EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026: The finalists have been confirmed – French-speaking Switzerland, Ticino and Central Switzerland heavily represented

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• Thirteen business personalities alongside their nine companies have been selected by an independent and distinguished panel of judges for this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award.
• This year, the finalists come from the Cantons of Geneva, Jura, Schwyz, St. Gallen, Ticino and Zurich. With two companies each, the Cantons of Geneva, Schwyz and Ticino are particularly heavily represented.
• The awards are divided into three categories and will be presented at a gala event at the Kongresshaus Zürich on Friday, October 23, 2026.

Zurich, 27 August 2026 – The finalists in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 have been confirmed. This is the 29th time the program has been staged in Switzerland. The 13 business personalities and their nine companies nominated for this year’s prestigious awards were announced today. In total, 70 business personalities with 57 companies applied for the program in 2026. They exemplify the diversity and innovative strength of Swiss entrepreneurship and represent sectors ranging from medical technology, biotechnology and digital health to pharmaceuticals, AI and e-commerce through to industrial manufacturing, construction and infrastructure. Now, an independent panel of judges has decided which ones to send through to the finals in the various categories of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 awards at the Kongresshaus Zürich on October 23, 2026.

Frédéric Tissot, Head of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Switzerland, commented: “Entrepreneurship requires courage, vision and perseverance. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Switzerland 2026 finalists have these qualities in spades. They stand for innovative strength, responsibility and sustainable growth and show what an important contribution entrepreneurs make to the Swiss economy and society.”

This year’s finalists come from six Swiss cantons. With four business personalities, Ticino is providing the largest delegation, followed by the Canton of Schwyz with three nominees. The winners will be selected in three categories: “Scale-up Leaders”, “Visionary Entrepreneurs” and “Entrepreneurs in Family Business”.

The people and companies competing for the most coveted awards for entrepreneurship in Switzerland are listed below.

“Scale-up Leaders” category

Daniela Marino, CUTISS (ZH), sector: Biotechnology and healthcare

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.”

Jonas Romer & Christian Stiefel, ofinto (SG), sector: Consumer goods and e-commerce

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.”

Giuseppe Perale, REGENERA – SpinoSave (TI), sector: Medical technology and biotechnology

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.”

“Visionary Entrepreneurs” category

Yaron Spigel, Guy Jacoel & Luciano Deportu, FarmaMondo (TI), sector: Healthcare and pharmaceuticals

FarmaMondo is an internationally active pharmaceutical group headquartered in Switzerland. Led by founders Yaron Spigel, Guy Jacoel and Luciano Deportu, 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 Deportu 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.”

Kai Eberhardt & Manuel Baumann, Oviva (SZ), sector: Digital health

Oviva is digitalizing the treatment of obesity, diabetes and other chronic weight-related diseases. Under the leadership of Kai Eberhardt and Manuel Baumann, the company combines digital applications, AI, and medical and nutritional care to offer personalized behavioral change therapies. Oviva operates in Switzerland, Germany and the UK and has so far supported more than a million patients.

The judges say: “Kai Eberhardt and Manuel Baumann share the ambition of making healthcare more accessible and effective for as many people as possible. With Oviva, they combine technology, medical expertise and consistent patient-centricity to permanently transform the way chronic diseases are treated.”

Thomas Taroni, PHOENIQS (SZ), sector: Technology and artificial intelligence

PHOENIQS is a Swiss-based AI and cloud service provider and, under the leadership of Thomas Taroni, offers effortless, high-performance computing solutions for companies requiring scalability, security and data sovereignty. Fully integrated AI and cloud environments ensure adherence to strict data governance regulations and make PHOENIQS the only sovereign provider of high-end AI infrastructure in Switzerland.

The judges say: “Thomas Taroni impresses with his pioneering spirit, willingness to take risks and clear vision. With a strong drive for innovation, he systematically pursues long-term opportunities and plays an active role in shaping the future of his industry. With PHOENIQS, he is laying the foundations for sovereign AI and cloud infrastructures, thereby setting new standards for Europe’s digital future.”

