The Venture Leaders Technology 2026 head to Silicon Valley

In April, ten startups selected for Venture Leaders Technology 2026 will travel to Silicon Valley for a weeklong roadshow. The trip will give founders the chance to meet investors, industry experts, and potential partners, while refining their strategies for international growth. Before departing for the US, the entrepreneurs met for an in-person kickoff on February 25 and participated in a virtual pitch event open to the public.

Chosen from nearly 200 applicants by a jury of investors and technology specialists, this year’s Venture Leaders Technology will visit one of the world’s top tech hubs to advance their US market entry. The program provides targeted networking opportunities, one-on-one meetings with investors, and workshops designed to further develop the startups’ approach to scaling internationally.


Claudio Marforio (Futurae), Amin Amini (LOXO), Marie Didier (Matis), Philip Sieber-Gasser (Besso), Andrea Apollonio (Reshape Systems), Federico Martinelli-Orlando (TALPA Inspection), Leon Baade (eightinks), Johannes Aicher (Avientus), and Ferdinand Metzler (Benetics)

At the kickoff, the founders met face-to-face for the first time, exchanged ideas about their innovations, and practiced their presentations for the roadshow. They also took part in a virtual pitch session, where each startup had three minutes to present to an online audience. Attendees then elected Philip Sieber-Gasser, founder and CEO of Besso, as team captain for the program.

The event featured sessions with experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Max Diez, Executive Chairman of Assaia and a former Venture Leader Technology participant in 2022, shared how to approach fundraising and work with investors. Looking back on his own experience, he highlighted: "Venture Leaders Technology gave me a real push forward. Our operations improved considerably, and I made memories for a lifetime. With support from Silicon Valley investors, we successfully closed a Series A financing."

The session also included legal perspectives from Umberto Milano, Partner at Kellerhals Carrard, who addressed key considerations for startups preparing for international expansion and investor engagement.



Venture Leaders Technology 2026 is organized by Venturelab in partnership with DPD, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Kellerhals Carrard, Rothschild & Co, and the Canton of Vaud.

Follow the entrepreneurs and the Venture Leaders Technology roadshow from April 11-17, 2026, on social media using the hashtag #VLeadersTech or on www.venture-leaders.ch/technology.

Learn more about the ten Venture Leaders Technology 2026: