Spaces that Inspire – Westhive and the New Office Feeling

What began as an alternative to traditional offices has evolved into a philosophy at Westhive. The Zurich-based company offers more than just coworking – it creates workspaces with the comfort of a hotel, complete with designer furniture, rooftop terraces, baristas and concierge services.

Behind this inviting atmosphere lies a clear economic strategy. Westhive responds specifically to the demands of hybrid working models, develops locations that reflect their local context, and remains true to its brand. Flexibility ranges from individual desks to fully equipped corporate headquarters.

This approach proved especially successful during the pandemic: Westhive stayed close to its community, adapted its spatial concepts – and continued to grow. Today, it operates a nationwide platform for productive working with a personal touch – a prime example of how spatial design can support sustainability: by reducing commuting, optimising space usage and sharing resources.

Energy That Pays Off – enshift Rethinks Roofs

While Westhive is reimagining the interior of work, enshift focuses on the shell: roofs, façades and technical infrastructure. Founded in 2022 and based in Baar, the company delivers large-scale decarbonisation projects for institutional real estate owners – from analysis and financing to construction and operation.

Its core is a proprietary digital platform that simulates entire property portfolios in terms of energy savings, CO₂ reduction and financial viability. Enshift takes care of implementation and secures long-term supply agreements for renewable energy – financed via so-called green project loans.

With clients such as Swiss Post, Coop and the Paul Scherrer Institute, enshift has already completed more than 55 projects. Its current pipeline totals over CHF 240 million. Also noteworthy: its expansion into European markets is underway, with local teams and a growing focus on energy management software and storage solutions.

Enshift proves that the shift to CO₂-free energy supply is already economically viable – and digitally scalable.

Lighting That Lasts – Lumvin Turns Retrofitting into a Business

Renewable energy alone won’t suffice; we also need to reduce energy and resource consumption. This is where Lumvin comes in: rather than replacing old lights with new ones, the Zurich-based cleantech start-up develops retrofit solutions that make existing installations smarter and more efficient – reducing energy use by up to 90 per cent.

The success story began with two friends and a frustration over resource waste. Today, Lumvin boasts over 100 projects and clients such as AXA and the City of Lenzburg. The company is particularly in demand for heritage buildings, where technological innovation must meet architectural rigour.

At the heart of its success is a collaborative model: manufacturing is done in partnership with libs, a vocational training organisation – allowing Lumvin to combine technological quality with education. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand into public lighting: streets, tunnels and stations are next.

With a clear focus on circular economy, local production and growing brand presence, Lumvin was named a winner of the Swiss Economic Award in 2025 – proof that sustainability is not just a principle, but a viable business model.

Three Building Blocks for Smarter Infrastructure

Whether it’s space, energy or light – the examples of Westhive, enshift and Lumvin show that sustainability begins with the everyday. In how companies plan their spaces. How owners operate their buildings. How cities modernise their infrastructure.

The SEF.Growth High Potential Label recognises these three scale-ups as particularly promising – and rightly so. They offer practical solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges: resource scarcity, the energy transition and evolving work environments. And they demonstrate that economic success and social value need not be mutually exclusive – but can be a double win.

Building the Future – One Solution at a Time

SEF.Growth Success Stories