Build the Future: Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Switzerland Spring 2023

Founder First, Founder Always. Join us in 2023: Founder Institute is the #1 place in the world to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses.

Today’s economic 'New Normal' is full of reshuffling industries, and new problems in need of solutions - now is a time for entrepreneurs to act.

Whether you need to test and validate early hypotheses before making a large financial commitment to your startup idea, or you are ready to push your startup to the next level through aggressive weekly growth sprints to refine your vision, improve key metrics, and prepare for investor diligence, Founder Institute has the proven processes and network to help you do it.

If you could use a structured process that tells you what to focus on when, and a lifetime of support from Zurich's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to the Switzerland Spring 2023 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several in-person free startup events in Zurich over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:

Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 4:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/371045
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Launching and Scaling Startups in Europe: Insights from FI Founders: 7:00pm, May 19, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/369160
Lessons Learned Raising from Top Silicon Valley VCs: AMA with Rajeev Behera: 6:00pm, May 29, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/371287
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/370641
How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 7:00pm, Jun 04, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/371410
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/370794
FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 7:00pm, Jun 23, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/371837
Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 7:00pm, Jun 25, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/372038
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Jun 30, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/371678
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/370403

See all upcoming events

Make better, faster business decisions in 2023 by sharing your latest progress, challenges, and strategies for constant feedback and evaluation from our expert mentors and advisors, every step of the way–scale your team, develop new business opportunities, and recruit an amazing advisory board with the world's largest network of international startup founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors.

