Join Kickstart as a startup
Each year, over 100 entrepreneurs representing 50 top quality startups are selected to join our intense 10-week open innovation program to scale their business through deals with our partner organizations.
What we offer for startups
Zero equity taken from startups
Access to c-level executives & decision makers
Business mentoring & development
Access to regional & international innovation ecosystem
Access to partnership fund
Tangible outcomes & high potential partnerships
Connections to investors and industry buyers
Showcases, networking and community events
Media exposure
Access to experts and industry-specific advisors
Our
experience
So far we have facilitated over 310 publicly announced commercial partnerships bringing added value to more than 100 organizations. Meanwhile we’ve supported more than 450 startups from over 80 countries in scaling. Our alumni have raised over CHF 2.5 billion.
Entrepreneurs
CHF Raised by Kickstarters
Deals (PoCs and commercial project)
Partner organisations involved
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22
Case studies
PostFinance created a digital coaching program on the Cognician platform
PostFinance and Cognician’s PoC produced exciting results in helping learners reach predefined program learning outcomes. Agile collaboration was key in activating learners’ commitment and planning, to ensure they got maximum value from this blended learning solution. Read the case study here.
Program overview and timeline
Prior to the open call for startups in April, the Kickstart team work closely with our partners to identify their pain points, challenges, and interests, which ultimately determine solutions we scout for. This approach increases the likelihood of synergies between our partners and startups, and the probability of a successful PoC or commercial project.
The timeline below exhibits the high level timeframe of the program for startups:
APRIL
Applications open
Scouting phase opened on April 17th !
JULY
Selection
Screening and evaluation of applicants done by an exclusive jury of Kickstart partners and experts. Includes Partner Safari networking event and Final Selection.
SEPTEMBER
Planning sprint
Includes the Opening Ceremony, Executive dinner in Zurich and a week of intense 1:1s and cross-vertical engagement.
SEPTEMBER
Collaboration sprint
Focus on the creation and securement of partnerships/PoCs between partners and startups, through Kickstart facilitation. Also includes additional events such as Investor Summit and Executive Dinners in Romandie.
NOVEMBER
Closing ceremony
Announcement of PoCs/commercial projects confirmed and celebration of the end of the program.