Securing funding with out giving up fairness is a strategic method that enables startups to keep up full management over their firm whereas acquiring crucial monetary help. In Switzerland, a number of strategies and packages can be found for fintech startups searching for monetary help that doesn’t require reimbursement or fairness change.
One technique is competitions and awards. Many organizations host competitions that award money prizes or assets to profitable startups, offering monetary help and recognition with out fairness dilution. These competitions could be both on-line or in particular person, and the funds received usually don’t require reimbursement or fairness change, though there could be exceptions.
One other method is acquiring grants, that are non-repayable funds offered by the federal government, organizations, or foundations to help particular tasks or functions. Grants are sometimes accessible for analysis, improvement, and innovation in varied sectors. The first good thing about a grant is that it normally doesn’t require reimbursement, permitting startups to make use of the cash for enterprise progress, together with advertising and marketing and analysis and improvement.
At this time, we have a look at among the most famous startup competitions and outstanding grant packages for Swiss fintech startups to contemplate. For this record, we used information compiled by Swiss Startup Assets and the Basel Space.
Startup competitions:
Enterprise Kick
Enterprise Kick is a Swiss initiative that yearly helps roughly 100 new, high-potential spin-off tasks from Swiss universities. This system supplies preliminary funding beginning at CHF 10,000, even earlier than the formal incorporation of the corporate, with potential funding rising as much as CHF 1,150,000 because the mission progresses via three levels. At every stage, contributors current their startup tasks to a Enterprise Kick jury, with a 50% probability of advancing to the subsequent stage.
The primary CHF 10,000 is obtainable as a non-repayable grant, and entrepreneurs make an ethical pledge to return the cash in case of success. The second CHF 40,000 and ultimate CHF 100,000 kicks are provided as convertible loans with startup-friendly situations, which convert on the firm’s subsequent vital fairness spherical.
Winners of the primary stage also can apply for a further CHF 150,000 via the Innobooster grant. Moreover, he final winner of the ultimate stage beneficial properties entry to additional funding of as much as CHF 850,000 through Kickfund.
Past monetary help, Enterprise Kick affords complete steerage in enterprise improvement and fundraising. Members profit from structured entrepreneurial paths and “kickers camps” held after every stage, which facilitate networking with profitable entrepreneurs, business consultants, and traders.
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The >>enterprise>> startup competitors is a big initiative supporting early-stage startups in Switzerland, awarding over CHF 500,000 yearly and offering entry to a useful community of consultants, mentors, and executives from main Swiss corporations.
Every year, the competitors affords CHF 590,000 in prize cash distributed throughout varied classes:
First-ranked groups in every of the 5 enterprise verticals (finance and insurance coverage, well being and vitamin, data and communications know-how (ICT), industrials and engineering, retail and client providers) obtain CHF 50,000;Second-ranked groups obtain CHF 20,000; andThird-ranked groups obtain CHF 10,000.
For the Social and Environmental Impression vertical, it welcomes impact-driven startups and nonprofit organizations aligned with the United Nations’ sustainable improvement targets, launched after January 01, 2019.
Moreover, a Grand Prize of CHF 100,000 is awarded to the highest staff chosen throughout all verticals.
Past monetary rewards, the competitors additionally helps startups systematically refine their enterprise plans, develop actionable implementation methods, and put together complete paperwork essential for partaking with traders and strategic companions.
The competitors is open to revolutionary enterprise concepts and newly established corporations in Switzerland.
Startfeld Diamond
Startfeld Diamond, sponsored by St. Galler Kantonalbank in collaboration with Startfeld, is a prestigious award designed to help younger corporations in Jap Switzerland with revolutionary enterprise concepts. This system goals to assist startups absolutely notice their potential by offering monetary help and enhancing their visibility inside the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The award course of consists of two levels. Initially, a preliminary jury selects six finalists from all functions obtained, with three finalists every from the “Growth Part” and “Concept Part” classes. Within the second stage, the nominated startups obtain intensive help to critically consider and optimize their enterprise fashions in collaboration with business consultants. Moreover, they profit from enhanced communication measures geared toward rising the visibility of their concepts or merchandise.
