2024
JOINING SWISSRAIL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
In February 2024, we became a member of the Swissrail Industry Association. This partnership paves the way for collaborative endeavors with key industry players in Switzerland, fostering a dynamic environment for technological exchange, research, and innovation, and advancing our shared vision for the future of transportation.
2023
FIRST HYPERLOOP TUBES IN PLACE IN THE US
In October 2023, we laid down the first tubes of our full-scale hyperloop infrastructure in the Pueblo, Colorado. This step initiates the construction of the first operational hyperloop testing facility in the US and the only hyperloop hub in the world capable of hosting long-haul missions! What sets this infrastructure apart is its unparalleled innovation — fully passive, eliminating the need for electrification and magnets to propel and levitate the pod.
2023
MUSPELL PROJECT: TRAILBLAZING THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
In October 2023, Swisspod, in collaboration with 6 prominent European research institutes, launched the Muspell Project for pioneering a revolutionary thermal energy storage system. This solution will accelerate the evolution of efficient hyperloop technology, tackling the complex challenge of waste heat management in low-pressure environments. The solution's far-reaching impact extends to diverse energy-intensive industries, promising transformative global benefits. The Muspell Consortium secured a €3.5M Pathfinder Grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI).
2023
PRELIMINARY TESTING FOR THE 1-HOUR HYPERLOOP MISSION
October 2023 marks the start of the initial tests for Swisspod's hyperloop system. Performed at the infrastructure in Lausanne, Switzerland, the tests serve as the launching pad for the world's first 1-hour hyperloop ride. These trials propel Swisspod closer to the actual deployment of hyperloop systems, bridging the gap between futuristic imagination and tangible reality.
2023
ALUMNI OF THE IMD STARTUP COMPETITION
As one of the 30 IMD Startup Competition winners, Swisspod collaborated with Executive MBA students to enhance its strategic vision. The journey concluded in September 2023 with a compelling presentation to Silicon Valley's venture capitalists and angel investors. This transformative experience validated Swisspod's business model, and instilled confidence in investors and partners, fostering valuable connections with like-minded entrepreneurs.
2023
1ST HYPERLOOP CAPSULE PROTOTYPE
In July 2023, Swisspod finalized the development of the hyperloop capsule prototype for the reduced-scale test track in Lausanne, Switzerland. Preliminary testing of the system will start soon at the infrastructure, setting the stage for the world's first 1-hour hyperloop ride.
2023
GRADUATED FROM OXFORD'S CDL PROGRAM
In June 2023, Swisspod successfully graduated from the highly-selective Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) program hosted by the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. Enrolled in the Climate Stream, Swisspod showcased remarkable progress, surpassing rigorous standards at every evaluation stage. This achievement underscores Swisspod's commitment to innovation and creating impactful change in the world.
2023
FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE HYPERLOOP ASSOCIATION
In February 2023, Swisspod joined forces with 6 other players in the industry to form The Hyperloop Association, the first global association in the hyperloop sector. The unified voice of The Hyperloop Association is set to propel the accelerate forward, signaling the evolution of this new mode of transportation into a standalone industry.
2022
1ST VACUUM TEST FOR MEDIUM SPEEDS AND LONG DISTANCE IN EUROPE
On March 2022, Swisspod and its partners from EPFL successfully performed the first Vacuum Test in Europe for a Hyperloop infrastructure for medium speeds and long distances.
2021
2ND HYPERLOOP TESTING FACILITY IN THE U.S.
In September 2021, Swisspod announced at a press conference a new partnership with TTCI for the construction of a 2nd Hyperloop testing facility at PuebloPlex, an expansive innovation hub in Pueblo, Colorado, U.S. At facility, Swisspod and TTCI will build and test a full-scale Hyperloop system.
2021
WORLD'S 1ST INFINITE HYPERLOOP TEST TRACK
In July 2021, Swisspod launched the world's 1st infinite Hyperloop test track at EPFL in Switzerland. The first research activity operates under Project LIMITLESS and is funded by the Swiss Innovation Agency. At this facility, Swisspod, EPFL and HEIG-VD will test and validate a novel Linear Induction Motor (LIM), a key part of Swisspod's propulsion system.
2019
INCORPORATION OF SWISSPOD TECHNOLOGIES
After a conversation with Elon Musk, the two engineers, Denis Tudor (CEO) and Cyril Dénéréaz (CTO) were determined to embark on the mission of building the most efficient, affordable and sustainable high-speed transportation solution. In 2019, they incorporated Swisspod Technologies with the clear vision of making Hyperloop a reality.
2016 - 2018
SPACE-X COMPETITIONS
Between 2016 and 2018, SpaceX and the Boring Company organized an annual Hyperloop Pod Competition sponsored by Elon Musk to design and build a subscale prototype vehicles demonstrating Hyperloop's technical feasibility. Denis Tudor (CEO) co-founded the rLoop and EPFLoop teams, winning awards for: Best Design (2016), Best Innovation (2017), Best Engineering (2018), 3rd for Speed (2018).
1970
SWISSMETRO
The original Hyperloop System was conceptualized by Swiss Professor Marcel Juffer in the 1970s. In 1992, Swissmetro SA was created to develop this project, but it went into liquidation in 2009. Interest in the technology was renewed in 2012 due to the publication of Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Alpha Paper.