On September 25, 2026, the “Höhle der Thurgauer Löwen” will take place for the second time at WEGA. The event is organized by Startnetzwerk Thurgau, which offers young companies a platform to present their business ideas to a wide audience and make valuable connections.

The event focuses on founders who present their business models in a short pitch. Each participant is allotted a 12-minute time slot: The actual pitch may last no more than 5 minutes; during the remaining time, participants answer questions from the jury and the audience. The jury is made up of experienced entrepreneurs from the region. The winner of the 2026 Young Entrepreneur Award will be decided jointly by the jury and the audience through a live vote.

The winner will receive the Thurgau Young Entrepreneur Award, which comes with a prize of CHF 5,000, as well as an exclusive interview with the media. All participants will also benefit from increased visibility among the local startup and entrepreneurial community and the WEGA audience, as the event will be broadcast live.

Companies based in the canton of Thurgau that were founded no more than five years ago and are already actively operating in the market are eligible to apply. We are looking for scalable startups as well as strong business cases from the commercial sector and dedicated sole proprietors. Applications will be accepted from July 1 through August 31, 2026; decisions on participation will be made by September 4, 2026.

At a Glance

• Date: Friday, September 25, 2026, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
• Location: WEGA
• Organizer: Startnetzwerk Thurgau
• Application period: July 1 – August 31, 2026
• Prize: CHF 5,000 (Thurgau Young Entrepreneur Award) and an exclusive media interview
• For more information and to apply: startnetzwerk.ch/courses-and-events/hdtgl-2026