Our mentors include

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
Adrian Hirt: CEO & Founder
Adriano Di Dia: Chief Marketing Officer, Fyffes International SA
Aksil Amel: Mr., aux pieds des bibans
Alain Nydegger: Founding Partner, 21Celsius Ventures
Alastair Wong: Head of Engineering, International, Restaurant Brands International
Alejandro Garcia: CEO & Founder , AI Retailer Systems
Aleksandar Bradic: Chief Technology Officer, Supplyframe
Alessandro Tschabold: Entrepreneur and Startup Coach
Alex Von Mühlenen: Founder & CEO, Chainwork
Alexander Mathys: Assistant Professor of Sustainable Food Processing, ETH Zuerich
Alexander Schmitt: CTO, FYTA GmbH
Alexandra Pastollnigg: Founder, Fair Voyage
Alexandra Pinto: Founder, hoursec
Alexandre Bastos: Global Director Innovation, Givaudan
Alice Sachova Kleisli: Partner, Vendbridge AG
Amine Tazi: Founder & Managing Partner, AT Swiss Ventures
Andrew Ive: Founder / Managing General Partner, Big Idea Ventures
Anette Gärtner: Intellectual Property Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
Angela Stathi: Expert at European Innovation Council, .
Anja Willms: Founder & Managing Director Shileo GmbH/ Venture Architect for Sparrow Ventures, Shileo GmbH
Antoine Mallard: VP, Causality Link
Antonios Kouris: CEO, Curzyy
Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
Ari Veltman: Business Strategy Advisor | Board Director | CBDO@, Sparko.TV
Armin Fricke: Managing Director, CGC Capital-Gain Consultants GmbH
Aron Braun: Founder / Co-Founder, Epigenomics AG / Arpega AG / Zimballo GmbH
Balthasar Wicki: Senior Partner, Wicki Partners Ltd
Barbara Rübel: Managing Partner, Brand Essence AG
Bart Clarysse: Professor of Entrepreneurship, ETH Zuerich
Bart Jan Veldhuizen: CEO and Co-Founder, KitchenRepublic
Bastian Thurneysen
Beat Scheidegger: Co-Founder, Company Factory AG
Bhaskar Bulusu: Associate Partner, IBM India
Bogdan Vasile: Co-founder, phase2
Bogdan Krinitchko: CEO & Founder , BRU
Brad Peppard: Partner & Principal, Ravix Group
Carina Freundt: Consultant / Former Director Strategic Planning & Analytics, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Health
Carl P-Conquilla: Director / Design Engineer, Torson Injex AG
Carlo Loderer: CEO, Zippsafe AG
Carlos Da Silva: Director, Founder Institute Portugal
Carlos Ruiz: CEO & Co-Founder, Flatev AG
Carolin Schneider: Founder & CEO, 4di2 GmbH
Caroline Schwieger: Category Director Home Care, Unilever
Cassiano Gobbet: Founder, Troovr
Cedric Waldburger: Founder & General Partner, Tomahawk.vc
Cédric Waldburger: CEO, tenderloin ventures
Chander Nagpal: Managing Partner, Enabling Excellence
Chevonae Walcott: Associate, Relay Ventures
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Responsible Solutions Ltd
Christian Bärtsch: CEO and Co-Founder, Essento
Christina Hoffmann: CEO and Founder, BRANDMIND
Christine Gould: Founder & CEO, Thought For Food
Christodoulos Papachristou: COO, Funkmartini
Christof Tremp: Founder and CEO, REBELS 0.0%
Christoph Sollich: Freelancer, The Pitch Doctor
Christoph Laib: CEO, Founder, ViOS GmbH
Christoph Birkholz: Co-President & Founder, Impact Hub Switzerland
Christoph Kellenberger: CEO and Co-Founder , DrinkPure / Novamem
Clemence Marcilly
Costas Papaikonomou: Co-Founder, Happen
Cristobal Sanchez: Global Marketing & Digital Leader – BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, Invacare
Dalith Steiger: Co-Founder / Managing Partner, SwissCognitive / Cognitive Valley
Daniel Kästli: Co-founder, Lead Customer Success, Spontacts, Frontify
Daniel Puerta Diaz: Founder and expert on Industrialization and Scale-up, Sunflower Labs
Daniel Michael Böhi: Executive Coach, Founder & Investor, Founder Institute
David Butler: Director, Startup Grind Zurich
David Lunsford
Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