Two distinct awards are introduced:
The “Tough Diamond,” valued at CHF 10,000, is awarded to one of the best thought, significantly specializing in tasks from technical faculties and universities; andThe “Diamond,” valued at CHF 30,000, acknowledges the startup with essentially the most promising enterprise mannequin, supporting Jap Swiss startups in maximizing their progress potential.
Participation within the Startfeld Diamond competitors not solely affords monetary prizes but additionally alternatives for startups to refine their methods, achieve publicity, and leverage the experience of mentors and business professionals. It serves as a big platform for rising entrepreneurs in Jap Switzerland to showcase their innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark
The ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark, collectively awarded by Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) and Technopark Zurich since 2001, is a outstanding accolade inside Switzerland’s startup ecosystem. This prestigious award celebrates deep-tech tasks on the point of market introduction, emphasizing the founders’ dedication and risk-taking spirit.
Yearly, the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark acknowledges excellent innovation with a grand prize of CHF 100,000 for the winners. Moreover, runners-up obtain CHF 10,000 every. Past monetary rewards, the award serves as a big catalyst for startups, serving to them safe additional capital and offering a prestigious platform for public publicity.
W.A. de Vigier Award
The W.A. de Vigier Award is the oldest award for younger entrepreneurs in Switzerland and, with annual prize cash of as much as CHF 500,000 (5 instances CHF 100,000), is among the most extremely endowed startup prizes in Switzerland. Over the previous 35 years, the muse has distributed over CHF 14 million of seed cash. The outcomes are over 100 flourishing startups, profitable preliminary public choices (IPOs), a number of firm exits and above all, many newly created jobs.
Tasks competing for the W.A. de Vigier Award are evaluated primarily based on a number of standards:
The entrepreneurial qualities and management abilities of the founders;The diploma of innovation demonstrated by the mission;The potential societal impression and advantages;The technical and monetary feasibility of the mission;The market prospects and progress potential; andThe capability to generate new employment alternatives.
Past monetary help, profitable the W.A. de Vigier Award supplies startups with useful recognition and credibility inside the entrepreneurial group, serving as an endorsement that may assist appeal to extra funding and help.
Grants:
Innosuisse
Innosuisse affords mission funding tailor-made to startups aiming to enter the market with extremely revolutionary tasks. This help is particularly designed for science-based initiatives which have substantial potential for innovation.
The funding is focused at startups primarily based in Switzerland, registered within the Swiss industrial registry, and established inside the final 5 years (with exceptions for circumstances justified as much as ten years). Startups should make use of fewer than 50 full-time equivalents (FTEs) on the time of software, or lower than 250 FTEs if managed by one other firm whose financials consolidate with the startup.
The initiative focuses on startups that haven’t but commercialized services or products (excluding analysis and improvement providers) and have a scalable enterprise mannequin poised for greater than linear progress. Non-commercial associations, foundations, and items of public administration are ineligible.
Innosuisse helps innovation tasks which might be primarily based on utilized analysis and are geared toward accelerating market entry. These tasks ought to display vital potential for innovation and readiness for market launch upon mission completion. Startups obtain funding immediately from Innosuisse; analysis companions are usually not eligible for direct funding. Innosuisse covers as much as 70% of the direct mission prices, with the startup required to contribute a minimum of 30% of the prices themselves.
Innosuisse, previously often known as the Swiss Innovation Company (previously CTI), is a company in Switzerland devoted to selling science-based innovation within the nation. It focuses on fostering collaboration between analysis establishments, companies, and entrepreneurs to encourage innovation and the commercialization of recent applied sciences.
