The HSG START Accelerator is a startup support programme based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, established by the University of St. Gallen (HSG), the START Foundation, and the Switzerland Innovation Park East.
Financially backed by the Canton of St. Gallen and private donors, the accelerator aims to help early-growth European tech startups become investor-ready and build the foundations for sustainable business expansion.
Following a successful pilot phase in 2024, the first official batch of the programme is set to begin in September 2025.
Applications are now open to technology startups from across Europe.
Selected participants will take part in an intensive and tailored programme in St. Gallen, which includes individual coaching and preparation for investor engagement.
The accelerator also provides access to a network of experienced founders, industry experts, and mentors.
“The programme is designed to provide tech startups with precisely this crucial investor-readiness and the tools for sustainable growth,”
said Andreas Goeldi, one of the initiators, a multiple-time founder and investor.
According to Nicolas Blanchard, CEO of the HSG START Accelerator,
“Europe, especially Switzerland, is rich in groundbreaking startup ideas, yet far too few startups manage to scale successfully. This is exactly where our programme comes in.”
The pilot batch involved five startups from various sectors and demonstrated strong demand for the accelerator’s offering.
The programme is led by Nicolas Blanchard, an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the European startup space.
He is joined by Tim Moser, formerly Head of the Startup Programme at Microsoft Switzerland, who brings experience in building startup ecosystems and fostering collaboration between new ventures and established companies.
Featured image credit: HSG Start Accelerator
