Idiap Create Challenge (ICC) 2025
The Idiap Create Challenge (ICC) is a 9-day hackathon designed to transform innovative ideas into functionals prototypes with the potential to evolve into successful, societally valuable, and market-viable start-ups.
Participants will benefit from Idiap's extensive AI expertise and gain access to courses covering topics such as legal considerations and building a compelling pitch, as well as mentorship and the possibility to win prizes, ensuring an engaging and vibrant experience.
The 2025 edition will be held at Idiap from August 21 to August 29.
Would you like to get involved in this exciting hackathon taking place in the heart of the Swiss Alps? Let us now by signing up using the buttons below:
Applications for participants will close on May 15 2025, 23:59 CEST.
Selected participants will receive an answer on June 16, 2025.
Applicants of the other categories will receive a follow up in due time.
What to expect from the ICC
What winning the Idiap Create Challenge looks like
Inspired by his 2023 victory for innovating high-volume interview screening, Matthieu Saussaye founded Pulse Partners. This experience led to the development of Smartinterview, their solution that helps marketers, innovators, and entrepreneurs conduct impactful market research.
Testimonials
“The ICC not only allowed me to showcase our [of the team participating in the challenge] project but also to create valuable connections that nurtured my personal and professional development, notably thanks to Idiap and Cimark. Today, I have established my company in Valais, within The Ark Foundation's start-up program. It's an adventure I highly recommend to anyone looking to challenge themselves and transform an idea into a start-up in an environment that awaits only your ambition and tenacity.”
– Matthieu Saussaye, winner of the 12th edition of the ICC, CEO&Founder of Pulse Partners.
“What I really enjoyed about this hackathon was seeing ideas take shape as I connected teams with experts from the R&D engineers, helping them refine their projects while watching them grow throughout the nine days.”
– Colombine Verzat, mentor, R&D Engineer at Idiap.
“Participation in the Idiap Create Challenge offers privileged access to a talent pool and innovative projects, representing considerable potential for the canton of Valais and beyond. Becoming a sponsor of the ICC means actively support innovation and the development of AI-based solutions to address societal and industrial challenges. This event directly contributes to objective of strengthening Valais's innovation ecosystem and its competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence.”
– Jocelyne Pepin, Head of the Business Division, Department of Economy and Education, Service of Economy, Tourism, and Innovation, Canton of Valais.
A look back at the ICC 2024
FAQs
Who can participate?
Anyone 18+ with inspiring ideas and an entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged to apply. We welcome both national and international candidates. Whether you have an idea, an idea and a team, or are simply interested in joining one, we would love to hear from you.
How do I apply to become an ICC Participant?
- Step 1: register individually as a participant by May 15th 2025, 23:59 CEST. This will give you access to the proposal submission link.
- Step 2 (optional): Create or complete your team. Once registered, you will be added to a matchmaking pool on a Slack channel and LinkedIn group, allowing you to connect with fellow registrants, form teams or find additional team members.
- Step 3: Submit your project proposal as a team by May 15th 2025, 23:59 CEST. You can find the proposal template here.
Teams selected to participate in the ICC 2025 will be announced on the 16th of June.
How does a strong team look like?
We value diverse backgrounds and welcome a variety of skill sets (such as business, marketing, analyst, designer, technical development skills etc.). However, we assume you are familiar with basic AI concepts.
How many candidates will be selected?
Approximately 20 candidates composed of teams of up to 3 members onsite.
What costs should selected participants candidates consider?
Selected candidates/teams participate in the 9-day challenge free of charge. Accommodation (up to CHF 130/night for those residing over 100km from Idiap) and meals (up to CHF 30/meal for non-program meals) are refundable upon submission of expenses with receipts, subject to our Terms & Conditions.
Do I need to bring any materials?
Yes. Your laptop and anything you would need to develop your prototype. You will then benefit from our mentors expertise to develop your prototype and from dedicated sessions to build a strong pitch to present to the jury.
What’s the role of the mentor?
A mentor will guide and support teams in developing their solutions, offering both technical expertise and insights into market viability. If you believe you have the right expertise (the former, the latter or both), click the "Mentor" button to register.
What’s the role of the Aspriring CEO?
Innovation happens at the intersection of business and technology. We believe there are many businesspeople out there, and that, on our side, we have top technical talents and exciting solutions ready to be launched. By bringing these two elements together, innovation comes to life. The “Aspiring CEO” figure is designed to foster that connection, linking ambitious business professionals with leading technical minds in the AI space.
How can I support as sponsor?
As sponsor you can support in different ways. You can check our sponsorship tiers.
Any Other Questions ?
Reach out to icc@idiap.ch