More than 170 experts selected 41 international startups for the 11-week Kickstart Innovation program in Switzerland. The cohort gains access to decision-makers and stakeholders, and can now test and scale their business models and close deals. The finalists come from nine countries, with a strong representation of Swiss startups (over a third), to promote partnerships, deep tech and sustainable innovation.
Each year, Kickstart said it has attracted startups that are developing solutions to society’s biggest challenges. This is done in collaboration with industry players like AXA, Coop, Swisscom, La Mobilière, PostFinance, Sanitas, the City of Zurich, the Canton of Vaud and MSD. This year, IKEA Switzerland and Romande Energie are also participating on the corporate side for the first time.
Kickstart has already supported more than 450 startups and facilitated north of 310 business deals in the form of pilot and commercial projects. Participants have come from more than 80 countries and have mobilized more than CHF 2.5 billion in investment, including Planted, KernTec, Neustark, and AAAcell.
“One trend that is clearly emerging is the increasing number of startups that are looking for sustainable solutions in their business ideas,” said Kickstart CEO Katka Letzing. “The sustainability areas of industry, innovation and infrastructure, as well as health and well-being (SDG9 and SDG3), have seen particular growth next to the increase of solutions connected to AI enhancing new business models.”
“We are very happy to partner with such a professional platform to enter into innovation partnerships and commercial deals bringing a view to the future,” added Paloma Bosco, head of new business and innovation at Swisscom – partner in the Kickstart Innovation program.
The startups presented their business models and ideas for the future in five areas (New Work & Learning, Finance & Insurance, Food & Retail, Health & Wellbeing and Smart Cities). Climate change and sustainable solutions are an important theme among these ideas.
Next to supporting scale-ups, Kickstart also assists established organizations in boosting and accelerating internal innovation by supporting teams working on specific topics to test. That enables employees to work on innovation of validation of their ideas as well as scaling within their corporate or public institutions including Swisscom, IWB, and CSEM.
“Intrapreneurship is an important piece of innovation within our organization, supporting talent as well as new ideas that can validate and scale,” said Bahaa Roustom, vice president of business development at CSEM.
The new deals and partnerships will be announced at a closing ceremony on Nov. 28 at the Kraftwerk in Zurich.