The First “Champions” of the HSG Best Founders Programme
Carmel Imhof and Henry Müller have been named the first "Champions" of the HSG Best Founders Pro-gramme. Each receives a grant of CHF 100,000 to refine their business model, acquire initial customers, and prepare for the launch of their spin-off.
Who Are the HSG Best Founders?
The HSG Best Founders Programme supports the most promising entrepreneurial talents on their jour-ney towards founding a company. Following a competitive selection process, the jury selected two out-standing individuals for the prestigious Champion Programme: Carmel Imhof and Henry Müller. With dedicated coaching and close integration into the HSG Entrepreneurship Community, the grant recipients are well positioned to accelerate their ventures.
ZoneIn: Founder Carmel Imhof Impresses with Vision and Drive
The digital health platform ZoneIn is on the cusp of launching in the Swiss market, aiming to redefine how patients, therapists, and doctors connect with one another. The start-up is led by Carmel Imhof, a graduate of the University of St.Gallen (B.A. in Business Administration; M.A. in Accounting & Finance) and alumna of the HSG Entrepreneurial Talent Programme.
With sharp business acumen, empathy, and relentless energy, Carmel has developed ZoneIn from an initial concept to a market-ready product in just one year. The platform brings together certified psychia-trists, therapists, and coaches through a secure telemedicine solution, with the goal of accelerating diag-nosis processes and sustainably improving mental healthcare delivery.
ZoneIn stands out not only for its well-structured business model and innovative technology, but also for the strength of its professional backing: 48 certified experts currently support the initiative. With a grow-ing team, the start-up is now preparing to roll out across Switzerland, with plans to expand across the DACH region over the next 18 to 24 months.
fortyfour: Henry Müller Driving Innovation in Climate and Agriculture
Henry Müller, Co-Founder and CEO of fortyfour, is developing a breakthrough technology for direct air capture (DAC) of CO₂. A PhD candidate at the University of St.Gallen, he combines sustainable entrepre-neurship with cutting-edge research to pioneer electrically powered DAC systems that capture CO₂ on-site for agricultural and industrial use—offering a clean, cost-effective alternative to fossil sources.
With eight Letters of Intent and three pilot projects already in place, fortyfour is well positioned to lead the next generation of CO₂ utilisation technologies. The system can boost greenhouse crop yields by up to 30 per cent while also supporting industrial decarbonisation. Partners such as Meier Gemüse, Yasai, and Wageningen University underscore the venture’s strong market potential.
The jury praised Henry Müller’s compelling fusion of research, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, along with his clear go-to-market strategy and personal commitment to innovation in the climate-tech sector.
“The Fondation Alcea supports individuals in pursuing their true calling – a mission shared by the HSG Best Founders Programme. We are proud to contribute as a partner to its development. ”
HSG Entrepreneurship
At the University of St.Gallen (HSG), an entrepreneurial mindset is more than a value—it is a guiding principle. HSG Entrepreneurship introduces members of the university community to the many facets of entrepreneurship, while actively promoting technology-driven and knowledge-intensive start-up and innovation projects. Students, researchers, and staff benefit from a wide range of support services—from targeted coursework and student initiatives to dedicated programmes offered by the university’s central hub for entrepreneurship.
Discover more about entrepreneurship at HSG now.