CP Start-Up launches new series of calls for start-up projects

Usually, the classical start-up company is the result either of a spin-off, which has resources and knowledge, or of a team of entrepreneurs with an idea and the willingness to promote it, but with no resources (funds, structure and access to market). However, an alternative model exists. The USI SUPSI Start-Up Promotion Center (CP Start-Up) is currently coordinating a project where the business idea – and funding – is provided by an investor seeking a team of young entrepreneurs (startuppers) who believe in the idea and who are willing to take over the project and also to share the business risk. The team is required to create a company in Ticino and to own 48% of its shares, whereas the investor holds the other 48% and the remaining 4% will be held by an entity defined by USI Università della Svizzera italiana.

The project coordinated by CP Start-Up (voice4people.com) it’s a first of its kind in Ticino and it represents a great opportunity to foster entrepreneurial spirit: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our young entrepreneurs in Ticino to apply their competences and their ideas”, says Umberto Bondi, the person in charge of coordinating the project for CP Start-Up. “Launching this project was not easy because it is a kind of new experience for USI itself, who understood the potential and agreed to be part of it”.

This model offers a better opportunity also for the investor to build a winning team “In a start-up company, a good team chemistry is key for its success”, adds Bondi. “In fact, when an investor looks for a team, it is most likely to go to an IT solution company that has competences and structure, but not the business commitment or the same level of involvement that a business partner would have”.

Applications open for the first project
The voice4people.com project is promoted by M&M Advisory S.r.l. (a public limited company working under the brand consultbank.com ). Voice4people is a so-called “Smart Comunication System” (SCS) positioning itself as a new one to one emotional global language. The new communication app will offer companies a new opportunity for one to one advertising and promoting their corporate social responsibility. Currently the project is in its early stage and requires a team to further develop it.

M&M Advisory S.r.l will provide NewCo (the provisional name of the new company) with a seed funding of CHF 120’000.- (previously deposited at USI). Most of the capital (CHF 110’000.-) is invested in developing the SCS project, the remaining CHF 10’000 will go to a competition for the best marketing plan addressing the marketing goals of NewCo (this competition will address USI-SUPSI students or other applicants that NewCo deems interesting).

The Call for Team deadline is 19 June 2017. Full details of the call and the first project here:  http://www.cpstartup.ch/website/it/calls/call-for-team-smart-communication-system

Picture: USI Università della Svizzera italiana., Lugano