Davos, Switzerland | January 2026
Smart Cities Council (SCC), BitAngels, and AngelAI have announced a high-impact AIand Web3 Smart Cities Pitch Event to be held on 23 January 2026 in Zug, Switzerland, during World Economic Forum (WEF) week. The event will bring together innovators, investors, and city leaders to accelerate the transition from innovation to real-world urban adoption.
Hosted in the heart of Crypto Valley, the pitch event is designed as a practical, delivery-focused platform — moving beyond discussion to connect deployable solutions with the capital, governance pathways, and city partners required to scale.
“This pitch event is about delivery, not demos,” said Corey Gray, Chair and President of Smart Cities Council. “Together with BitAngels and AngelAI, we’re creating a pathway where innovation meets adoption, investment, and implementation.”
Call for Projects — Now Open
As part of the event, the co-hosts have issued a joint Call for Projects, inviting startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs to apply to pitch solutions that are ready for real-world city deployment.
Ten projects will be selected to present to a curated audience of angel investors, VCs, policymakers, and smart city practitioners. Each selected team will receive a 10-minute pitch slot (7 minutes presentation + 3 minutes Q&A), designed to encourage meaningful dialogue around adoption and scale.
Priority focus areas include:
- AI-enabled health, ageing, and healthspan solutions
- Digital governance, data stewardship, and digital sovereignty
- Blended finance and Web3 models for infrastructure and community outcomes
- Smart city transformation, resilience, and regenerative systems
- Mental health, citizen wellbeing, and ageing-in-place innovations
Applications are now open: https://bitangels.network/apply-to-pitch
(Places are limited.)
A Co-Hosted Platform for Adoption
Unlike traditional pitch competitions, this event is co-designed by SCC, BitAngels, and AngelAI to prioritise investment readiness and city adoption pathways. Selected projects will gain exposure to global investors and access to follow-on discussions with cities and partners connected to SCC’s international network.
The event builds on momentum from WEF week, where SCC will convene city leaders and partners across Zurich and Davos to launch its 2026 strategy focused on enablement, governance, and measurable outcomes.
“WEF is where alignment happens,” added Gray. “This pitch event is where ideas move into action.”
Event Details
Innovation to Adoption: AI & Web3 Smart Cities Pitch Event
The Shed, Zug, Switzerland
23 January 2026
13:00 – 19:00 (followed by optional networking dinner)
About the Organizers
·BitAngels: Founded by blockchain pioneer Michael Terpin, BitAngels supports global blockchain adoption through community and investor engagement.
https://bitangels.network
·Smart Cities Council (SCC): A global hub for smart city development, SCC enables future-ready policy, infrastructure, and governance for sustainable urban transformation.
smartcitiescouncil.com
·AngelAI: AI-powered fintech innovating in mortgage, lending, and real estate through intelligent chat-based systems. https://www.angelai.com/
Why Attend?
This isn’t just another pitch event. It’s a launchpad for impactful ideas, connecting high-potential innovation with the capital and infrastructure to scale. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, policymaker, or city planner – this is the place to engage, invest, and build the smart cities of tomorrow.
Media Contact & Applications:
Zoltan Istvan
zoltan@techipartners.com
Media interested in attending or scheduling interviews should contact:
Karen Norden karen.norden@smartcitiescouncil.com
About Smart Cities Council
Smart Cities Council is a global network of cities, governments, technology leaders, investors, and solution providers dedicated to enabling city and community transformation through governance, finance, technology, and partnerships that deliver measurable outcomes.
For more information on Smart Cities Council programs:
