At this year’s Talent Pitch Switzerland 2026, the School of Business FHNW was represented by the start-up Liquid. Founder and CEO Brian Livingstone presented his fintech idea to a large audience at the Volkshaus in Zurich, accompanied and supported by the lecturer Emanuele Laurenzi and Dario Meyer.
The national pitching competition is regarded as one of the most important platforms for student start-ups in Switzerland. More than 600 guests attended the event in person, whilst over 1 700 viewers watched via livestream. For Brian Livingstone, taking part was therefore a special experience – regardless of the outcome of the competition.
“Pitching to an audience of over 600 people in the hall and more than 1 000 viewers watching the livestream was an incredible experience and a real adrenaline rush,” he wrote afterwards on LinkedIn. He found the numerous conversations following the pitch particularly valuable. The direct feedback from the audience showed that Liquid’s vision strikes a chord with the younger generation.
Liquid develops solutions designed to make personal finance simpler and more modern for young adults. Livingstone sees the fact that many visitors approached the team after the pitch to praise the idea as a major success: “When young adults come up to us and say, ‘Finally, someone’s building exactly what we need!’, that’s the best validation we could ask for.”
Taking part in the nationwide competition was the result of a successful development within the FHNW’s start-up support programme. Brian Livingstone was supported by the FHNW ImpactLab and qualified for Talent Pitch Switzerland after winning the FHNW’s Elevator Pitching Contest.
He was accompanied by FHNW lecturer Emanuele Laurenzi and Dario Meyer, who acted as mentors to Liquid and represented the university at the event. Their commitment demonstrates just how important close collaboration between students, start-ups, lecturers and staff is for fostering entrepreneurial talent at the FHNW.
Even though they didn’t secure the overall victory in the end, Liquid’s performance remains a powerful testament to the innovative spirit, courage and entrepreneurial drive at the FHNW. For Brian Livingstone and his team, one thing is clear: the experience and contacts they’ve gained in Zurich provide further motivation to drive Liquid’s vision forward.
Contact
Dario Meyer
- Phone
- +41 56 202 85 03
- dario.meyer@fhnw.ch