Devesh Kothari: Technical Program Manager, Google Austria
Dionysis Linaras: President of the Investment Committee, Hellenic Pension Fund
Dr Mark Post: Founder , Mosameat
Eddie Laventman: Founder & CEO, Goodpoint - Storytelling Masters
Edgar Kussberg: AI Group Product Manager, Snyk
Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
Elena Walder Schiavone: Managing Partner, Übermorgen Ventures
Eliana Zamprogna: CEO and Founder, Yumame Foods
Elias Kleimann: Founder & CFO, Wingtra
Elisa Chiarelli: CEO and Founder, Yoordi
Emil Virag: Founder, Foodanza, Inc.
Eric Postler: Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
Erika Darmstaedter: Co-Founder, Collective63
Erin Chen: Founder& CEO, Gilly, Inc.
Eszter Tanczos Olver: Partner , EJ Capital AG
Fabian De Vos: User Journey Manager, MoneyPark
Fabio Ziemssen: Director Food Innovation, NX-FOOD (METRO AG)
Fiorella Erni: CEO and Founder, Cheetah Stories SA
Flavio Rump: Entrepreneur and Investor, Flavio Rump
Florian Nyffenegger: Founder, Agedo
Fortunat Diener: Founder , AVEC-SAVE AG
Frank Mertens: Founder & CEO, FM Consulting GmbH
Fraser Doherty: Founder/Co-Founder, SuperJam | Beer52.com
Freddy Atangana: Founder & CEO, EKAMOU
Frieder Damm: Managing Director & Founder / Chairman , Daizu & Sleep.ink / German FoodTech Expert Group
Georg Greve
George Papanikolaou: Founder and Owner, WINE ART SA
German Ramirez: Co-founder & Chief Relevance Officer, THE RELEVANCE HOUSE AG
Gianmaria Monteleone: Founder , YouniteStars SpA
Gil Margalit: CEO, PhoneDue Technology in Motion
Gonçalo Castanho: CEO, Avenue Ideas Lda
Greg Chew: CEO, Founder, QPQ
Greg Beardwell: CEO and Co-Founder , Connie's Kitchen
Guillaume Rozenblat: Founding Partner, Seven Lanes Capital
Guillermo Söhnlein: Co-Founder & CEO , Blue Marble ExplorationBlue Marble Exploration
Gulnaz Khusainova: CEO & Founder, EasySize
Gunter Pauli: Founder / Director, ZERI
Haim Rot: C.E.O, Cohen Rot Financial Management
Hans Stier: Founder & CEO, Bonaverde Coffee AG
Henrietta Hearth: Investment Principal , Big Idea Ventures
Herman Gyr: Member of the Board, Eligma
Hilda Kilama: Founder, YouTold
Hilda Liswani: Founder, webloom
Ido Zahavi: Associate, Arnon, Tadmor-Levy
Ingeborg Gasser Kriss: Board Member, Advisor , Agent21
Ion Badekas: CEO, M-Stat SA
Irina Berkon: Member, Golden Seeds
Ivo Ronner: VC & Advisor, Swiss Post Ventures, Digital Twins, etc.
Jacques Hefti: Entrepreneur, Investor & Senior Lecturer, Startup Campus
Jan Fülscher: Owner, janfuelscher.ch
Jana Thiel: Senior Researcher ETH Zuerich, ETH Zuerich
Janne Saarikko: Director, Food Ecosystems Accelerator, Founder Institute
Jean Philippe Spinas: Principal, Kienbaum
Jerome Mutschler: CEO and Co-founder , Demetrics
Jessica Korthuis: Founder & CEO, SOHUIS
Jill Allemang: Founder and Managing Director, jallé
Jim Cheng: Serial Entrepreneur and Advisor
Joanna Demkow Bartlomé
Joanna Kapela: Founder, SLEEBOO
Julia Devecchi: Entrepreneur/Mentor, Venturelab
Julien Lepetit: Director Europe, The Business of Trust
Jürg Stuker: Partner, Kickstart Innovation
Kamran Houshang Pour: Patent Expert , Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Kartik Buddha: Co-Founder/CTO, MOOCTORS
Katharina Kurz: Co-founder & MD , BRLO craft beer
Kezia Cottrell: Senior Innovation Consultant, Happen.com
Klaus Kummermehr: Co-Founder and Partner , SNGLR Group
Konstantin Berezin: Technology Entrepreneur , Stealth Mode
Kostas Karolemeas: Founder, CEO, Allcancode
Laurentiu Christian Nat: Co-Founder, Easyplan Hospitality
Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
Lea Von Bidder: Co-Founder and CEO, Ava Science
Léa Miggiano: CMO and Co-Founder, Carvolution
Leonidas Papadopoulos: Growth Strategist/CEO, Viable Growth Marketing Agency
Lidia Zabala: Co-Lead , Lean In Zurich
Lilla Peczely: co-director, Founder Institute Switzerland
