Revivack in Desafía Switzerland 2025: Exploring the Swiss market

08.05.2026 15:30, Rita Longobardi

In Spring 2025, the Swiss edition of the Desafía program brought nine Spanish scaleups to Switzerland for an intensive two-week roadshow. Designed to accelerate international expansion and test the competitiveness of innovative deeptech solutions on a global scale, the program was supported by ICEX and Red.es in collaboration with Venturelab and the Economic and Trade Office of the Spanish Embassy in Bern. Participants benefited from tailored meetings with investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders, as well as mentorship, networking, pitching opportunities, and company visits.

Following its 2024 launch, the 2025 edition welcomed a second cohort of deeptech companies, including Revivack, led by María José Pedragosa, which leveraged the program to explore potential collaborations and refine its international expansion strategy.

Company Name: Revivack
Location: Barcelona







What was the most surprising difference you noticed between the Swiss startup ecosystem and the Spanish one?
To be honest, there were not huge differences apart from the weather (joking aside ). What struck me most was that we felt very much at home. Entrepreneurs speak the same language everywhere: innovation, resilience, problem-solving, and constant adaptation. If I had to highlight one difference, I would say that I was impressed by how well-organized the Swiss ecosystem is, especially considering the complexity of its institutional and business landscape.

What are the biggest challenges you faced when exploring the Swiss market for your product or technology? 
The biggest challenge was actually very similar to the one we have faced in Spain: speaking to a market that is not yet fully educated on the problem we solve. In our case, this became even more evident because our value proposition evolved significantly. We arrived in Switzerland, presenting a take-back system, but today our focus is much more on circular passports, traceability, and solutions for the MICE and hospitality sectors. So the challenge was not only market fit, but also refining our own positioning while engaging with a market that is still at an early stage of understanding these needs.

Which part of the Desafía Switzerland program (mentorship, networking, pitching, company visits) was most valuable for your startup and why.
The most valuable parts were mentorship and pitching. Beyond the incredible support from the whole team throughout the program, the feedback we received during those two weeks was extremely valuable. For me personally, it marked a real turning point. The experience in Switzerland, together with the mentoring, helped me rethink part of our strategy and adjust our direction in a much clearer way.

Did you identify any concrete collaboration opportunities with Swiss companies, investors, or research institutions during the program? If yes, which type of collaboration?
Yes, we did. In particular, I was able to connect with institutions working in the field of circular economy, and we have kept in touch after the program. These were not so much direct commercial collaborations with companies, but rather valuable connections with organizations that are aligned with our mission and that could lead to future partnerships, knowledge exchange, or ecosystem-building opportunities.

How did participating in Desafía influence your international expansion strategy?
More than anything, it helped me understand the reality of international markets through the specific case of Switzerland. It showed me that every country has its own context, dynamics, and level of market readiness. That was a very important lesson for us. It made me realize that scaling internationally is not only about ambition, but also about being truly prepared for the specific conditions of each market.

What advice would you give to startups considering applying to Desafía Switzerland in the future?
I would definitely encourage them to apply, but I would also say: go very well prepared. It is essential to do your homework before landing: understand the market, prepare your conversations, and ideally start identifying and connecting with relevant companies or stakeholders in advance. The more prepared you are, the more value you will get from the experience. Desafía already does a great job selecting startups with potential, so it is important to make the most of that opportunity.

Describe Desafía in one word
Transformative.