Pyxis Exploration Numérique
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a municipally-initiated cultural center in Lausanne's historic Maison Gaudard, hosting six resident festivals plus a digital exploration hub (Pyxis Explo), a cultural café (Pyxis Café), and event/workshop spaces serving Lausanne-based cultural non-profits, artists, and the general public.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Pyxis Exploration Numérique does
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a municipal cultural center and digital exploration hub located in the historic Maison Gaudard building at Place de la Cathédrale 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Opened in 2023 as a project initiated by the Ville de Lausanne, it replaced the prior mudac museum and consolidates three operational pillars: (1) Pyxis Explo, a digital exploration pole offering workshops and events on audio-visual production, digital arts, and video game development (including hosting the second-largest Global Game Jam edition in Switzerland in January 2026); (2) Pyxis Café, operated by Mosaic Cuisine (formerly Alter Start Food) as a cultural café serving international cuisine with local seasonal products, open weekdays for breakfast and lunch; and (3) multipurpose event spaces including meeting rooms (Réunion A 45m² and Réunion B 25m²), exhibition halls (Exposition A 100m² and Exposition B 70m²), and workshop rooms (Exploration 101, Exploration 404).
The organization operates as a non-profit public cultural project and serves as the operational headquarters for six resident Lausanne festivals (Festival de la Cité, LUFF, Fête de la Musique, Label Suisse, Festival Cinéma Jeune Public, Lausanne Méditerranées) and three associate members (BDFIL, Prémices Festival, Garden Parties Lausanne). Resident partner Bureau Culturel Vaud provides professional audio-visual equipment rental, creative-software workstations, and professional printing services to artists and cultural workers. Technology stack centers on professional production hardware (Canon and Sony cameras, Sennheiser and Zoom audio gear) and Adobe Premiere Pro editing software.
Revenue is generated through three streams: pay-as-you-go space rental (CHF 40-100 per half-day slot, with priority given to non-profit cultural organizations), workshop fees (CHF 40 per session plus CHF 50 annual membership), and café operations subcontracted to Mosaic Cuisine. The organization is governed and primarily funded by the Ville de Lausanne as parent entity, with no private equity or venture capital involvement. With 7 employees, Pyxis functions as a community platform prioritizing cultural mission over commercial scale, anchored in the historic Cité neighborhood of Lausanne.
Pyxis Exploration Numérique firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pyxis Exploration Numérique
- Legal name
- Pyxis
- Website
- https://pyxis.art
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a municipally-initiated cultural center in Lausanne's historic Maison Gaudard, hosting six resident festivals plus a digital exploration hub (Pyxis Explo), a cultural café (Pyxis Café), and event/workshop spaces serving Lausanne-based cultural non-profits, artists, and the general public.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pyxis Exploration Numérique industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Center / Arts Venue
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Historical Sites (712120)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services (THAHACAI), Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM)
Keywords
Where Pyxis Exploration Numérique is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pyxis Exploration Numérique business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Space Rental: Rental of meeting rooms (Réunion A, Réunion B), conference spaces (Exposition A, Exposition B), and exhibition spaces to cultural and associative organizations. Priority given to non-profit cultural entities.
- Workshop Fees: Fees charged for workshops on audio-visual production topics such as filming, lighting, sound, and video editing (Adobe Premiere Pro).
- Café Operations: Restaurant and café services operated by Mosaic Cuisine, serving international cuisine with local seasonal products. Open Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Réunion A: 45m², capacity 18 (meeting) or 30 (conference) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Réunion B: 25m², capacity 12 (meeting only) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exposition A: 100m², capacity 60 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exposition B: 70m², capacity 40 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Combined Exposition A+B: 170m², capacity 100 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Workshop fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pyxis Exploration Numérique product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a public cultural center in Lausanne that rents meeting rooms, exhibition spaces, and workshop spaces to cultural organizations and event organizers. It operates the Pyxis Café open to the public and runs Pyxis Explo, a digital exploration and audio-visual production workshop program. The center hosts cultural festivals, exhibitions, and events in collaboration with partner organizations such as the Bureau Culturel Vaud.
