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Extreme Tech Challenge - Press Release

Marzena ZuchowskaLead Marketing & Communications

Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is the world’s largest start up competition for purpose-driven companies

Part of Global Partnership between Extreme Tech Challenge (“XTC”), Decisive Capital Management (“Decisive”), Sangha Capital (“Sangha”) and University of Zurich

Switzerland, Geneva – 18th January 2022

XTC is all about what Decisive stands for pushing for positive change and spotting innovation.

Elie Chamat Senior Partner, Chief Executive Officer

Decisive, the disruptive Next Generation wealth advisor, Sangha, the early-stage sustainable tech investment fund, and the University of Zurich, to bring are partnering to bring Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), the world’s largest global startup competition for purpose-driven companies, to Switzerland for the first time.

The competition aims to accelerate startups changing the world for the better through innovative technologies by providing the opportunity for global visibility and access to investment capital, corporate strategic partnerships and world-class mentorship.     

In 2021 alone, the competition attracted over 3,700 startup applications from nearly 100 countries. 80 startup finalists were selected and 43% of those were female founded. The finalist cohort collectively raised over US $166 million in venture investment since being selected. XTC now boasts 21 regional competitions and 71 global partners comprised of corporations, venture capital firms, universities, policymakers, and tech conferences. 

This new Switzerland regional competition pitch event will be held on March 17, 2022. Tech Startups founded or co-founded by Swiss entrepreneurs are invited to apply to this new regional competition by Feb 4, 2022.

The top three winners will automatically become global finalists of the Extreme Tech Challenge 2022 competition, where they will be invited to join a bootcamp training program with top corporate executives and venture capital investors. The top three startups will then compete against other startups in their respective technology categories for an opportunity to showcase their startups at the Extreme Tech Challenge 2022 Global Finals to be held in partnership with TechCrunch on June 14, 2021 in San Francisco.

Decisive is sponsoring the competition as part of a global partnership with XTC as it continues to look for innovative, exciting opportunities for its clients and back the Swiss and global technology sectors.

“XTC is about the collective effort – industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and experts joining forces to make real progress in solving the world’s toughest challenges. That work cannot be done without the support of leading investors and academia such as Decisive, Sangha Capital and the University of Zurich. These partnerships will provide exceptional XTC startups with broader exposure, recognition and opportunities to scale their businesses and apply their solutions to real-world problems.” said Young Sohn, Co-Founder of Extreme Tech Challenge, Founding Managing Partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures, and former Corporate President and Chief Strategy Officer atSamsung Electronics. 

Commenting on the partnership, Elie Chamat, CEO and Co-Founder of Decisive said: “XTC is one of those events where you can see the future in front of your eyes. With so many technologies and businesses changing the way we live right now, seeing those companies at the start of their journey is so exciting. XTC is all about what Decisive stands for pushing for positive change and spotting innovation at its early stages. It’s great to be able to bring this door-opening and forward-looking event to Switzerland.”

Commenting on the competition coming to Switzerland for the first time, Bill Tai, Co-Founder of Extreme Tech Challenge and Founding Limited Partner Sangha Capital said: “Switzerland is home to a lot of innovation in everything from Blockchain, consumer goods, high end retail and banking and finance, which are all hotbeds for disruptive change today. XTC is a truly global competition and we have seen it first hand here in Switzerland already with support from Sangha Capital in curating our community. Now we are stepping up our effort by partnering with Decisive and the University of Zurich as super nodes and fantastic catalysts to grow even more impact.”

Applicants to reference the Pitch Deck Guidance for helpful information to apply. For additional resources to entrepreneurs, please see Bootcamp Videos from 2020 and 2021 on the Extreme Tech Challenge YouTube channel

The finale of XTC 2022 Switzerland Regional Competition will be held on March 17, 2022. More details to come. Please subscribe to XTC news and follow XTC Switzerland on LinkedIn to stay informed. 

About Decisive

Decisive is an independent next-generation advisor. We work with our ultra high net worth individuals, their families, entrepreneurs, and corporates to protect and grow their wealth. Mutual trust is vital; we always co-invest alongside our clients. As a smart capital venue, we are one of the fastest growing financial platforms in Switzerland with offices in Geneva, Zurich, and London. We do not believe in luck; we believe in hard work and the “extra-mile” due diligence. Decisive has built a rich and diverse portfolio of businesses focused on technologies that are disrupting our economy and everyday lives. Established in Geneva in 2016, Decisive has more than 80 professionals with a global network, with over $ 6 billion of assets under supervision on behalf of our clients. 

About Sangha Capital

Sangha Capital is a purpose driven tech investment fund. Funded by Bill Tai, Berta & Carolina Casas Forga, Sangha invests in early stage start-ups that with technology work on any of the United Nations Sustainable development goals to find solutions to some of the world’s main challenges. We are a community of entrepreneurs, risk takers, investors, activists, shapers, good hearts with sharp minds who join forces with the same goal: shape the future through technology. We invest in the future of finance and technology, by investing in companies that do well by doing good, where financial returns and impact are achieved alongside each other. Purpose has been our diving force since the beginning. We do things that matter, that can make a real impact on people and society.

About the University of Zurich

The University of Zurich (UZH) is a public research university located in the city of Zürich, Switzerland. It is the largest university in Switzerland, with its 28,000 enrolled students. Founded in the year 1833, UZH was Europe's first university to be established by a democratic political system. Throughout the University’s history UZH was home to 12 Nobel Prize Laureates, including Albert Einstein as one of the most famous ones.

UZH is ranked among the top 10 most innovative universities in Europe. As a member of the "League of European Research Universities" and "Universitas 21" network, the University of Zurich belongs to Europe's most prestigious research institutions.

About Extreme Tech Challenge

Extreme Tech Challenge is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation whose mission is to empower startups creating new tech innovations to address global challenges. It is the world’s largest ecosystem and competition for purpose-driven technology inspired by the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Extreme Tech Challenge™ competition is supported by leading corporations, venture capital investors, foundations, policymakers, universities and tech conferences to give exceptional startups the potential for global visibility, the opportunity to raise capital, the ability to network with global leaders, and access to world-class mentorship to help them pioneer technological breakthroughs that address our most extreme global challenges. A complete list of XTC partners and how to join can be found at www.extremetechchallenge.org.

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