What Tech4Regeneration does

Tech4Regeneration (branded Tech4Regen) is an equity-free startup accelerator program operated by Fondation EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, Switzerland, focused exclusively on regenerative deep tech. Founded in 2023 under program lead Bertrand Klaiber, the program runs an 8-month curriculum that selects roughly 15-20 startups per cohort across four verticals: Nature-based Solutions and Regenerative Sourcing, Clean and Circular Manufacturing, Sustainable Construction and Heating, and IT and Energy Systems. Since launch it has accelerated 34 startups across three cohorts (2024, 2025, 2026) and originates from a small core team supplemented by a dense network of mentors, workshops, and partner-led service providers.

The program is built on a service architecture rather than a software product: it offers tailored workshops (IP strategy with OMNIS-IP, sales training with Sandler, branding with Swiss House of Brands, governance with id est avocats, life-cycle assessment with Eqlosion), individual coaching, mentor matching, investor introductions, and four operational Collaborative Pilot Projects linking startups with EPFL research and corporate customers. Core technology is not developed in-house; the differentiation lies in the curated content stack, the EPFL-affiliated research infrastructure, and the EssentialTech impact-entrepreneurship methodology co-created by Klaiber.

Tech4Regen's revenue model is managed services delivered on a grant and sponsorship basis rather than equity. The program charges no fees to participating startups and takes no equity, instead being funded by lead financial partners (SPEI Canton de Vaud, Valery Foundation, Edmond de Rothschild), a strategic corporate partner (Logitech), and a broader corporate membership base across raw materials, energy, consumer products, infrastructure, transportation and chemicals. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, pricing for corporate membership tiers is not published, and customer segments are split between deep tech startups (program participants) and corporate members (sponsors and pilot customers seeking deal-flow access).

Name

Tech4Regeneration

Legal name

Fondation EPFL Innovation Park

Website

https://tech4regen.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tech4Regeneration is an equity-free, 8-month accelerator program at EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne that supports roughly 15-20 regenerative deep tech startups per cohort across nature, circular manufacturing, sustainable construction, and IT/energy, funded by public, philanthropic, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration program
• Regenerative deep tech
• Venture acceleration services
• Cleantech incubation
• Impact entrepreneurship

Headquarters

HQ city

Ecublens

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Accelerator Program Services: Tech4Regen operates as an equity-free accelerator program managed by EPFL Innovation Park, supported by corporate partners, foundations, and government institutions (Canton de Vaud). The program does not take equity from participating startups.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tech4Regen is an 8-month equity-free acceleration program operated by EPFL Innovation Park that supports startups developing regenerative deep tech solutions across nature-based solutions, clean manufacturing, sustainable construction, and IT/energy systems. The program provides structured workshops, individual mentoring, corporate partnership opportunities, pilot project facilitation, and access to a network of mentors, investors, and corporate members. It is funded by corporate partners, foundations, and government institutions, and does not charge fees or take equity from participating startups.

