Deadline for International Create Challenge 2014 Approaching

Switzerland is among the leading innovative countries, with its universities, research institutions and engineering schools ranking among the best in the world. This creates a natural breeding ground for start-up activities. However, the lack of a comprehensive program that combines training, mentorship and early stage investment stalls the progress of technology start-up creation. International Create Challenge intends to address this gap by facilitating start-up/ spin-out creation within the framework of the IM2/Idiap domains of research and technologies

The International Create Challenge provides the ideal breeding space and resources to drive early stage technology innovation into Minimum Viable Products and start-ups, providing top-notch coaching, seed funding and competitive prizes. The format is a free of charge, 3-week immersive program in which around 10 teams of 2 - 3 people, composed of developers, researchers, entrepreneurs and/or designers, will be engaged.

The best three teams will each receive CHF 10’000.- cash of prize money. There is also the possibility to negotiate seed funding in exchange of up to 10-15% of equity of the created company. Should one of the teams decide to create a company locally by integrating the IdeArk Incubator, additional grants will be delivered: an open access to the The Ark Incubator with in-kind support of over CHF 100,000.-, CHF 10’000.- in the form of a The Ark Scholarship and other advantages.

Application is open to any person over the age of 18, with an entrepreneurial spirit and at least one of the three following skills: developer/researcher, designer, entrepreneur. Candidates from Switzerland as well as from abroad are welcome to apply. Application Deadline is 28 April.