Venture Kick takes the next step

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06.01.2021
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Having supported 755 spin-offs from Swiss universities with CHF 34.25 million in seed capital since 2007, Venture Kick continues its success story by increasing the 2021 budget by 10% to CHF 5.5 million. This will allow Venture Kick to support 86 new innovative projects in 2021.

Venture Kick, the leading seed support program in Switzerland, continues to grow its impact. Over the past 14 years, juries of successful entrepreneurs and investors have chosen 755 startup projects from close to 4,700 applications. The competitive seed acceleration program has already invested CHF 34.25 million since its inception.

“I’m delighted to see how Venture Kick was able to successfully continue its mission in 2020. Our alumni show every day how impactful the seeds planted 10 years ago have been and how society benefits from it today,” said Pascale Vonmont, who presides Venture Kick’s strategy board. The philanthropic Venture Kick initiative has been supported by a private consortium since its inception and has more than doubled its yearly support since its launch in 2007. “The merger with Volkswirtschaftsstiftung last year and the renewed support of our long-term donors are an amazing recognition of the efforts done to date, for which we are very grateful.”

Close to one jury session per week

Venture Kick plans a total of 48 jury sessions—four per month. The jury will select 86 new projects that will enter the Venture Kick process in 2021 and join previous winners from 2020 for the next stages. This year, 163 “kicks” will support the spin-offs' financial and business acceleration. Venture Kick’s maximum support—CHF 150,000—continues to be complemented by Gebert Rüf Stiftung’s InnoBooster program. Candidates passing VK Stage 1 can apply for an additional grant of CHF 150,000, thus offering Swiss startups an opportunity to receive as much as CHF 300,000 in seed financing.

Venture Kick’s “more than just money” support is essential

Entrepreneurs benefiting from Venture Kick keep emphasizing that the “kicking” goes much beyond the money, with exposure and access to a top network of investors and entrepreneurs. The credibility offered by the selection and the direct and structured feedback are major contributions to the development of their startup. “Venture Kick is a true asset for young startups. It helped us to drive our business development, enabled contacts to our first investors, and allowed us to sell our first products right after the foundation of our company,” said Dr. Florian Döring, founder and CEO of XRnanotech, which won Venture Kick in December 2020.

Venture Kick is on a mission

The team behind Venture Kick is ready to further implement the ambitious objective set for 2021 and beyond. “Seeing what our alumni have delivered and their feedback on how Venture Kick was instrumental in supporting their first steps are daily motivators to implement this ambitious agenda,” said Jordi Montserrat, Venture Kick’s co-managing director. “It shall bring us closer to our ‘Mission 2027’: to create 1,000 high-tech startups in Switzerland, generating 15,000 active jobs.”

(Press release / SK)

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