Liran Akavia: Serial entrepreneur (2 exits) | Executive Chairman | , CallMarker / Seebo / Sogomatic / Intelichain
Luca Ferraro: Strategic Project Manager, Biotronik
Luis Allo: Director External Innovation R&D, Kenvue
Lukas Böni: Co-Founder, Planted
Lydia Bronze: Founder, Linie7
Magdalena Tarasinska: Investor, SICTIC
Majbritt Byskov Bridges: COO and Co-Founder, Alver World SA
Manuel Gonzalez: CEO and Managing Partner, Global RIFF
Manuel Rinaldi: Program Director , Starta VC
Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
Marcel Gasser: Managing Director and Founder, GEN (Global Entrepreneurship Network) | AKASHA
Marco Tosoni: Startup Advisor, Freelancer
Marcus Kuhn: Co-Founder, Viable Labs
Marina Helm Romaneschi: President and Co-Founder, foodward
Marita Price: Founder & Director, Hello
Mark Leinemann: Founder & President, Crowdfoods.com - the 1st AgriFood/-Tech Startup Association in DACHLI
Markus Ursprung: Owner, Level 48
Martin Boos: Partner, Amatin
Martina Frick: Attorney at Law and Mediator SBA, lic. iur., LL.M., Eversheds Sutherland
Mateja Kramar: Serial Entrepreneur / Project Lead, ETH Zuerich / Swiss Smart Farming
Matthias Dorner: Founder, Wydr
Matthias Käch: Senior IP Trainer, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Max Itskovich: CEO and Founder, Mobindustry
Micha Verhagen: Coach & Consultant & Program Manager, StartupBootcamp / ng Strategic Programme Management
Michael Blank: Investment Manager, Investiere.ch
Michael Baier: Start-up-, Venture Capital- & M&A-Lawyer, Wenger & Vieli
Michael Striligás: Founder, Vertliner
Michael Mosimann: Partner, Eversheds Sutherland Ltd.
Michael Dudli: CEO and Founder, Xelon
Michelle Grant: Committee Member and Lecturer, ETH Zuerich World Food System Centre & Swiss Committee of UN FAO
Michelle Tschumi: Head Start-up Finance, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB)
Mike Suprovici: Head of Acceleration, VC Lab
Mike Lingle: Entrepreneur / Mentor, Rocket Pro Forma
Mike Abegg: Lawyer, Wenger & Vieli
Mine Uran: CEO and Founder, Alver
Mohammad Hossein Tavangar: Director , Founder Institute Germany
Monika Bercu: COO, GrowersTech
Morgaine Gaye: Founder, Dr Gaye
Nadav Kaidar: Partner, Systems Of Disruption
Nadine Zerrini: Director, Founder Institute Boston
Natasha Drapeau: Partner, Strategic Projects, Equinoxe Investments SA
Nathan Evans: Founder | Angel Investor | Advisor , Stealth Fintech Startup
Neriya Rosner: Founder , SpecBite
Nicola D'Apice: Sr Manager Engineering EMEA, Johnson & Johnson
Nicolas Egger: COO, Poinz
Nilson Kufus: Co-founder, Nomoko
Nimrod Vromen: Partner, Yigal Arnon
Nina Portier Reinhart: Managing Director, Reinhart Capital
Noam Tamari-Wekser: Growth Investor, TheCircle
Noemi Nagy: Business Development , Alpine Angel Investors
Oana Ria Nasaudeanu Ghinea: Regional Manager, SINGA Switzerland
Ofer HaCohen: Head of Innovation Center, Israel, AT&T
Olena Bochulia: Co-Founder, Severus
Olha Kubiv: Startup Mentor, Beloyara
Oliver Flueckiger: Entrepreneur, Lecturer, Startup, University of Zurich
Oliver Stahl: FOUNDER, Snackbox Express / Früchtebox Express / Hofladen Express / Dalou / Fruchtbox Express
Olivier Laube
Oron Zachar: CEO & Founder , Vytonic
Otto Freijser: Co-Founder / Lean Innovation Lead, Perpetulon
Panagiotis Tomadakis: General Manager, Oriani
Pascal Brunner: CEO, Vatorex
Pascal Koenig: Co-Founder | Member of the Board, AVA Women
Patricia Kastner: Angel Investor, Strategic Advisor
Patrycja Pielaszek: CEO/Founder, WeCoCo.io
Paul D'souza: President and CEO, The D'Souza Group
Paul Peyrot: Partner, Peyrot, Schlegel & Györffy
Peter Lazou: Creative Future Venture Builder & Investor, otherDOTS
Philippe Küng: Executive Board Member, resilient
Pierre Gaubil
Pierre Alain Ceralli: CEO & Co-Founder OriginFood / Former Executive Ambrosus, OriginFood