“Entrepreneurs in Family Business” category

Pascal Bourquard Jr, BIWI (JU), sector: Material technology and industrial manufacturing

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.”

Valentin Cerutti, Cerutti Toitures (GE), sector: Construction and infrastructure

Cerutti Toitures is a third-generation family business with a history of more than 100 years in roof and building envelope construction. Under the leadership of Valentin Cerutti, the company offers services in the fields of roofing, tinsmithing, waterproofing, timber construction and photovoltaics. It combines traditional craftsmanship with technical innovation and supports construction projects for private individuals, companies and public institutions.

The judges say: “We were impressed by Valentin Cerutti's drive, ambition and commitment to continuous development. With Cerutti Toitures, he is successfully leading a long-established family business into the modern era, consciously placing the focus on his employees and their further development.”

Sylvain Roch, V. Guimet Fils (GE), sector: Infrastructure and environmental services

Founded in Geneva in 1873, V. Guimet Fils is a family-run company with over 150 years of experience in the maintenance, cleaning and inspection of sewer and drainage networks. Today, the company is managed by Sylvain Roch. It is also active in the fields of pumping services and wastewater management and supports private individuals, companies and public institutions in ensuring efficient and sustainable infrastructures. In doing so, it relies on state-of-the-art technology and qualified specialists.

The judges say: “We were impressed by Sylvain Roch's credibility, sense of responsibility and exceptional commitment. Shaped by the values of judo, with which he has been connected for many years, he is the seventh generation to lead V. Guimet Fils, which he does with great passion. With discipline, respect and fairness, he combines tradition, responsibility and forward-thinking in a convincing way.”

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – a global network for visionary entrepreneurs

The presentation of the award is the culmination of a year-long program for all entrepreneurs nominated. However, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is more than just the “Oscars for entrepreneurs”: It is a tight-knit and established network for business personalities that enables and fosters contact and exchanges between all those across the world who have ever been contenders. Today, the global network comprises 60 programs in more than 94 countries and regions and connects more than 50,000 business personalities around the world.

The judges of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in Switzerland

The judging panel for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in Switzerland consists of 11 independent members who autonomously review all the nominees, select the finalists and finally decide on the winners. The panel is made up of the following personalities from the Swiss business scene:

• Daniel Bossard | CEO of the Bossard Group | EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023
• Adrienne Corboud Fumagalli | Board Member Startupticker | Member of the Scientific Technical Committee of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
• Marco Gadola | Board Chair DKSH and Medartis | Board Vice Chair Straumann Group
• Thomas Hanan, Founder and CEO, Webrepublic, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017
• Jan Lichtenberg | CEO and Co-Founder InSphero | EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015
• Didier Maus | Board Chair Maus Frères
• Michael Mueller | Group CEO, Valora and Head Europe FEMSA Proximity & Health
• Piero Poli | Board Chair and CEO Rivopharm
• Jean-Marc Probst | Board Chair Probst Group Holding
• Franziska Tschudi Sauber | Board Chair Weidmann Holding | EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022
• Pascale Vonmont | CEO/Director Gebert Rüf Stiftung

About the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 award:

• A panel of 11 judges is responsible for reviewing all the nominees, selecting the finalists and deciding on the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 award winners. It acts independently and autonomously of EY.
• The awards ceremony for the 29th Swiss edition of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year takes place on Friday, October 23 at the Kongresshaus Zürich.
• EY Switzerland is supported in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program by Julius Baer as program partner, as well as Girard-Perregaux, HDI Global, SWISS and Volvo Cars as sponsors.
• Further information is available at eoy.ch.

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EY’s organization is represented in Switzerland by Ernst & Young Ltd, Basel, with 10 offices across Switzerland, and in Liechtenstein by Ernst & Young AG, Vaduz. In this publication, “EY” and “we” refer to Ernst & Young Ltd, Basel, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.