Swisspod to build world’s largest hyperloop testing hub

Swisspod has secured funding to build the world’s largest Hyperloop test facility in the US, revolutionizing high-speed transportation.

Swisspod, a Swiss-American start-up pioneering Hyperloop technology, has successfully closed its pre-Series A funding round. This funding will support the construction of the world’s largest Hyperloop test facility in Colorado, USA, and advance the development of a revolutionary high-speed transportation system.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Lausanne, Swisspod is focused on advancing Hyperloop technology, which aims to redefine passenger and freight mobility through an ultra-fast, sustainable transportation system. The start-up’s unique approach is to embed advanced technology in self-contained pods, making the infrastructure cost-effective to build and maintain.

The round was led by high profile investors including Charlie Holding, E-INFRA Group, Polysys Industries and a select group of business angels. Denis Tudor, CEO and Co-Founder of Swisspod, highlighted the transformative potential of their technology: “Our unique technology is not only ultra-fast and sustainable, but also solves the biggest challenge in deploying Hyperloop systems – making them cost-effective to build and maintain.”

A record-breaking Hyperloop trip

The capital raised will accelerate the completion of Swisspod’s second 162,000-square-foot Hyperloop facility in Colorado. This facility will be the world’s largest hyperloop test center, designed for long-distance operations with a unique closed-loop configuration essential for accurate technology validation. Swisspod has already installed the first 100 meters of Hyperloop tubes in the US and has begun construction of the next 100 meters, leading to the testing phase of its first full-scale Hyperloop product.

Swisspod’s European test site, developed in collaboration with EPFL and HEIG-VD, serves as a scaled-down model of the Colorado facility. This site recently achieved a record-breaking Hyperloop trip of 9.6 km, equivalent to 115.2 km for a full-scale system.

Swisspod has received significant support from various governments and organizations. The Swiss government has provided two grants to advance Hyperloop research and development. In addition, Swisspod, along with five prestigious European research centers, has secured a EUR 3.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for the Muspell project. This initiative aims to optimize the thermal management of Hyperloop systems.

Expanding its global footprint, Swisspod signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Swiss and Indian governments and Indian start-up TuTr Hyperloop to advance the development and commercialization of Hyperloop technology in India.