Our vision

The craftmanlike process of alcohol distillation is symbolic for the distillate of a tech startup: the premium products are generated from the best fruit. And if you want to be successful as a young entrepreneur, you need to think big – „shoot the moon“.

The „Moonshine“ association aims at unleashing the transformative potential of Berne-based DeepTech innovation by gathering a whole startup ecosystem at an unique location, the Moonshine Labs.

DeepTech comprises disruptive solutions to pressing issues built around unique, protected or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances.

Concept

The Moonshine Labs will be a modular center of gravity for

▪ scientist-entrepreneurs

▪ creative minds

▪ corporate representatives

▪ enablers

▪ investors

▪ policy makers

▪ and the public

to boost Berne-based DeepTech innovation. The Moonshine Labs will be inspired by other internationally success models such as „Station F“ in Paris or the „MIT Media Lab“, while enormous emphasis will be put on a holistic integration of the project in terms of the socioeconomic and city development contexts of the city of Berne.

Opportunity

Länggasse is one of the most dynamic neighbourhoods in Berne featuring

▪ World-renowned science (e.g. MedTech, SpaceTech and CleanTech)

▪ International talent

▪ Entrepreneurship movements

all together representing the perfect breeding ground for  Berne-based DeepTech innovation. In turn, Moonshine Labs will brighten Länggasse and create locally rooted value added.

Location

An old sleeping beauty and a modern multifunctional unit at a unique location

 

▪ 2 bus stops from Berne train station, or a 5-7 minute walk
▪ a 5 minute drive to the highway towards Fribourg/Lausanne
▪ a 5 minute drive to the highway towards Zürich/Thun
▪ in the middle of multiple University of Berne buildings
▪ a 5 minute walk to University hospital “Insel”, SITEM, and BFH locations
▪ cool hang out places around the corner: Sattler, Gelateria di Berna, Crêperie Le Carrousel, Café Bar Parterre, Pittaria

Association

The association Moonshine acts as an enabler to create a holistic and inclusive creative ecosystem that draws all stakeholders together needed to make the vision of the  “Moonshine Labs” become reality. The executive board of the association is composed of locally rooted scientists, entrepreneurs and networkers with ties to universities, the innovation and startup scene, and city development.

 

The Executive Board (Vorstandsausschuss)

Board of directors (Vorstand)

 

Vision supporters (regular members)

Early adopter #1: Carlo Badini, #Cleverclip

Early adopter #2: Vivien Fuhrer, #EZYcount

Early adopter #3: Chris Jenny, #Impact Hub Bern

 

 

Join us!

News

Press Release – 14. August 2017 (Deutsch):

„Verein Moonshine“ plant DeepTech-Accelerator in der ehemaligen Alkoholverwaltung.

Der Prozess des fachmännischen Alkoholbrennens steht sinnbildlich für das Destillat eines Hightech-Jungunternehmens: Aus den besten Früchten entsteht ein hochwertiges Produkt. Und wer als Jungunternehmen Erfolg haben will, muss sich hohe Ziele stecken – „auf den Mond“ zielen.

DeepTech sind disruptive Lösungen zu dringenden Problemen, basiert auf einzigartigen oder schwierig kopierbaren Technologien oder wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen. Im Unterschied zu anderen Hochschulstandorten international und in der Schweiz verfügt Bern nicht über einen „DeepTech“-Incubator für Startup-Unternehmen. Das soll sich nun ändern: Der neu gegründete „Verein Moonshine“ will in den Gebäuden der ehemaligen Alkoholverwaltung in der Länggasse ein Hotspot für diese Unternehmen bieten. Die „Moonshine Labs“ werden ein Ökosystem für diese DeepTech-Unternehmen und deren Umfeld beheimaten. Der Verein Moonshine wird sich an internationalen Erfolgsmodellen wie z.B. „Station F“ in Paris oder dem „MIT Media Lab“ orientieren, dabei aber grossen Wert auf die gesamtheitliche Integration des Projektes in den sozioökonomischen und stadtplanerischen Kontext der Stadt Bern zu legen.

Der Vorstand des Vereins setzt sich zusammen aus lokal verwurzelten Wissenschaftlern, Jungunternehmern und Netzwerkern mit Bezug zu Hochschulen,  der Innovations- und Startupszene und Stadtentwicklung. Die neuen Eigentümer der Liegenschaften der ehemaligen Alkoholverwaltung begrüssen die Pläne und haben dem Verein vorübergehend Exklusivität gewährt. Der Vereinsvorstand will diese Zeit nutzen, um mit den wichtigsten Akteuren und Unterstützern der Berner und Schweizer Startupwelt die Moonshine Labs zu ermöglichen.

 

Press Release – August 14th 2017 (English):

The „Moonshine“ association is planning a DeepTech accelerator in the former real estates of the federal alcohol department.

The craftmanlike process of alcohol distillation is symbolic for the distillate of a high-tech startup: the premium products are generated from the best fruit. And if you want to be successful as a young entrepreneur, you need to think big – „aim for the moon“.

DeepTech is defined as disruptive solutions to pressing issues built around unique, protected or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances. In contrast to other international and Swiss university hubs, no „DeepTech“ incubator for startups is to be found in Berne. This shall now be changed: the recently founded association „Moonshine“ aims to build a hotspot exactly for these types of companies within the former real estates of the federal alcohol department. The „Moonshine Labs“ will host an ecosystem for DeepTech startups and their environment. The Moonshine Labs will be inspired by other internationally success models such as „Station F“ in Paris or the „MIT Media Lab“, while enormous emphasis will be put on a holistic integration of the project in terms of the socioeconomic and city development contexts of the city of Berne.

The executive board of the association is composed of locally rooted scientists, entrepreneurs and networkers with ties to universities, the innovation and startup scene, and city development. The new owners of the former real estates of the federal alcohol department are embracing the plans and have granted a temporary exclusivity. The executive board will take advantage of this period to bring together the most important stakeholders and supporters of the Bernese and Swiss Startup scene in order to make the Moonshine Labs become reality.