Swiss platform for impact-oriented innovation is being expanded
The Rocket Day + Impact Award will be expanded in 2026 and strengthened as a platform for impact-oriented innovation in Switzerland. To this end, EBP Ventures is coordinating several partner organizations that provide specialist support and funding for companies and start-ups with a demonstrable impact.
Rocket Day + Impact Award, the platform for impact-oriented innovations, will take place for the third time in 2026. Supported by EBP Schweiz AG, innovative start-ups will network with investors and funding partners at Kraftwerk Zurich on August 27, 2026. The aim is to strengthen the companies professionally and facilitate cooperation. The Impact Award 2026 in the amount of CHF 25,000 will also be presented.
Access to partners and markets opened up
One year after receiving the award, the start-up Alligator is demonstrating its impact. Michael Schacher's company has further developed its vehicle architecture and is attracting international interest, including from established manufacturers. In concrete terms, the interest is coming from India: Alligator was able to secure patents there with the help of the prize money. At the same time, the team is working on validation in real-life operation and has submitted several international funding applications, the first of which were successful. Alligator also received support through coaching from EBP.
«The award was an important moment of confirmation for us. It has given us access to partners and markets that would otherwise have been difficult to reach,» says Michael Schacher. Oliver Brunschwiler from EBP Ventures adds: «The development of Alligator is a good example of what we want to achieve with Rocket Day: targeted specialist support at the right time can be crucial in bringing technologies from the development stage to specific applications and markets.»
Renowned innovation partners
Rocket Day is supported by a broad network of innovation partners from the start-up ecosystem, including ETH Entrepreneurship, HSG START Accelerator, Innovate 4 Nature, Innosuisse, Kickstart Innovation, Migros Pioneer Fund, SENS, SINGA Switzerland, Swisscom Ventures, Switzerland Global Enterprise, Übermorgen Ventures, ZHAW and Zünder.
The Impact Award 2026 is also aimed at start-ups and companies from the fields of environment and biodiversity, mobility and transport, construction and real estate, infrastructure, energy, circular economy, social affairs and education.
Teams and start-ups can register under this link: rocketday.ch
