#8 Silicon Valley Meets Switzerland

Reserve Ticket
SwissRe
Zürich
Thursday,
May 7, 2026
1 :30 - 5:30 pm
followed by an apéro
Early-bird pricing available.
Special discounts for startups and students.

Event focus topics

Five Hot Trends in Silicon Valley — with the Best Startups from the US, Switzerland & Europe

At this unique gathering, we bring together some of the brightest minds from Silicon Valley and Switzerland/Europe to explore the technologies that will shape the next decade. Each of the five hot topics — Generative AI & Enterprise Agents, AI Infrastructure, Robotics & Physical AI, Climate & Space Tech, and Quantum Computing — will feature a dual perspective:
One pioneering startup from Silicon Valley presenting their breakthrough approach and one leading Swiss or European  

company showcasing how they are applying or advancing these innovations locally.
The program is complemented by exclusive panel discussions and workshops (in the morning), where Swiss and Silicon Valley experts share insights, debate opportunities and risks, and highlight collaboration potential across the Atlantic.

#8 Highlights

Event Highlights

Dual Perspectives: Each hot topic is presented by one leading Silicon Valley startup and one Swiss/European innovator, giving you a rare side-by-side view of global approaches.

World-Class Panels
: Swiss and Silicon Valley experts debate opportunities, risks, and collaboration potential in AI, Robotics, Climate Tech, and Quantum Computing.

Cutting-Edge Demos: See live demonstrations of technologies that are reshaping industries—from GenAI agents in the enterprise to humanoid robotics and climate satellites.

Networking Without Borders: Connect with founders, executives, investors, and researchers from two of the world’s most dynamic ecosystems.

Audience

C-level and their direct reports from Switzerland’s enterprises.
VC, angel and private equity investors.
Startups and students from Switzerland and Europe.

Inspiration Meets Action: Learn not only what’s next, but also how to apply it in your own organization and market.

The event is neutral.
So we do not side with e.g. one cloud provider or just one consulting firm's limited view of the market and its future development.
We are also aware of the challenges that the current US administration brings to global markets and do not support their views nor actions. For us respecting trade agreements, and fair global partnerships are key for all to prosper and we have friends and former colleagues in Silicon Valley who fully share our views.

SPEAKERS

Media and supporters

Program

Silicon Valley Meets Switzerland

In the morning workshops we will discuss the experiences, opportunities, challenges, both the successes and failures and best practices of corporates working with startups early on.

In the afternoon, each of the five hot topics will be explored through a unique dual perspective: one pioneering startup from Silicon Valley alongside one leading Swiss or European startup. Together, they will showcase breakthroughs in:

- Generative AI & Enterprise-AI
- AI Infrastructure
- Robotics & Physical AI
- Climate & Space Tech
- Quantum Computing

Morning Workshop Program

From Risk Aversion to Ambition: How Swiss Enterprises Can Thrive Through Startup Collaborations

Focus:
Turning Switzerland’s cautious corporate culture into a catalyst for deep-tech growth. How can established enterprises effectively engage with startups—from early-stage ventures to scale-ups—to drive bold innovation and long-term value creation?


Discussion Themes:

• Corporate venture and startup collaboration: lessons learned from successes and failures  
• Building trust and agility between large organizations and young tech firms  
• Structuring partnerships, investments, and pilots for measurable outcomes  
• Overcoming internal barriers to risk-taking and innovation adoption  


Goal / Outcome:

Co-create a SwissTech Risk Manifesto 2026 — a shared commitment to fostering ambition, calculated risk-taking, and deep-tech collaboration across Switzerland’s enterprise ecosystem.


TIME

speaker/moderator

topic
9:00-9:15
Ralf Haller
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Organizers
9:15-10:45
Jan Reinhart
From Risk Aversion to Ambition - Deeptech
9:15-10:45
Lucian Wagner
From Risk Aversion to Ambition - LifeScience
Networking Break ☕️

Afternoon Event Program
1:00
Ralf Haller
Welcome remarks from the organizer, Swiss and US governments, and supporters.
Generative AI & Enterprise-AI
1:20
tbd
tbd
1:40
Jochen Doppelhammer, Maisa AI
How Maisa automates end-to-end processes with accountable Digital Workers.
AI Infrastructure
2:00
tbd
tbd
2:20
tbd
tbd
Robotics & Physical AI
2:40
Ambi Robotics
From Chaos to Control: How AI-Driven Robotic Stacking Optimizes Warehouse Flows
3:00
Sunflower Labs, Alex Pachikov
From Silicon Valley DNA to Swiss Precision: Scaling Autonomous AI Globally
Networking Break ☕️
Climate & Space Tech
3:20
Sanjya Vijendran, Terraspark
Powering the Earth with Energy from Space
3:40
Yury Vasilkov, Gamaya
The future of agriculture Starts Here - Artificial Intelligence for Sugarcane Farming
Quantum Computing
4:00
Fernando Dominguez Pinuaga, SandboxAQ
The Rise of Large Quantitative Models: Solving the Hardest Problems in the Real Economy
4:20
Markus Pflitsch, Terra Quantum
The quantum key to your next level performance - How we tackle your most complex problems

Final Discussion
4:40
Andy von Bechtolsheim, Jochen Doppelhammer, Alex Pachikov
AI Without Billions?
How Europe and Switzerland Can Compete in an AI World Dominated by U.S. and Chinese Tech Giants

5:20 Apéro and Networking🍷