One of the largest innovation platforms in Europe, Kickstart, has called for applications from Startups that are interested in making a play for Switzerland’s market.
Kickstart wants about 100 entrepreneurs to join its three-month programme.The programme is targeted at late-stage startups.
Entry is open to all entrepreneurs, irrespective of their countries. Eligible startups whose applications are successful, can start the programme as early as September 2020.
The programme will give special focus to startups who incorporate technology in their business models. Examples of such such startups include those in EdTech & New Work, FinTech & InsurTech, Food & Retail, HealthTech, and Smart City & Technology.
Meanwhile, for the first time since the inception of the programme, Kickstart will also be paying attention to Circular Economy across the whole programme. Nairametrics also understands that participants will learn about business development and how to scale in Switzerland’s market.
What’s participants will benefit: The programme is an annual B2B scale-up programme aimed at connecting and creating specific pilot and commercial projects with any of Kickstart’s 50 corporate and public sector partners namely: AXA, Roche, Credit Suisse and Lafarge Holcim. The next edition will be Kickstart’s fifth incubation.
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Applicants selected at the end of the programme will develop innovative partnerships with executives from leading Swiss corporations, universities, municipalities, foundations and other partners. These partnerships will enable them to solve real business challenges.
While recently commenting on the advantages of the incubation programme to participants, Kickstart’s Co-founder, Katka Letzing, said:
“Switzerland is a very attractive market for later-stage startups: We are regularly recognised as a world leader for innovation and our leading organisations have a big appetite for new technologies and solutions.
“It can be challenging for aspiring entrants to gain access to the Swiss market, and promising opportunities for collaboration can be lost. Kickstart aims to overcome this hurdle by bridging the gap between startups and organisations, allowing them to tackle real-world solutions and to innovate together.”