Product overview

Tech4Regen is an equity-free startup acceleration program that does not offer a software product or technology platform. The program provides acceleration services including mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, pilot project facilitation, and access to a community of startups, experts, corporations, and investors. The services are delivered through in-person workshops, coaching sessions, and collaborative programs rather than a product-based architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tech4Regen Acceleration Program An 8-month equity-free acceleration program at EPFL Innovation Park that supports startups developing regenerative deep tech solutions across nature-based solutions, clean manufacturing, sustainable construction, and IT/energy systems. The program delivers structured workshops, individual mentoring, corporate partnership introductions, pilot project facilitation, and access to a network of mentors, investors, and corporate members. Designed for early-stage deep tech startups seeking to scale regenerative technologies from research to market.
• Corporate Membership Program A membership offering for sustainability-driven corporations providing privileged access to a curated pipeline of regenerative startup applications, exclusive industry meetings, technology watch services, working groups, professional training, and collaborative pilot project opportunities. Targets industrial businesses across energy, materials, consumer goods, infrastructure, and transportation sectors seeking to adopt circular and regenerative practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 startups accelerated since 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• EPFL Innovation ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded and managed by EPFL Innovation Park. Provides flexible office and lab spaces close to EPFL institutes, as well as acceleration services to 300+ high-tech companies: startups, scale-ups and innovation cells of major corporations. With the support of a wide and dynamic network of experts, business partners and investors, it runs several equity-free accelerators open to Swiss and international startups.
• École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPFL is a public research university in Lausanne, Switzerland. Established in 1969, EPFL has placed itself among the most prestigious universities in the world for the quality of its education and research in engineering and natural sciences. Provides research infrastructure and scientific expertise for the Tech4Regen program.
• LogitechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Tech4Regen. Logitech helps all people pursue their passions and is committed to doing so in a way that is good for people and the planet. Designs hardware and software solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating, gaming and streaming.
• Alliance (Western Switzerland's technological innovation platform)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance is Western Switzerland's technological innovation platform. Supports companies in their strategic innovation thinking, from needs analysis to implementing and setting up collaborative projects with academia. Hosted at EPFL, innovation mentors give privileged access to research labs and innovation ecosystem, as well as public funding including Innosuisse grants.
• E4S Center (Enterprise for Society Center)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerE4S Center's mission is to inspire and activate the transition to a resilient and inclusive economy within planetary boundaries. The laboratory where founding institutions (UNIL, IMD, EPFL) jointly explore new ways of fulfilling their mission in economics and management.
• BrainforestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe world's first Venture Platform dedicated to advancing forests and biodiversity ventures globally. Mission to enable the restoration and regeneration of 20 million hectares of biodiverse forests by 2030. Combines hands-on acceleration with innovative financial support, connecting experts, startups, and mission-driven funders.
• HackSummitmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual event where 1,000+ Climate Founders, Funders and Operators meet for debates, networking and dealmaking. Tech4Regen has partnered with HackSummit for three consecutive years (2024, 2025, 2026) as the ClimateTech ecosystem meets in Lausanne.
• Swiss House of BrandsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-founders Chantal Baer and Marine Gruaz-Rébuffat provide branding and digital marketing workshops for Tech4Regen startups. Awards the Swiss House of Brands prize (CHF 35,000 consulting package) to one startup in the program.
• id est avocatsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm providing workshops on company structure and governance for impact. Offers the 'id est Prize for Regenerative Growth & Governance' as in-kind support for legal and governance matters within the Tech4Regen programme.
• OMNIS-IP SAmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIP consulting firm offering the Omnis-IP Innovation Award to one Tech4Regen startup, providing a custom IP protection strategy.
• SandlermajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of the world's leading sales training organizations, providing the Sales & Strategic Partnerships workshop (W7) and awarding a sales prize to Tech4Regen 2026 startups.
• ChanginsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Tech4Regen on the 'Innovations for Regenerative Agriculture & Viticulture' forum, held at Changins (Route de Duillier 52, CH-1260 Nyon). Second year of collaboration in 2026.
• EqlosionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides expertise in carbon footprint and life cycle assessment, circular economy, eco-design, and optimization of materials and processes. Experts from Eqlosion contribute to the 'From Impact Reduction to Regenerative Value Creation' workshop.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Large global corporate accelerator platform offering industry-vertical programs (including sustainability). Comparable corporate-sponsored accelerator model and deal-flow access, though much larger and broader in scope than Tech4Regen.
• Techstars Sustainability: Operating arm of Techstars running thematic accelerators including sustainability/cleantech. Comparable as a thematic accelerator with strong corporate involvement, though Tech4Regen is equity-free whereas Techstars typically takes equity.

Direct peers

• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused coworking spaces, incubators, and accelerator programs across 100+ cities. Comparable as a community-led, impact-driven accelerator network running cohorts for purpose-led founders across sustainability themes.
• SOSV / HAX: Multi-stage accelerator and VC (including HAX for hardware/climate). Comparable in running multi-vertical deep-tech accelerator programs with corporate partnerships and a focus on climate, energy, and sustainability impact.
• MassChallenge: Global, equity-free startup accelerator offering mentorship and corporate partnership access to early-stage founders. Highly comparable as the most established equity-free, sector-agnostic accelerator with a strong corporate-member and pilot model, on which Tech4Regen's structure is patterned.
• Greentown Labs: North America's largest cleantech incubator/accelerator combining lab/workspace with corporate partnerships and pilot support. Comparable in operating model (incubator + corporate-sponsored pilots) and sector focus (clean energy, manufacturing, sustainability).
• URBAN-X: Accelerator for climate-tech startups building solutions for cities and the built environment. Comparable as a thematic accelerator focused on regenerative/sustainable cities and infrastructure aligned with one of Tech4Regen's verticals (Sustainable Construction & Heating).
• Climate-KIC: EIT-backed climate innovation accelerator and community running programs across Europe. Direct peer given its climate-tech focus, accelerator model, multinational corporate and public-institution sponsorships, and alignment with Tech4Regen's regenerative agenda.
• EIT InnoEnergy: European cleantech/energy deep-tech investor-accelerator that supports startups from ideation through scale. Comparable due to its European footprint, deep-tech focus, and overlap with Tech4Regen's Energy Systems and Clean & Circular Manufacturing verticals.
• Katapult: Impact-focused accelerator and fund focused on food, agriculture, and climate-tech founders. Direct peer given the regeneration/agitech/climate-tech thesis and accelerator-plus-investor model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tech4regeneration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments15 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tech4Regeneration