BRIDGE
BRIDGE, a joint program of the Swiss Nationwide Science Basis (SNSF) and Innosuisse, affords funding on the interface of primary analysis and science-based innovation. This system consists of two funding schemes.
The Proof of Idea grant helps younger researchers who’ve lately accomplished a bachelor’s or grasp’s diploma inside the final 4 years, are about to finish their PhD inside the subsequent six months, or have obtained a PhD inside the final 4 years. Candidates should be supported by a Swiss analysis establishment and apply individually.
This grant funds tasks for 12 months, masking salaries and mission bills as much as CHF 130,000 per 12 months. It additionally helps participation in Innosuisse’s Begin-up Coaching and the Assisted Patent Search scheme by the Swiss Federal Institute of Mental Property (IPI). Moreover, candidates are inspired to use for Innosuisse’s Preliminary Begin-up Teaching.
The Discovery grant is geared toward skilled researchers working at Swiss universities, federal institutes of know-how, universities of utilized sciences and humanities, or different analysis establishments outlined by the Federal Act on the Promotion of Analysis and Innovation (RIPA). Candidates ought to have the flexibility to steer and handle analysis tasks and should apply individually or as a part of a small consortium (as much as three candidates).
This grant funds tasks for as much as 4 years, with whole prices not exceeding CHF 850,000 per applicant. It covers wage prices for mission staff and project-related bills. Nevertheless, it doesn’t cowl applicant salaries except the applicant is employed by a college of utilized sciences and humanities or by the Swiss Heart for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), wherein case they might obtain a wage complement below particular situations.
Grants by the Swiss Federal Institute of Expertise Lausanne
The Swiss Federal Institute of Expertise Lausanne (EPFL) affords funding to assist remodel concepts into the businesses of tomorrow. It supplies two funding schemes to assist entrepreneurs searching for to speed up their concepts out of an EPFL lab
The Ignition Grant helps early-stage tasks, providing CHF 30,000 within the type of a wage and/or of consumables and/or outsourcing wants. The grant is for a most of six months to validate know-how and develop a prototype or market match.
Candidates should have a startup imaginative and prescient primarily based on a novel technical answer, demonstrated lab know-how or market traction, and a powerful connection to a lab the place they are going to incubate their spinoff. The grant is meant for motivated and engaged entrepreneurs with revolutionary know-how and possible plans.
The Innogrant supplies CHF 100,000 for as much as one 12 months, permitting entrepreneurs to focus solely on accelerating their startup mission. Candidates want a transparent startup imaginative and prescient with a scalable technical answer, demonstrated lab know-how, market traction, and a strong one-year plan. They should be related to an EPFL lab for incubation. The grant seeks dedicated entrepreneurs with impactful, revolutionary know-how and possible mission plans.
Grants by the Federal Institute of Expertise Zurich
The Federal Institute of Expertise (ETH) Zurich affords its college students, alumni, and aspiring entrepreneurs all through their journey, from the preliminary levels of thought experimentation to the creation of spin-off corporations and past.
The jFund is a sensible funding initiative geared toward supporting ETH junior startups of their early levels. Apart from monetary help, it affords startups entry to important assets, knowledgeable steerage, and a powerful community, laying a strong basis for progress and success in a aggressive market. To qualify for the jFund software, candidates should be both former ETH juniors mainboard members or former staff who’ve been acknowledged as excellent.
The funding program consists of three rounds, every providing elevated funding alternatives. The Orientation Ticket supplies a grant of CHF 10,000 for startups of their early levels of exploration. Candidates should full a type and meet all outlined necessities. Lastly, the Superior Funding rounds supply grants of CHF 30,000 and CHF 60,000 for startups which have progressed past the orientation part and should have already got a prototype or preliminary market traction.
