⚙️ Hack Pilot Day, 24 April

This year, we’re introducing a new opportunity designed specifically for SMEs and startups: the Hack Pilot Day. A standalone event focused on building concrete collaborations across built environment, industry, and agrifood sectors.

Switzerland’s landscape is made of 99% of SMEs. Most of them are looking for better ways to reduce costs, improve operations, and access new technologies, but finding the right startups takes time and resources. And startups burn months trying to get a foot in the door.

Hack Pilot Day cuts through both problems. On April 24 in Lausanne, curated one-on-one meetings connect the right SMEs with the right startups.

Find out more

The programme at a glance

Friday, April 24, 2026

For SMEs

Join from 11:00 - 13:30

Meet startups working on practical solutions in your sector and join a networking lunch with the Swiss SME innovation ecosystem. You are also welcome to join the full programme.

For Startups

Join the full programme 9:30 - 15:00

1:1 meetings with SMEs and experts, Pilot Clinic, IP workshop, and a roundtable with SME operators. TRL 6 or above required. Must be ready to deploy in Switzerland.

See the full programme

Highlights

Learnings from the field

Startup x SME Collabs: Circea & La Nébuleuse followed by Dyneo & Services industriels de Lausanne will share insights on their recent pilots, what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently.

1:1 Meetings

1:1 Meetings: We select and match you with relevant startups ahead of the event, based on your sector and business context so that the conversations are useful from the start.

Pilot Clinic

Meet Your Allies: Meet organisations that can support, fund, or advise your next steps; whether that’s structuring a pilot or collaboration, securing funding, or moving towards implementation.

IP Workshop

Who Owns What? IP Valuation in SME-Startup Collaborations
In this workshop, we'll cover how to identify the intangible assets worth protecting in your business, how to set clear boundaries before a collaboration begins, and how to put a concrete value on what you contribute.

Networking Lunch

Connect with the Swiss innovation ecosystem
Enjoy an informal networking lunch to connect with others in the room – whether other founders, experts, or SMEs.