Decentriq wins the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark 2024

Decentriq developed a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform which offers what are known as data clean rooms for companies. Data clean rooms are protected virtual environments based on confidential computing technology, in which sensitive data is encrypted and cleaned so that it can be used for data analyses across organisations. The start-up was founded in 2019 by Maximilian Groth (CEO) and Stefan Deml (CTO) and currently employs forty people.

“The most valuable data in a company is typically also the most sensitive, and it is governed by legal and regulatory requirements”, explains Michelle Tschumi, Head of Start-up Finance at ZKB, adding: “We as jury of the Pionierpreis are convinced, that Decentriq is setting a new standard by using AI tools to generate real added value from protected data sources. By breaking down data silos, new value-creating analyses are massively improved or enabled in the first place.”

In addition to the huge potential, the high degree of innovation and the market traction were the key factors in the selection of the winner. With regard to the market, it was particularly emphasised that numerous large and well-known companies are already using the solution. Customers come from the healthcare and financial sectors. Cookieless advertising is another particularly promising application area for the start-up.

The two runner-ups Avelo and Stimit will each receive CHF 10,000. With AveloCollect, the Medtech start-up has developed a user-friendly, non-invasive breath collector to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis and lower respiratory tract infections. STIMIT designed a non-invasive procedure to preserve the diaphragmatic muscles of ventilated patients.

The inaugural Audience Award goes to 4QT from Zurich. The start-up was chosen by the attendees of the award ceremony and received CHF 2500 in prize money. 4QT makes high power electric drives specifically for the heavy equipment industry, with patents on the motors and batteries. Heavy equipment like excavators and dozers are heavy polluters. They still run on diesel engines and produce gigatons of CO2. 4QT, founded by an experienced team in 2020 wants to change this and has already traction with defense and heavy equipment OEMs, and demonstrated the tech on their vehicles.

The registration period for the next edition of the award will start mid-May. The deadline is 23 September 2024. More information on the award website. 

(Press release / SK)