Product overview
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a unified cultural center and digital exploration hub (une maison de la culture et de l'exploration numérique) housed in the historic Maison Gaudard building in Lausanne, Switzerland. The center operates as a platform combining three interconnected offerings: the main cultural space hosting resident organizations and events, the Pyxis Café operated by Mosaic Cuisine, and Pyxis Explo providing digital skills workshops and programs. Space rental services include meeting rooms (Réunion A/B), exhibition halls (Exposition A/B), and workshop spaces (Exploration 101/404), all available to cultural and associative organizations. The center's product portfolio centers on venue and event hosting rather than traditional technology products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pyxis Explo: Digital exploration pole offering workshops, events, and activities related to digital culture, technology, and creative coding, including hosting events like the Global Game Jam.
- Pyxis Café
Products and services
- Meeting and Event Space Rental Hourly rental of modular meeting rooms and event spaces for cultural organizations, associations, and event organizers. Available in 1-hour slots with pricing tiers for half-day and full-day use.
- Exhibition Space Rental Dedicated exhibition spaces available for cultural organizations to host art and cultural exhibitions, leveraging the historic Maison Gaudard setting.
- Workshop Space Rental Workshop spaces equipped for hands-on creative production, including audio-visual production workshops and digital exploration activities.
- Pyxis Café On-site café open to the public, serving food and beverages in a culturally rich heritage setting. Serves both visitors to the center and walk-in customers.
- Pyxis Explo - Digital Exploration Workshops Digital exploration and audio-visual production workshops for individuals, artists, and the general public. Provides training in creative production using professional AV equipment (cameras, microphones, editing tools).
- Cultural Festival Hosting Hosting of cultural festivals and one-off events in collaboration with partner organizations such as the Bureau Culturel Vaud, including events like Global Game Jam 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- 13 video games created in 48 hours during Global Game Jam 2026
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Pyxis Exploration Numérique
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pyxis Exploration Numérique technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Pyxis Exploration Numérique partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- JV.magminorCollaboration with JV.mag for documenting and publishing articles about Global Game Jam 2026 activities at Pyxis, covering the game development process and final games.
- Nuclear Pig (Frédéric Cottier)minorExternal organizer for Global Game Jam 2026 at Pyxis, collaborating with Samuel Jaccottet and Pyxis Explo to host the event.
- Ville de LausannecorePyxis was initiated by the Ville de Lausanne as a project to transform the historic Maison Gaudard into a digital culture and exploration center. The city maintains ownership and support for the facility, continuing the cultural mission originally established by mudac (2000-2021).
- Le Bureau Culturel VaudcoreResident organization providing professional audio-visual equipment rental, workspace, professional printing, and workshops. Located at Pyxis with access to cameras (Canon R5C, C100, 5D series), audio equipment (Zoom recorders, Sennheiser microphones), and computers with creative software.
- Festival de la Cité LausannecoreResident festival deploying annually for 6 days in early July, offering free artistic diversity including theater, dance, music, circus, literature, and visual arts in urban spaces.
- LUFF (Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival)coreResident festival dedicated to lesser-known artists, unconventional practices, and innovative knowledge for over 20 years, representing a major international rendezvous for experimental film and music.
- Fête de la Musique LausanneminorResident event offering a free popular musical celebration on June 21st across Lausanne streets and concert venues.
- Label SuisseminorResident biennial festival celebrating Swiss music and artists at the heart of Lausanne.
- Festival Cinéma Jeune PublicminorResident festival offering films, workshops, and filmmaker encounters for children, youth, and families, promoting dialogue and critical thinking around cinema.
- Lausanne MéditerranéesminorResident organization promoting interculturality between Lausanne and Mediterranean regions through two-week cultural exchanges featuring performances, concerts, films, and gastronomy.
- BDFILcoreAssociate member, the largest Franco-Swiss comics festival celebrating comics from past, present, and future, held between Easter and Ascension.
- Prémices FestivalminorAssociate member, founded in 2016 by Les Nouveaux Sons association, showcasing emerging musical talent and opening the festival season in spring.
