Two Lausanne-based start-ups named WEF Technology Pioneers in 2025

Two high-potential start-ups from Western Switzerland, HAYA Therapeutics and Neural Concept, have been named among the World Economic Forum’s 100 Technology Pioneers of 2025.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the WEF Technology Pioneers program recognizes companies developing technologies with the potential to transform industries and improve lives. The 2025 cohort features 100 start-ups from 28 countries, many of them harnessing artificial intelligence to scale impact while conserving resources. Selected companies work across fields such as robotics, spatial AI, and accessible quantum computing.

Switzerland is represented this year by two companies based in Lausanne:

HAYA Therapeutics, headquartered at Biopôle, is advancing a new class of precision medicines that target the regulatory genome, often described as the “dark matter” of DNA. Its lead candidate, HTX-001, aims to treat non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with clinical trials expected to begin following a USD 65 million Series A funding round closed in May 2025. HAYA’s RNA-guided platform is designed to reprogram disease-driving cell states, offering potential applications in chronic and age-related diseases beyond cardiology.

Neural Concept, a spin-off from EPFL, has developed a deep learning platform that accelerates engineering design processes. Its software, Neural Concept Shape, uses AI to replace traditional simulation workflows, cutting design time in industries such as aerospace and automotive. With customers ranging from Plastic Omnium to several Formula One teams, the company has grown rapidly, expanding its team across Europe and the United States. Its technology enables faster, more efficient product development while reducing computational resource demands.

Both companies reflect the innovation strengths of Western Switzerland’s ecosystem, which is home to leading research institutions, talent, and a collaborative start-up culture. Their inclusion in the WEF’s prestigious program is a further testament to the region’s growing global footprint in cutting-edge biotech and AI.

Since 2000, over 1,200 companies have joined the Technology Pioneers community. Many have gone on to become key players in their sectors, leveraging the platform to gain visibility, partnerships, and global influence.