Venture Leaders Mobile 2026: Captain's blog by Moritz Futscher, founder of BTRY

16.03.2026 11:30, Rita Longobardi

In early March, the Venture Leaders Mobile 2026 team headed to Barcelona with a clear goal: to connect with top investors and industry experts at 4YFN at MWC, one of the world’s premier mobile technology events. Today, we hear from Moritz Futscher, Team Captain of Venture Leaders Mobile 2026 and founder of BTRY, as he shares his firsthand experiences and provides an insider’s view of the week-long roadshow.

As founder of BTRY and Team Captain of the Venture Leaders Mobile Swiss National Startup Team, I had the opportunity to represent Switzerland at 4YFN and Mobile World Congress Barcelona. Over five days, our delegation pitched on stage and exchanged with founders from around the world.

Day 1 - 4YFN & MWC Barcelona kickoff
We could not have asked for a better kick-off to the conference. The 7th Venturelab Sailing Trophy delivered the perfect mix of wind, sun, and networking, bringing the team together before the week officially began. It was an honor to represent Switzerland alongside an exceptional cohort: DPhi Space, DuoKey, EM Path, Ionic Wind, LOXO, Mosaic SoC, Soverli, Synature, and Tethys Robotics.

Now we are ready for 4YFN at the Venturelab booth. Three days of pitching and networking lie ahead. Some members of the team already had the chance to publicly pitch at the International Mobile Startups Pitchfest 2026, where Spanish and Swiss startups competed in a friendly pitch competition.

Day 2 - Swiss Ambassador and Telcom x investment cocktail party
On day 2, we welcomed distinguished guests, including Heinrich Schellenberg, Swiss Ambassador to Spain. The conversations throughout the day reinforced why events like this matter: they create direct access to opportunities across the global tech ecosystem.



Key takeaways my fellow Venture Leaders Mobile participants shared from their discussions:
> DuoKey founder Nagib Aouini observed that enterprises increasingly demand proof that even cloud providers cannot access their data, making data sovereignty a purchasing criterion rather than a compliance requirement.

> Soverli founder Ivan Puddu noted that demand for digital sovereignty on smartphones is accelerating, though customers are still waiting for easy-to-use solutions.

> Tethys Robotics founder Jonas Wüst highlighted that deep-tech hardware gains traction when paired with a service-driven business model, as customers prioritize reduced risk and operational impact.

The day concluded with the Telco x Investment Cocktail hosted by Swisscom Ventures and T.Capital at the harbor, where many of these conversations continued.

Day 3 - Investor & partner meetings
We kicked off the day with a Demo Brunch at the Reial Club Nàutic de Barcelona. This was a great opportunity for the delegation to pitch once again in front of a select group of investors, with the harbor providing a fantastic backdrop.

Additional insights included:
> DPhi Space founder Aziz Belkhiria shared how satellite connectivity could be used to collect ground-truth data from sensors on Earth, improving the labeling of space-based data.

> LOXO founder Lara Amini reflected on the strong presence of Swiss deep-tech startups at the event, particularly in physical AI and robotics.

> Ionic Wind founder Donato Rubinetti emphasized how quickly technology timelines move in hardware innovation.

We also visited Huawei, one of the sponsors of the trip, at their booth, where they showcased some of the latest innovations from their pipeline.



Day 4 - Wrap-up & final reflections
As the curtain falls on 4YFN and MWC Barcelona 2026, I look back on a great week for the Swiss National Startup Team. From the pitches at our booth to the discussions at the harbor and on the sailing boat, it has been an impactful experience.

Key takeaways my fellow Venture Leaders Mobile participants shared from their discussions:

> Synature founder Olivier Stähli highlighted how much startups can learn from others operating at a similar stage.

> EM Path Tech founder Mohammad Azadifar pointed to the growing demand for scalable radio-frequency testing solutions for applications including 5G, satellite communications, and defense.

> Mosaic SoC founder Alfio Di Mauro noted that many complex hardware challenges remain unsolved, and that startups are well-positioned to address them thanks to their focus and speed.

Looking back, the week combined pitching, networking, and exchanges between founders in a unique setting, from conference halls to the harbor. A special thanks goes to the organizer Venturelab and the sponsors Huawei, Swisscom Ventures, and VISCHER, for making this experience possible.