In 2025, Genius Loci was selected by the prestigious Le Rosey Institute in Rolle, Switzerland and the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) to be accelerated in the very first cohort in Switzerland of the accelerator MIT designX.
December 12, 2025 theLe Rosey Institute, Genius Loci winsAudience Award du MITdesignX Switzerlandawarded by a demanding and diverse audience of investors, technology experts, institutional investors and entrepreneurs.
MITdesignX is an acceleration and incubation program created to foster the emergence of ventures (start-ups or projects) in the fields of design, cities, the built environment, and social innovation. The intensive, four-month program covers all aspects of launching an early-stage startup.
The objective: to combine the spirit of design/architecture/urbanism with technological entrepreneurship and a positive environmental or social impact.
Academic and Methodological Framework of MIT DesignX
Understand
Identify the problem or need to be solved: who is affected, what is the impact?
Needs analysis, market segmentation, stakeholder mapping, value proposition.
Solve (Resolve / Design the solution)
Define what the solution will be: function, use, how it will meet the need.
Includes user journey mapping, rapid UX/UI prototyping, and product/service interface design.
Envision (Imagining / structuring the business and the organization)
Formalize the vision, mission, and values of the company or project.
Building the business model, go-to-market plan, team dynamics, culture, financing strategy.
Deploy (Deploy / Scale)
Establish the action plan, processes, human, financial and operational resources to launch and grow the venture.
The expected result: prototype, pitch deck for investors, “master plan” of the venture.
