Start-Up Summit
Les Roches Crans-Montana
15 – 17 April
Welcome to the Home of Hospitality Innovation
Spark Summit is a two-day start-up innovation event hosted by Les Roches in partnership with Switzerland Innovation Park West EPFL, bringing together start-ups, students, alumni, and industry experts to explore how technology can transform the hospitality industry.
Collaborate. Validate. Pitch. Grow.
About the Summit
Spark Summit is designed as a collaborative platform where innovative ideas meet real-world insight. Selected start-ups work closely with Les Roches students and hospitality experts on campus to test assumptions, refine value propositions, and strengthen their pitches through expert guidance and hands-on collaboration.
The Summit culminates in a final pitch night, where projects are evaluated by a jury of industry leaders, faculty members, and Switzerland Innovation Park West EPFL representatives. Winning teams receive industry-relevant prizes, including go-to-market opportunities and support within the Swiss innovation ecosystem.
Schedule
Arrival, Apero & Pitch Night
Participants should arrive to Crans-Montana campus on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 5pm. You will be offered an apero before pitch night begins at 7.30pm.
Keynote, Work Session and Networking
Thursday 16 April 2026 9am
Final Day Presentation and Closing
Friday 17 April 2026 – it should end around 4pm.
Spark Summit Journey
1. Apply
Submit the registration form with your contact details and a 300-word[GP1] concept description outlining:
- The problem you are solving
- Your proposed solution
- Why it matters for the hospitality industry
Applications are reviewed through a screening process to ensure relevance and feasibility.
2. Pitch to Students
Selected applicants will deliver a 3-minute pitch to Les Roches students at the start of the Summit.
Student groups supporting the selected projects will be formed according to individual interests and strengths, ensuring each project benefits from a diverse mix of skills and perspectives.
3. Collaborate & Refine
Over the next day, the selected teams will work closely with:
- Les Roches students
- Industry experts and mentors across technology, business, innovation, and hospitality
Teams will use the campus as a living laboratory to:
- Validate assumptions
- Strengthen the value proposition
- Refine the business and pitch narrative
4. Final Pitch Day
The Spark Summit culminates in a dynamic Final Pitch Day, where participating teams present the progress and insights developed throughout the Summit.
Projects will be showcased to a jury of industry experts, faculty members, and innovation partners, highlighting the strength of each concept, its validation journey, and its potential impact on the hospitality industry.
Final Pitch Day celebrates collaboration, creativity, and forward-thinking ideas, recognising the projects that demonstrate the greatest promise for real-world application and future growth
Spark Summit Prizes
Switzerland Innovation Park West EPFL – Soft Landing
3 months free access to Switzerland Innovation’s ecosystem, infrastructure, and networks.
Les Roches Incubation
3–6 months incubation at the Les Roches Crans-Montana campus with industry go-to-market support.
Corporate Go-to-Market
Potential pilot, partnership, or market-entry opportunity with corporate partners (TBC).
How to Apply
If you have an idea that could reshape the hospitality industry through technology, we invite you to apply to pitch at Spark Summit.
To be considered, please complete the registration form with your contact details and a short concept description (300 words) outlining the problem you are addressing, your proposed solution, and its potential impact on hospitality.
Selected applicants will be invited to deliver a 3-minute pitch to a group of Les Roches students at the start of the Summit on Wednesday 15 April. Students will then vote on the projects they wish to collaborate on during the event.
During this summit, you will gain hands-on access to Les Roches students and a curated group of experts across technology, business, innovation, and hospitality. Together, you will refine your pitch, validate your idea, and strengthen your presentation, bringing you closer to turning your concept into a viable, real-world solution.
Submit your Pitch Idea before March 15
Practical Information
Campus address & contact details
Les Roches Global Hospitality Education Route des Moulinettes 2 3975 Crans-Montana, Switzerland
- Reception : +41(0)27 485 96 00
- Security : +41(0)79 203 75 92
By train
Plan your journey with the latest timetables and live information on sbb.ch/en or download the SBB mobile app.
By car
The journey by car takes about 2 hours 45 minutes from Geneva to Les Roches