Vaud-based start-ups to accelerate innovation in sustainability, health, sport and finance

The Foundation for Innovation and Technology (FIT) has awarded new funding to four start-ups developing high-impact digital and cleantech solutions in Western Switzerland.

SurfAce Cleantech has received a CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loan to advance its sustainable packaging technology. The start-up is developing a patented coating that strengthens compostable packaging films by up to 40% without compromising their biodegradability. Integrated directly into the printing process, this innovation reduces material thickness and production costs, paving the way for broader market adoption.

In a bioplastics sector projected to double by 2030, SurfAce Cleantech’s solution positions Western Switzerland as a contributor to the growing global shift toward sustainable materials. The funding will support final product development, certification, and patenting.

Three other digital innovations each received a CHF 20,000 Digital Grant to accelerate their growth in distinct fields:

• Healio, a collaborative staff-planning app for healthcare institutions, aims to simplify complex scheduling processes that balance legal, operational, and human constraints. Its algorithm integrates self-organization and fairness principles to improve both team satisfaction and management efficiency. The funding will enable the development of the app’s first version and web design.
• Nextrainers leverages artificial intelligence to assist Switzerland’s 33,000 amateur football coaches, 98% of whom work part-time, by generating a complete, structured training session in under a minute. The grant will help transform its web platform into a mobile app, enhance the user experience, and explore new communication channels and features.
• Sharelock is using AI to streamline due diligence in the investment industry. Its software structures and analyses financial, legal, and ESG documentation to deliver reliable, traceable insights, accelerating decision-making for private-market professionals. The funding will support R&D, partnerships with pilot investment funds, and market readiness.

Through this round of support, FIT continues to strengthen Western Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem, fostering digital transformation and sustainability across multiple industries, from finance and sport to healthcare and clean technologies.