Finalists and winners

CUTISS develops biotechnological solutions for the production of human skin tissue. Under the leadership of Daniela Marino, the company is working on denovoSkin™, a personalized tissue therapy made from living human skin. A specially developed automation platform is intended to enable needs-based and scalable production. The therapy is aimed at patients who require skin surgery following severe burns or for reconstructive and aesthetic procedures.

The judges say: “Daniela Marino combines scientific excellence and entrepreneurial courage with exceptional resilience and a clear vision. With CUTISS, she is driving forward a groundbreaking innovation that opens up new perspectives for patients and has the potential to sustainably shape the future of regenerative medicine.”

Founded in 2020, ofinto sells ergonomic office furniture to private and business customers via a digital direct distribution model. Under the leadership of Jonas Romer and Christian Stiefel, the company dispenses with intermediaries, thus enabling price advantages of up to 50% over traditional distribution models and short delivery times of less than five days. Today, ofinto operates in five European countries and has already served more than 64,000 customers. The company employs around 20 people, is managed entirely by its founders and has grown without external financing.

The judges say: “Jonas Romer and Christian Stiefel give customers confidence by providing well-thought-out processes, excellent service and efficient logistics. As a perfectly coordinated team, they work with great commitment and entrepreneurial foresight to make high-quality, ergonomic workspaces accessible at fair prices.”

REGENERA has set itself the goal of making paralysis a thing of the past. Under the leadership of Giuseppe Perale, the company is developing SpinoSave, a patented therapy in which the body’s own stem and immunocompetent cells derived from fatty tissue are embedded in a biodegradable hydrogel. During a surgical procedure, the combination should be used locally on the injured spinal cord in order to support the self-regeneration of the damaged tissue.

The judges say: “Giuseppe Perale embodies scientific curiosity, a spirit of discovery and a relentless determination to overcome boundaries. With REGENERA, he is pursuing the ambitious goal of opening up new hope and perspectives for people with spinal cord injuries.”

FarmaMondo is an internationally active pharmaceutical group headquartered in Switzerland. Led by founders Yaron Spigel, Guy Jacoel and Luciano De Portu, the company works with innovative biopharmaceutical companies to improve access to vital medicines in emerging and growing markets. Operating in more than 40 countries and with 14 subsidiaries, FarmaMondo has already successfully commercialized more than 50 innovative and specialized therapies in markets that are often not the focus of traditional product launches.

The judges say: “Yaron Spigel, Guy Jacoel and Luciano De Portu combine many years of international experience with entrepreneurial courage and complementary strengths. With FarmaMondo, they are building bridges between innovative therapies and patients in markets that have often not been well served.”

As a family-run company, BIWI has been developing and producing high-performance materials based on elastomers, composites, carbon and silicone for over 45 years. Under the leadership of Pascal Bourquard Jr, the company holds more than 22 patents and supplies more than 300 international brands in industries such as luxury watches, medical technology, motor sport, aerospace and defense. With its innovative strength and specialized material expertise, BIWI is one of the leading technology partners in demanding high-tech markets. Its fields of activity also include the production of Swiss identity cards.

The judges say: “Pascal Bourquard Jr impresses with his authenticity, entrepreneurial spirit and ability to combine tradition and innovation. With BIWI, he is developing a forward-looking family-owned company with courage, creativity and close proximity to employees and customers.”