Free support for startups in Switzerland
12.10.2016
In the meantime, there are many contact points for Swiss founders free Looking for support for your startup. Since the various support organizations compete with each other, it is difficult to get an overview. So I'm trying to put together an up-to-date list (in alphabetical order). I would be happy to accept additional suggestions.
Basically, you should make sure that your coaches have their own experience as founders (and not their knowledge taken from - outdated - books).
be-advanced
be-advanced is aimed at young entrepreneurs in the canton of Bern. Offers include coaching by experienced entrepreneurs, coworking and arranging financing options.
CTI Entrepreneurship
Various CTI Entrepreneurship partners run start-up courses for university members and startups. Various modules can be chosen free of charge. Topics include, for example, financing options for startups, writing a business plan or growth for young companies.
http://www.cti-entrepreneurship.ch/
CTI start-up
CTI Start-up is the federal funding program, affiliated with the Commission for Technology and Innovation. Free, multi-stage coaching for high-tech startups is offered. At the end of the coaching process, the CTI label is awarded. The process that gets there is more important than the label.
F10 Fintech Accelerator
F10 is an accelerator or incubator that was founded by the SIX Group and is specifically aimed at fintech startups. Three different accelerator programs are offered: “Idea to Prototype”, “Prototype to Product” and “Product to Market”.
Founder Institute
The Founder Institute, which comes from Silicon Valley, is the world's first startup launch program for talented entrepreneurs. Since the beginning of 2017 there has finally been an FI in Zurich.
Heuberger Winterthur Young Entrepreneur Award
A business plan competition for innovative young companies (not just startups) from the greater Winterthur area. In addition to prize money of up to CHF 150,000, you can also win coaching from Genilem for two years. The next implementation is planned for 2017.
http://www.jungunternehmer-preis.ch/
IFJ - Institute for Young Entrepreneurs
Practically every Swiss entrepreneur comes into contact with the IFJ sooner or later, be it through the entrepreneurial lectures at universities, through the intensive courses offered free of charge or at one of the competitions organized by the IFJ. The IFJ was founded in 1989 and has been able to build up a lot of experience.
Kickstart Accelerator
The Kickstart Accelerator was founded as part of the digitalswitzerland program and is aimed primarily at startups from abroad who are looking for contacts with large Swiss companies.
http://kickstart-accelerator.com/
Lean Day
Ash Maurya on Lean Day 2015
The well-known startup coach Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier is organizing the event for the second time on November 8, 2016 Lean Day, where “Running Lean” author Ash Maurya will lead a workshop. The event is not free (except for selected Venture Kick startups), but is worth it for beginners.
MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a global nonprofit startup accelerator focused on early-stage entrepreneurs. The MassChallenge program took place in Switzerland for the first time this summer.
http://masschallenge.org/programs/switzerland
Startup Weekend
Startup weekends take place regularly in various Swiss cities, during which participants work intensively on a project from Friday to Sunday evening. Coaching sessions take place every Saturday afternoon.
Startups.ch
Startups.ch runs various courses for young entrepreneurs and offers (paid) services related to setting up a company.
Swiss Start Up Factory
The Swiss Start Up Factory is the first Swiss accelerator. In two batches per year, selected startups from different industries receive support from a wide variety of coaches, and the SSUF also invests in the startups.
https://www.swissstartupfactory.com/
Swisscom Startup Challenge
The largest Swiss telco holds a business plan competition once a year in which you can win a trip to Silicon Valley. There, the startups can expect lectures from successful entrepreneurs, but also coaching.
https://www.swisscom.ch/en/business/start-up/swisscom-startup-challenge.html
»Venture»
»Venture« is the oldest and most prestigious business plan competition in Switzerland, organized by McKinsey, ETH, KTI and Knecht Holding. As part of the competition, all participants are also offered coaching free of charge.
Venture kick
Venture Kick is a private initiative financed by, among others, the Gebert Rüf Foundation, the Ernst Göhner Foundation and Hansjörg Wyss. The regular competition, which also includes intensive coaching and in which up to around 130,000 can be won, is carried out by IFJ.
Venture leaders
According to the organizer IFJ, the venture leaders are the Swiss startup national team. Various verticals take the winners to China, New York or Boston, where they receive coaching and valuable business contacts.
http://www.venturelab.ch/index.cfm?page=130567
Venturelab
The Venturelab, also organized by the IFJ, is aimed primarily at first-time founders and students interested in entrepreneurship. Various courses can be booked free of charge, and there is the opportunity to get to know successful entrepreneurs at aperos at universities.