Venturelab Trophy 2023: A friendly sailing competition brings entrepreneurs and investors together

27.02.2023 13:30, Morgane Ghilardi

Last weekend, the fourth annual Venturelab Trophy brought together entrepreneurs and investors in the Real Club Nautico. The friendly race was followed by an exclusive pitch session and networking mixer, creating connections that put wind in the sails of innovation.

As a practice, sailing can teach us how to adapt to circumstances we can't change, be it the mood of the sea or the wind, and how to make the most of the aspects we can control. Keeping one's vessel steady, charting a course, and putting together a crew that's in sync—these things can help any entrepreneur grasp the foundations of teamwork and management as they pursue their vision with purpose and direction.

In Venturelab's annual sailing competition, investors and entrepreneurs formed two crews, racing each other against the majestic backdrop of Barcelona's coast. Excellent teamwork and enthusiasm made for a smooth but lively experience.





The Venturelab Trophy is made possible by VISCHER. Rolf Auf der Maur, Partner at VISCHER, accompanied the investors and entrepreneurs, making his boat available for this special event and sharing his extensive sailing and business expertise.



It was a tight race, but the VISCHER boat snagged the victory in a last-minute turn.

VISCHER, along with Huawei and Swisscom, is also supporting the Venture Leaders Mobile program, which is taking ten Swiss connectivity startups to the 4YFN startup event at the heart of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week.

Natural World Eco kindly provided footwear for our sailors, helping the entrepreneurs, partners, and investors keep their footing not only at sea but in the world of innovation with their ecologically produced shoes.



After the race, the crews gathered for lunch at the Real Club Nautico before proceeding with a pitch session, a Q&A, and a networking mixer for invited guests looking to connect with the tech innovators.



The excitement of the day and the following exchanges confirmed once again how invigorating this non-traditional and stunning setting can be.