Two startups secure funding from the HSG START Accelerator

(CONNECT) The University of St.Gallen (HSG) held its Demo Day on 12 May as part of the HSG START Accelerator. Eight deep-tech startups presented their projects to a panel of experts and a wide audience in the second round, as was reported in a statement. In the end, Aithon Robotics from Dübendorf, Zurich, and SurFace CleanTech from Lausanne secured investment.

Aithon Robotics offers a drone solution that can attach itself to structures, enabling inspection and maintenance work at height directly on site without the need for scaffolding or rope access. SurFace Cleantech has developed a reinforcement coating for compostable packaging films. This is applied like a varnish and reduces material usage by up to 30 per cent. The film’s compostability is not compromised.

“Both teams impressed us across the board. The startups tackle specific problems with well-founded technological approaches, thereby creating clear, practical added value in their fields of application,” said Dietmar Grichnik, Vice-Rector for Innovation & Quality at the University of St. Gallen and President of the HSG START Accelerator Foundation. “With these two investments, we are specifically strengthening our portfolio in the pan-Alpine region and underlining our conviction that especially Eastern Switzerland – with its close integration of universities, industry and entrepreneurship – is an excellent accelerator for scalable deep-tech ideas.”

The eight startups presenting also included LightLink Instruments and NoxBlanc, both from St. Gallen, ExoSphere from Munich, FireDrone from Dübendorf as well as GoNeon and Optohive, both from Zurich. The second edition of the HSG START Accelerator Demo Day took place at the Switzerland Innovation Park Ost. Applications for the third round are now open; the program, which offers professional support, will start in September 2026. ce/ww