This database includes high potential projects and companies in the environment and energy sectors based and working primarily in Switzerland, founded or active since 2000 and still operational. The maturity phase ranges from initial concept (formation or validation) up to those that are trying to capture a larger market space (growth and then established). Discover the companies by using the search filters. Sort the list by clicking on the arrows next to founding year, canton and phase. If your innovation is missing, please add your project here .
| Company Name | Founding year Canton What phase are you currently in? | Areas of Activity [Subareas] | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| YUKKA |
2023 SG Validation |
[ Building Technologies, Information Technology ] | IT: Artificial intelligence AI |
| YUKKA Lab Insights AG is a Swiss company based in Goldach, active in the IT services sector. It specializes in providing services related to software operations, semantic and sentiment analysis, advanced internet search technologies, and innovative search tools for market research, PR monitoring, media impact analysis, and financial market insights. The company focuses on collecting, analyzing, and using data—both raw and refined—to support decision-making and offers related products and services such as data acquisition, analysis, and distribution. | |||
| Yumame Foods |
2021 ZH unknown |
[ Biodiversity & Ecosystem Protection ] | Biological: Food tech |
| Yumame Foods produces delicious, healthy and sustainable food based on fungi and fermentation. | |||
| Yuon Control |
2020 BE Validation |
Energy & Power Systems [ Energy Management & Use ] | Energy: Grid & Electricity transmission, Smart: City, Smart: Grid |
| Yuon Control is a Swiss cleantech startup optimizing district heating networks with AI-driven Model Predictive Control (MPC). Our software creates digital twins of heating systems to continuously balance supply and demand, reducing peak loads, improving efficiency, and cutting CO₂ emissions. Unlike traditional solutions, Yuon requires no hardware upgrades. We integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, enabling fast and cost-effective deployment. Our target customers are energy utilities and municipal district heating operators in Europe, especially in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. We are already operating in major Swiss networks, including ewb Bern and Energie 360° Zürich, covering 250+ buildings, and are expanding in Germany with local energy partners. Yuon provides utilities with smarter load management and a scalable path to low-carbon district heating. | |||
| Yuxi |
2022 ZH Validation |
[ Energy Efficiency ] | IT: Data usage, IT: Software, Other: Enabling tech |
| Yuxi leverages data from Building Management Systems to optimize the building's energy consumption and indoor quality. | |||
| Zélo |
2021 VD Growth |
Financials & Information Technology [ Food Systems & Food Tech ] | IT: Platforms or networking solutions |
| Zélo is a zero-waste supermarket that offers a home delivery service by cargo bike, with the particularity that all products are delivered with the “zero waste” concept, i.e., packed in reusable containers. | |||
| Zelsius |
2024 LU Validation |
[ ESG Reporting & Compliance ] | IT: Platforms or networking solutions |
| Zelsius develops a software platform specifically tailored to Swiss SMEs. Its goal is to provide companies without prior knowledge with an easy, transparent, and cost-efficient way to measure, understand, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions — enabling them to start building their climate strategy. Our vision is to create transparency and empower SMEs to actively integrate climate action into their business strategy. For market entry, we focus on the MEM industry (machinery, electrical and metal sector), where pressure for climate reporting is particularly high – driven by customer requirements, regulation, and increasing public expectations. The platform combines technical intelligence with industry-specific practical knowledge: it enables process-based data collection, sector-specific emission calculations, and provides space for exchange and continuous development. Its modular structure allows companies to enter carbon accounting step-by-step and act in a targeted way. Our unique value proposition lies in the combination of, a user-friendly and transparent platform, automated, data-driven action planning, recise Scope 3 emission assessment at process level, industry-specific adaptation for manufacturing SMEs, and integrated implementation partnerships – all compliant with GHG standards and audit-ready. Zelsius turns emission data into actionable strategies – faster, more affordable, and more effective. | |||
| ZENDRA |
2024 GR Validation |
[ Energy Production & Supply ] | Energy: Photovoltaics |
| Development and planning of alpine solar systems, especially in the area of substructures with in-house developments. | |||
| Zizania |
2020 VS Growth |
[ Circular Economy ] | Environment: Waste recovery, recycling and re-use |
| ZiZAN!A transforms plant residues into high-quality cosmetic products through an upcycling process, thereby minimizing food waste. The cosmetic line is characterized by natural, sustainable ingredients and formulations. | |||
| Zum guten Heinrich |
2020 ZH Stagnant |
[ Food Systems & Food Tech ] | Other: Low tech |
| Sustainable catering delivered by Food-Bike fight Food-Wast; uses high quality and shapeless fruit and vegetables that cannot be sold - because they are not of the standard size. This reduces the amount of fruit and vegetables that remain in the fields with the farmers or end up in the biogas plant. | |||
| Zurich Soft Robotics |
2022 ZH Formation |
[ Building Technologies ] | Energy: Photovoltaics |
| Zurich Soft Robotics produces a novel adaptive solar façade named Solskin. It increases photovoltaic energy production compared to conventional methods. Furthermore, the façade offers additional solar protection through AI-controlled shading. | |||