- Garden Parties LausanneminorAssociate member organizing five free festive weekends around five Lausanne parks.
- Mosaic CuisinecorePyxis Café operator (formerly Alter Start Food), providing international cuisine using local seasonal products. Also offers professional culinary training for people in career transitions and migration backgrounds, operating in three professional kitchens including Pyxis Café.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pyxis Exploration Numérique competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kaserne Basel: Independent cultural venue in Basel hosting music, theater, dance, and festivals with resident organization model. Comparable to Pyxis as a multi-tenant cultural venue with diverse programming pillars.
- Fotomuseum Winterthur: Swiss photography museum offering exhibitions, workshops, and educational programming. Comparable Swiss institution combining exhibition space rental with cultural programming and workshops.
- HEK (House of Electronic Arts Basel): Basel institution dedicated to electronic and digital arts, offering exhibitions, workshops, and educational programming. Directly comparable to Pyxis Explo's digital exploration focus and Swiss cultural ecosystem positioning.
- Le Commun: Geneva cultural center providing multidisciplinary workspaces, ateliers, and event spaces for associations and artists. Closely mirrors Pyxis's role as a hybrid cultural hub for non-profit cultural organizations in a Swiss city.
- Laboral Centro de Arte: Spanish cultural complex combining contemporary art exhibitions, digital culture programs, workshops, and café/restaurant in a historic industrial building. Comparable repurposed-historic-venue cultural hub model with multi-programming.
- La Gaîté Lyrique: Paris-based digital arts and contemporary culture center combining exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and live events. Highly comparable to Pyxis as a municipally-supported venue blending digital exploration with multi-festival programming.
- Usine à Gaz: Swiss cultural center hosting performing arts, exhibitions, and community events in a multi-purpose venue. Comparable model combining ateliers, workshops, and festival programming under one roof.
Regional players
- Le Romandie: Lausanne concert and cultural venue hosting emerging music programming and small festivals. Regional peer operating in the same Lausanne market for cultural event programming.
- MUDAC (Musée de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains): Lausanne-based design and contemporary applied arts museum that previously occupied the Maison Gaudard building (until 2021, when Pyxis took over). Direct predecessor and ongoing Lausanne cultural institution peer.
- Arsenic: Lausanne contemporary performing arts venue hosting theater, dance, and performance festivals. Comparable regional peer also serving Lausanne's cultural ecosystem with festival-driven programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pyxis Exploration Numérique social profiles
Digital presencePyxis Exploration Numérique financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pyxis Exploration Numérique leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Pyxis Exploration Numérique subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Pyxis Exploration Numérique funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pyxis Exploration Numérique M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pyxis Exploration Numérique
What does Pyxis Exploration Numérique do?
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a public cultural center in Lausanne that rents meeting rooms, exhibition spaces, and workshop spaces to cultural organizations and event organizers. It operates the Pyxis Café open to the public and runs Pyxis Explo, a digital exploration and audio-visual production workshop program. The center hosts cultural festivals, exhibitions, and events in collaboration with partner organizations such as the Bureau Culturel Vaud.
Is Pyxis Exploration Numérique a public or private company?
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Pyxis Exploration Numérique founded?
Pyxis Exploration Numérique was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pyxis Exploration Numérique based?
Pyxis Exploration Numérique is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Pyxis Exploration Numérique make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Space Rental is the primary driver. The others are workshop Fees and café Operations.
Who are Pyxis Exploration Numérique's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kaserne Basel, Fotomuseum Winterthur, HEK (House of Electronic Arts Basel), Le Commun, Laboral Centro de Arte, La Gaîté Lyrique and Usine à Gaz. Regional players are Le Romandie, MUDAC (Musée de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains) and Arsenic.
Does Pyxis Exploration Numérique have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pyxis Exploration Numérique.
What industry is Pyxis Exploration Numérique in?
Pyxis Exploration Numérique's product category is Cultural Center / Arts Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAK, Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services, with a secondary code of THAHACAI, Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services. Its NAICS code is 712 and its SIC code is 8744.