns every email inquiry into a confirmed booking before competitors even click “open”. Sitting natively on top of hotel systems, Lobby reads incoming requests, checks real‑time availability & rates, builds a branded proposal and—where you allow it—pushes the reservation or block straight into your system. Hotels using Lobby answer in under a minute, save significant staff time and boost conversion by striking while the lead is hot.

 Paathz is a hiring ecosystem built for hospitality. Connecting verified talent with employers through structured profiles, clear signals, and tailored talent matching. Instead of sorting through hundreds of irrelevant applications, employers receive a shortlist of candidates who actually fit the role, faster hiring, better decisions, stronger teams.

 ProfessorMe is an EdTech company building intelligent learning technology for universities, organisations, enterprises and learners around the world. Our platform helps transform existing knowledge, content and expertise into accessible, multilingual learning experiences that can be delivered at scale. At the centre is Professor Dynamo, the world’s first AI professor, designed to support learners with personalised guidance, practical resources and one-to-one teaching in their chosen language. From student support and academic confidence to professional development, specialist training and lifelong learning, ProfessorMe creates tools that make education more accessible, flexible and human-centred. Built by academics, educators and industry professionals, our technology is designed to help every learner move forward with confidence. Every learner, everywhere.

Serendipia Nest is more than a coliving hotel—it’s a movement redefining the way entrepreneurs, creators, and digital nomads live, work, and connect. Founded in 2016 in San Francisco by Jean-Loïck Michaux, it grew from an idea into a thriving 1,000+ member community, generating over $1M in revenue and earning backing from Techstars and Bosch.

Designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and well-being, Serendipia combines boutique coliving with a social wellness club and coworking café. Their spaces are tech-enabled, community-driven, and built for those who seek more than just a place to stay—they seek inspiration, purpose, and meaningful connections.

Now, Serendipia is evolving into a premium, global brand. Scaling first by acquiring flagship properties, then transitioning into an asset-light, SaaS-driven membership model—creating a seamless, borderless lifestyle for modern professionals. At Serendipia, belonging isn’t just about being—it’s about becoming.

Discover more about Serendipia Nest at serendipia.life and join us in celebrating this innovative startup shaping the future of coliving and hospitality.

Founded by one of our Innovation Hub experts, Mateusz Wojdylo, in 2021 and based in Zurich Switzerland, ShareP offers a plug-and-play system to optimize parking and EV charging within existing infrastructures. By leveraging IoT technology, they reduce CO2 emissions and enable building owners to monetize unused parking spaces and EV charging stations through a secure, fully automated platform.

With a focus on fostering eco-conscious urban environments, ShareP enhances accessibility and convenience while supporting electric vehicle adoption. Their commitment to sustainability and efficiency is paving the way for a smarter, greener future in mobility.

Discover more about ShareP - Sustainable Parking Management at sharep.io and join us in celebrating this inspiring startup reshaping urban mobility.

Smartiz.io is a digital solution that helps property managers save time, automate tasks, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. Their smart platform streamlines communication (even via WhatsApp), prevents bad reviews, and allows operators to focus on what really matters: creating unique stays and growing revenue.

Launched in 2021 and based in Trélex, Switzerland, Smartiz.io is already supporting rental operators with:
✔️ Streamlined operations and guest communication
✔️ Higher guest satisfaction and positive reviews
✔️ Increased profitability through automation

Their vision: to empower hosts with intelligent, user-friendly tools that make hospitality more seamless, sustainable, and scalable. With every feature update, Smartiz.io brings operators closer to effortless property management.

Discover more: smartiz.io

Stream Ocean develops underwater guest experiences for coastal resorts using a custom underwater camera system and AI. Our innovative offering educates resort guests on ocean health and marine biodiversity, creating a unique bond between guests, the ocean, and their resort. This engagement enlightens travelers, establishes unprecedented insights into ocean health, and encourages visitors to return for further experiences.