Pouria Kay: Founding Partner, Atlan
Raanan Shenhav: Founder, RS-CPD
Rachel Sheppard: Digital Strategist & Startup Mentor - Helping Female Founders Launch & Grow Their Businesses Around the Globe, Founder Institute HQ
Ralph Walter: CTO, Assentis
Ralph Mogicato: Member of the Advisory Board, Swiss Finance Startups
Raphaela Kurer: C0-Founder | CMO, Meloncast
Réginald Bien Aimé: Founder & Managing Director, Veelab
Rene Lehmann: Co-Founder, Kanbii Solutions AG
Ricardo Perez Font: Head of Marketing, BOBST
Roland Siegwart: Professor Autonomous Systems, ETH Zuerich
Rolf Van De Velde, Undagrid
Rusty Schwartz: CEO, KitchenTown
Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
Ryan Bethencourt: CEO, Wild Earth
Sabrina Tachdjian: Head of Ecosystem APAC, Hedera Hashgraph
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Sandeep Raju: Co-founder and Director, Samaaru India
Sandro Kunz: Co-Founder & CEO, Pingen
Sasha Schriber: Founder and CEO, Nanos.AI
Sean Paul Shanor: Bliss, Breathwork, Startup Coach, Synergy Space
Sébastien Flury: Co-founder & CEO, Coteries SA
Sharon Alvarez: Chair Entrepreneurial Studies, Graduate School of Business / University of Pittsburgh
Sharon Tal: Author & Facilitator, Where to Play
Shira Teger: Attorney, Arnon, Tadmor - Levy
Simon Heinzle: CEO and co-founder, Crowd
Simon Dössegger: former CEO, modum
Sona Chandra: CEO and Founder, Terra Lumina
Sonia Eterno: CEO and Founder, SHUBiDU AG
Sophie Neuhut: President, Impact Angel Investors
Søren Bjønness: Partner, Catapult Capital GmbH
Stavros Pavlidis: Head Direct and Strategic Investments, Deep Capital Group
Stephanie Naegeli: Chief Strategic Business Development Officer, SV Group
Stephen Dowling: Global Vice President - Marketing | Digital Commerce | Go To Market, adidas
Stijn Pieper: Founder & CTO, Advanon
Sunnie Groeneveld: CEO & Founder, Inspire 925
Susanne Lauber Fuerst: Founder & CEO , InnoNext
Suzanne Van der Maarel: Lead Food & Retail | Investor Program, Kickstart Innovation
Tatjana De Kerros: Head of Venturing @RicoLab, RicoLab
Thomas Baer: Chief Operations Officer, Koch & Gsell
Thomas Boesch: Co-Founder, Earlybird Food
Thomas Ackermann: Co-Director, Founder Institute Switzerland
Thomas Helbling: Co-CEO, CARU AG
Tim Reinermann: Senior Projektmanager Digitales Marketing, Schwyzer Kantonalbank
Timo Hahn: Chief Venture Officer, Sparrow Ventures
Tobias Gunzenhauser: Co-Founder and CEO, Yamo
Trudi Haemmerli: Partner, SNGLR CAPITAL
Ulla Fletscher: CEO, HEYLIFE
Vera Futorjanski, Veritas Ventures
Veroniek Vermeulen: Founder, Silatha
Vincent Irrling: Co-Founder | CEO, KAPSLY
Wendelien Loopik: Director Digital Innovation, Royal Haskoning DHV
Willy Bischofberger: MSc Computer Science ETH, MBA INSEAD, Serial Entrepreneur
Yaniv Lavi: CEO and Co-Founder, fitto
Yoav Bar: VicePresident, CocaCola Israel
Yury Melnichek: Co-founder & ex-CEO, MAPS.ME

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, Founder Institute’s highly-structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,500 entrepreneurs to grow quickly, know what to do next, and make key connections through the largest community of startup advisors in the world.

It all starts with our renowned ‘FI Core’ accelerator, which pushes founders at the idea and pre-seed stages to reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth. Alumni of FI Core then receive free access to our advanced ‘Founder Lab’ accelerators for years to come, and can get matched with prospective investors in the FI Venture Network - a collection of global funds actively investing in the earliest rounds of funding.

The results speak for themselves: FI Alumni have raised over $1.85BN in funding, and are building impactful businesses across 200+ cities and 100+ countries all across the globe. (see the FI 50 Report here).