Venture Leaders Mobile 2023: Connectivity innovators make a splash at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

08.03.2023 10:30, Morgane Ghilardi

A week of pitching and networking at the world's largest connectivity conference and exhibition allowed the Swiss National Startup Team and our extended delation to showcase their innovative tech solutions and increase their visibility on the international stage.

 
Last December, an expert jury that includes professional investors and mobile technology experts reviewed 90 applications to choose the 10 Venture Leaders Mobile 2023. The startups provide innovative solutions that advance areas like cybersecurity, digital health, mobile components, and more.

Between February 25 and March 2, the entrepreneurs expanded their international footprint by attending the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and 4YFN startup event at the heart of the fair, along with an extended delegation of connectivity startups who are marking their presence at this international venue.

The week was kicked off on Sunday with the fourth annual Venturelab Sailing Trophy at the Real Club Nautico, which brought entrepreneurs and investors together for a friendly sailing competition, followed by a pitch session and networking mixer.









On Monday, the Venture Leaders as well as the members of the extended delegation took the stage at Venturelab's booth at the 4YFN startup space within the MWC, giving pitches to a rapt audience. Program partners Vischer and Swisscom gave special presentations at the Venturelab booth. To round off the day, the extended delegation took part in a sailing tour of the Marina.









On Tuesday, there were more pitch sessions as well as a visit from the Swiss Ambassador. The booth also hosted Innovaud's Scaleup event with Patrick Barbey, which showcased one of Switzerland's innovation hotspots, namely the Canton of Vaud.

The day ended with a special event at the Real Club Nautico: the Swiss Night, hosted by the Swiss Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. The event promotes technology diffusion and networking among Swiss and international companies, investors, and startups in the mobile technology sector.





On Wednesday, the International Pitchfest was hosted at the Venturelab booth, allowing Swiss and Spanish connectivity startups to engage in a friendly pitching competition attended by investors and VCs. The Spanish startup delegation was supported by red.es and ICEX. The expert jury chose three winners, namely Almer, IOVI, and Sleepiz. The favorites of the public and online voters were the Spanish startups idonia, sens solution, and jump into reality, as well as the Swiss startups Sleepiz and Swiss Vault. The Pitchfest was followed by the Swisscom Connectivity mixer.









Venture Leader biped also emerged victorious from the Pitch2Pitch competition, after having won the 4YFN Tech & Planet Pitch Battle on Monday.

On Thursday, the last day of the MWC, the startups had individual meetings with industry experts and investors; the winners of the Pitchfest were invited on another sailing tour with investors and partners.

After a day of more individual meetings, the Venture Leaders and extended delegation returned to Switzerland. The week, which was made possible by Vischer, Huawei, and Swisscom, was a great success for organizers and participants alike.