In 2025, Genius Loci was selected by the prestigious Institut Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland, and the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) to be accelerated in the very first Swiss cohort of the MIT designX accelerator.
On 12 December 2025 at the Institut Le Rosey, Genius Loci won the Audience Award at MITdesignX Switzerland, presented by a demanding, diverse audience of investors, technology experts, institutional stakeholders and entrepreneurs.
MITdesignX is an acceleration and incubation programme designed to bring forth ventures (start-ups or projects) in design, cities, the built environment and social innovation. The intensive four-month programme covers every aspect of launching an early-stage start-up.
The goal: combine the spirit of design, architecture and urban planning with tech entrepreneurship — for positive environmental or social impact.
MIT DesignX academic and methodological framework
Understand
Identify the problem or need to address: who is affected, what is the impact?
Needs analysis, market segmentation, stakeholder mapping, value proposition.
Solve
Define what the solution will be: function, use, how it meets the need.
Includes user journey design, rapid UX/UI prototyping, product/service interface.
Envision
Formalise the vision, mission and values of the company or project.
Build the business model, go-to-market plan, team dynamics, culture, funding strategy.
Deploy
Put in place the action plan, processes, and human, financial and operational resources to launch and grow the venture.
Expected outcome: prototype, investor pitch deck, venture « master plan ».
