Introducing our principal and key partners

Principal: Innosuisse - Swiss Innovation Agency 

Innosuisse’s role is to promote science-based innovation in the interests of industry and society in Switzerland. It especially promotes the partnership between academia and the market with national and international innovation projects, networking, training and coaching, laying the groundwork for successful Swiss start-ups, products and services.

The Innosuisse Guide helps you find the right support offer in just a few steps (www.innosuisse.guide).

Key Partner: Gebert Rüf Stiftung 

The Gebert Rüf Stiftung was founded by entrepreneur Heinrich Gebert as a science and innovation foundation with the aim of "strengthening Switzerland as a top business location and a place to live". The foundation’s role is to take risks and provide funding in order to boost its mission statement – ‘Making science effective’. It positions itself in the ‘valley of death’, where for many innovative projects the grant-making chain breaks down, research funds are no longer available and no venture capital is in sight. The funding policy applies in particular to projects of up-and-coming entrepreneurial talents who want to pursue their own paths.

www.grstiftung.ch/en

Key Partner: UBS

UBS is the premier Swiss bank for start-ups, scale-ups and mature companies. We help entrepreneurs strive and realize their private and business goals with tailor-made offerings. Let’s write your success story together! Check out UBS Start Business for start-ups and UBS Growth Advisory for growth-stage scale-ups or simply contact Lukas Reinhardt for a personal chat. Find out more about Lukas Reinhardt, the UBS programs for startups and investments in general in our interview or this podcast from Swisspreneur.

Key Partner: Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation

The Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation promotes innovative companies in the growth phase, links the innovation ecosystem with political decision makers and has also initiated a fund for growth stage investments. Start-ups can also benefit from the Upscaler Program which helps them to grow globally. With the Swiss Enterpreneurs and Startup Association (SWESA) the Foundation has launched an organisation open to all startups which intends to significantly strengthen political work to improve the framework conditions for startups and innovative SMEs. The private, not-for-profit and independent foundation based in Bern is under the patronage of the Federal Council and WBF Chairman Guy Parmelin.

swissef.ch