The Pioneer Fellowship Deep-Tech Incubation Program of ETH Zurich helps entrepreneurial ETH college students and researchers in reworking their research-based applied sciences into marketable services with the purpose of launching profitable ETH spin-off corporations. Pioneer Fellows obtain as much as CHF 150,000 for 18 months, or 12 months for a staff of two Fellows. Additionally they profit from teaching, entrepreneurial coaching, help from their host professor, and entry to ETH infrastructure and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Nationwide Analysis Programmes
The Nationwide Analysis Programmes (NRPs) by the Swiss Nationwide Science Basis (SNSF) purpose to advertise analysis tasks that deal with societal challenges of nationwide significance. These packages are initiated by the Swiss Federal Council and concentrate on subjects of nationwide significance, with a analysis finances ranging between CHF 10 and 20 million.
NRPs are characterised by their interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary method, guaranteeing that particular person analysis tasks are aligned with this system’s overarching targets. NRPs are solution-oriented, carefully linked to sensible functions, and emphasize the significance of information switch and communication of outcomes. Researchers concerned in NRPs interact in steady dialogue and collaboration with practitioners and decide to disseminating analysis findings to each specialists and the broader public.
Proposals for NRP subjects and priorities could be submitted by federal places of work, analysis institutes, analysis teams, or people to the State Secretariat for Schooling, Analysis and Innovation (SERI). The ultimate number of NRPs is made by the Federal Council, which then assigns them to the SNSF for execution.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU)’s key funding program for analysis and innovation with a finances of EUR 95.5 billion. It tackles local weather change, helps to realize the UN’s Sustainable Growth Objectives and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and progress. Horizon Europe encourages collaboration and amplifies the impression of analysis and innovation in shaping, supporting, and executing EU insurance policies whereas addressing world challenges. It promotes the creation and dissemination of wonderful data and applied sciences.
This system goals to create jobs, absolutely make the most of the EU’s expertise pool, enhance financial progress, improve industrial competitiveness, and maximize funding impression inside a strengthened European Analysis Space. Authorized entities from the EU and related nations are eligible to take part in Horizon Europe. Moreover, Swiss startups can interact in lots of collaborative tasks inside Horizon Europe via Euresearch.
Boldbrain Startup Problem
Boldbrain Startup Problem is an accelerator addressing early-stage startups and entrepreneurs with revolutionary concepts who need to begin and develop their companies from the Canton of Ticino. This system affords steady and personalised help, teaching, workshops, and a ultimate competitors with money prizes totaling CHF 120,000 and over CHF 80,000 in in-kind prizes.
Boldbrain Startup Problem supplies teaching to assist define the mission, targeted workshops, focused coaching, and entry to a community that helps the event and progress of startups in Ticino. This consists of workplace area, monetary assist, and publicity to traders. The Boldbrain Startup Problem is right for these trying to develop their revolutionary concepts with complete help and assets.
Boldbrain welcomes early-stage startups and tasks from any sector, offered they’re revolutionary and scalable, with the potential to profit the Ticino space. Eligible tasks should be proposed by groups of a minimum of two folks. If the staff already has a registered firm, it should be lower than three years outdated on the time of software. Groups should be prepared to develop their tasks in Ticino, haven’t accomplished one other acceleration program, and take part with a minimum of one staff member in all obligatory occasions and conferences.
FONGIT Innovation Fund
The FONGIT Innovation Fund (FIF) affords monetary help to startups in Switzerland, aiming to speed up innovation processes inside universities, Hautes Ecoles, and different Geneva-based analysis establishments, in addition to inside startups, scale-ups, and SMEs experiencing fast progress in a technological atmosphere. The FIF targets technological improvements that positively impression folks and the planet.
FIF supplies completely different ranges of economic help primarily based on the stage of the mission. Early-stage tasks transitioning from analysis establishments to new corporations can obtain a FIF Grant of CHF 50,000. Seed-stage corporations needing extra monetary help to achieve the market can obtain a FIF Seed Mortgage of CHF 100,000. Lastly, increasing corporations requiring vital funding to maintain fast progress can obtain a FIF Progress Mortgage of CHF 400,000.
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