Switzerland, a country famed for its quality, reliability, security and stability, has nurtured a thriving financial services and fintech sector, thanks to excellent infrastructure, a solid legal system and a supportive government.
For startups, Switzerland has several top-notch acceleration and incubation programs.
Here’s our pick of the top accelerators and incubators in Switzerland that will help you bring your startup to the next level and connect with potential partners.
Fintech Fusion
Fintech Fusion is a 12-month acceleration program based in Geneva. Every year, the firm selects ten fintech startups from all over the world.
Each startup is paired with one of Fintech Fusion’s mentors. Mentors help refine strategy, provide insights and assist in developing a viable operating plan.
Fintech Fusion doesn’t take equity. Fintech Fusion aims to create a thriving ecosystem of fintech startups and reinforce Switzerland’s reputation as a financial hub.
F10 Incubator and Accelerator
Based in Zurich, F10 is startup incubator and accelerator sponsored by SIX that focusesdfcr on fintech, insurtech and regtech. The six-month accelerator program (2 times a year) aims to transform startups from teams with promising ideas into successful growing companies with paying customers.
Supported by its corporate members consisting of financial infrastructure provider SIX, banks, and insurances, F10 seeks to foster collaboration between startups and big international financial players.
Kickstart Accelerator
Kickstart is a startup program that aims to put Switzerland on the map by bringing some of the most promising early-stage startups from different fields to Switzerland during eleven weeks.
Kickstart is one of Europe’s largest multi-corporate and equity-free accelerator program that has welcomed over 80 founders from around the world. It focuses on ventures within five verticals: fintech, food, robotics and smart systems, smart cities, healthcare and edtech.
Nexussquared
Nexussquared is a fintech platform focusing on blockchain technology. The firm offers fintech research and consultancy services, and is the organizer of Nexuslab, a three-month acceleration program.
Nexuslab takes place predominantly virtually and is organized in collaboration with Startupbootcamp Fintech, which provides participants with access to its network and experts. It has accelerated the likes of Taqanu Bank from Norway, ProofOfYou from Estonia and Paymeabit from Italy.
Thomson Reuters Labs – The Incubator
The Incubator, hosted in Thomson Reuters Labs Zurich region, offers a 6 to 12-month program aimed at facilitating the interaction of early stage startups with the firm’s network of customers and investors.
The program offers office space, mentoring from a diverse group of seasoned executives and entrepreneurs, and access to Thomson Reuters data and technology capabilities. It does not take equity.
The Incubator focuses on startups tackling the fintech, regtech and legaltech markets for partnership opportunities.
Swiss Startup Factory and Helvetia Insurtech Accelerator
Launched in December 2016, the Insurtech Accelerator Program by SwissStartupFactory and Helvetia Insurance is aimed at startups in the insurance segment and for partnership opportunities with Helvetia.
The three-month accelerator program offers coaching, mentoring, working space in the heart of Zurich as well the outstanding network to a wide range of corporations.
BlueLion
BlueLion is a non-profit organization aimed at supporting startups tackling information and communications technology and clean tech.
The incubation program is a tailor-made development program in four phases running over a maximum period of 36 months. It offers in-house coaching, partnership network and the basis for incubation.
BlueLion was founded in 2012 by the City of Zurich, ETH, UZH, Swisscom, ZKB, Stiftung Effort and Christian Wenger.
The Rising Star Accelerator
The Rising Star Accelerator is a program for Swiss and European cybersecurity startups.
The program offers introductions to an extensive network of key industry players and aims to take Europe’s most promising Cyber Security start-ups from proof of concept to market entry.
Each selected startup receives CHF 15,000 to cover their expenses during the 24-week program. They undergo a 13-week education program which culminates in a Demo Day. For the remaining 11 weeks, the Rising Star Accelerator helps and provides practical support to help the startups close their funding round.
The Rising Star Accelerator takes a 5% equity.
The International Create Challenge
The International Create Challenge is a free of charge, three-week immersive super accelerator program that selects around ten teams of two to three people, composed of developers, researchers, entrepreneurs and/or designers to help them develop their ideas.
The program gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to drive their projects to a Minimum Viable Product. It combines state-of-art technologies and cutting edge research, mentors-lead coaching, micro-seed investment and a star prize of more than CHF 100,000.
The Swiss Startup Factory
Launched in 2014, the Swiss Startup Factory aims to help create global disruptive companies, products and business models.
The company offers a three-month accelerator program that provides early-stage startups with financing, coaching, mentoring, office space and access to a large entrepreneurial and investor network.
MassChallenge Switzerland
MassChallenge is a global non-profit startup accelerator and competition that focuses on high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs. So far, it has accelerated over 1,200 startups which together have raised US$1.8 billion in funding.
Each year, MassChallenge admits over 300 finalists to its three- to four-month accelerator program across its five locations: Boston, Israel, Mexico, the UK and Switzerland.
These accelerators provide startups with free office space, mentorship and more. At the end of the program, the most promising startups are awarded equity-free cash prizes.
Featured Picture via Pixabay
