Fongit announces the launch of an International Business Acceleration program

International business development is an essential step for the growth of a startup. The challenges of building new contacts and applying new skills in a different business culture have proven to be a significant and costly barrier to the first commercial successes of young innovative companies. For these reasons, Fongit, Geneva’s innovation incubator, has decided to launch Fongit Force.

Fongit Force is a unique international business development program tailored to the specific needs of fast growing Swiss startups. The five selected startups join our accelerator to take on the challenge of growing an internationally to have a global impact.

“We believe it is essential for them to enter an international business environment, so diverse but still close to Geneva, that only a city like London can give” – said Antonio Gambardella, Director of Fongit. “Fongit Force completes Fongit’s winning integrated incubation program and it builds on our heritage of Swiss startup success”.

The most promising Swiss startups will be selected to participate to this unique three month program, based in Geneva and London. The execution phase consists of a series of tailored customer discovery meetings and interactive workshops during London Technology Week, in June 2016. The program enables their international business development and sales during the most crucial moment of their development.

“We are proud to assist Swiss startups in their international development. The Fongit Force is ideal preparation for International market entry”, Lutz-Peter Berg, Head of Science & Innovation, Swiss Embassy London.

“The aim of the Hub is to help accelerate market entry for Swiss companies. With this programme, we aim to provide the Fongit Force startups with key internationalisation tools to kick start their market entry. “Geraldine Mortby, Deputy Head of the Swiss Business Hub UK - Switzerland Global Enterprise.

Application for the 2016 program is now open until 10th March 2016.

Take note of the following dates:

• Complete applications will be reviewed by a Committee

• 5 startups will be selected to participate in the program

• 2 entrepreneurs per startup will attend - a technical exec and a commercial exec

• Winners Announcement: 22nd March 2016

• Program starts: 30th March 2016

About Fongit
Fondation Genevoise pour l'Innovation Technologiques, Fongit, is the premier startup incubator in Switzerland, celebrating 25 years of innovating the future. Fongit currently support 50 companies in IT, Cleantech, Medtech representing 250 jobs and more than

CHF 100 M raised. Fongit is a private, non-profit foundation, whose mission is to empower entrepreneurs to successfully transform innovation and technology into a growing sustainable business, delivering economic and social value in Geneva, Switzerland. FONGIT benefits from financial support from the State of Geneva and from the Swiss Federal Commission for Technology and Innovation. Fongit’s unique integrated incubation program combines coaching, essential administrative support, fully equipped office space, and access to seed-funding. Fongit enables startups to focus on product and customer development - doubling their success rate.