Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Switzerland Spring 2024 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Zurich's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Switzerland Spring 2024 Founder Institute today.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 7,000 Graduates raise over $1.75BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Zurich, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 7:00pm, Apr 29, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/342882
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Innovation Series: Connecting Corporates & Startups with Open Innovation: 6:00pm, May 09, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/345268
- Startup Founders’ Guide to Building an Effective Go-To-Market Strategy: 7:00pm, May 15, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/345038
- How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 7:00pm, May 20, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/338822
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, Jun 03, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/343482
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 7:00pm, Jun 12, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/339794
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Jun 17, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/339951
- How to Turn your Value Proposition into a Product Market Fit: 7:00pm, Jun 24, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/341491
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jun 26, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/339855
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 2:00am, Jul 02, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/340263
- How to Acquire your First 100 B2C Customers: 7:00pm, Jul 08, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/344457
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Jul 17, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/341377
- How to Build a Personal Brand: The Startup Founders Guide to Thought Leadership: 7:00pm, Jul 24, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/343174
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 7:00pm, Jul 29, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/341705
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, Aug 12, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/344137
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Sep 16, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/342401
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/343588
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Sep 25, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/344335
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Oct 02, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/342084
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 6:00pm, Oct 30, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/344636
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 7:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/343374
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Nov 07, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/342181
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Nov 27, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/342577
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/342285
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/345372
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/344835
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (Europe/Zurich): https://FI.co/e/344954
The Zurich program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Daniel Boehi (Managing Director, MAD Strategy & Former CEO of Capri Sun), Christina Senn Jakobsen (Vertical Lead Food & Retail Tech at Kickstart Accelerator), Axel Kramer (Founder and Innovation Manager, Haco Innovation Lab), Daria Reisch (Project Manager at Berner Fachhochschule BFH), and Denise Loga (Co-Founder of Beyond & co GmbH and Sustainable Food Academy).
In addition, some of Zurich's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Zurich Founder Institute includes:
- Adrian Hirt: CEO & Founder
- Adriano Di Dia: Chief Marketing Officer, Fyffes International SA
- 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
- Alexandra Pastollnigg: Founder, Fair Voyage
- Alexandra Pinto: Founder, hoursec
- Alice Sachova Kleisli: Partner, Vendbridge AG
- Andrew Ive: Founder / Managing General Partner, Big Idea Ventures
- Anette Gärtner: Intellectual Property Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
- Anja Willms: Founder & Managing Director Shileo GmbH/ Venture Architect for Sparrow Ventures, Shileo GmbH
- Antoine Mallard: VP, Causality Link
- Ari Veltman: Business Strategy Advisor | Board Director | CBDO@, Sparko.TV
- Aron Braun: Founder / Co-Founder, Epigenomics AG / Arpega AG / Zimballo GmbH
- Athanasios Ladopoulos: CEO | Founder, MOOCTORS
- Bastian Thurneysen
- Beat Scheidegger: Co-Founder, Company Factory AG
- Bogdan Vasile: Co-founder, phase2
- Bogdan Krinitchko: CEO & Founder , BRU
- 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
- Cassiano Gobbet: Founder, Troovr
- Cedric Waldburger: Founder & General Partner, Tomahawk.vc
- Chander Nagpal: Managing Partner, Enabling Excellence
- Chevonae Walcott: Associate, Relay Ventures
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Chris Foltz: Entrepreneur In Residence, Founder Institute + Responsible Solutions Ltd + IRG 100 CMO's & Change Agents
- Christina Hoffmann: CEO and Founder, BRANDMIND
- Christof Tremp: Founder and CEO, REBELS 0.0%
- Christoph Sollich: Freelancer, The Pitch Doctor
- Clemence Marcilly
- Dalith Steiger: Co-Founder / Managing Partner, SwissCognitive / Cognitive Valley
- Daniel Kästli: Co-founder, Lead Customer Success, Spontacts, Frontify
- Daniel Puerta Diaz: Co-Founder, Head of Production, Almer Technologies
- Daniel Michael Böhi: Founder & Partner, Alphorn Venture Partners | TheForge | Swiss FoodTech Scaleup Factory
- David Butler: Director, Startup Grind Zurich
- David Lunsford
- Eddie Laventman: Founder & CEO, Goodpoint - Storytelling Masters
- Edgar Kussberg: 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
- Elisa Chiarelli: CEO and Founder, Yoordi
- Emil Virag: Founder, Foodanza, Inc.
- Erika Darmstaedter: Co-Founder, Collective63
- Erin Chen: Founder& CEO, Gilly, Inc.
- Eszter Tanczos Olver: Partner , EJ Capital AG
- 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
- Frank Mertens: Founder & CEO, FM Consulting GmbH
- Fraser Doherty: Founder/Co-Founder, SuperJam | Beer52.com
- Freddy Atangana: Founder - Chief Executive Officer, EKAMOU
- German Ramirez: Co-founder & Chief Relevance Officer, THE RELEVANCE HOUSE AG
- Gil Margalit: CEO, PhoneDue Technology in Motion
- 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
- Henrietta Hearth: Investment Principal , Big Idea Ventures
- Ido Zahavi: Associate, Arnon, Tadmor-Levy
- Ingeborg Gasser Kriss: Board Member, Advisor , Founder Institute
- Irina Berkon: Member, Golden Seeds
- Ivo Ronner: VC & Advisor, Swiss Post Ventures, Digital Twins, etc.
- Jan Fülscher: Owner, janfuelscher.ch
- Janne Saarikko: Director, Food Ecosystems Accelerator, Founder Institute
- Jean Philippe Spinas: Principal, Kienbaum
- Jerome Mutschler: CEO and Co-founder , Demetrics
- Jill Allemang: Founder and Managing Director, jallé
- Julia Devecchi: CEO/Founder, naanu Foods AG
- Julien Lepetit: Director Europe, The Business of Trust
- Jürg Stuker: Partner, Kickstart Innovation
- Kamran Houshang Pour: Patent Expert , Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
- Klaus Kummermehr: Co-Founder and Partner , SNGLR Group
- Konstantin Berezin: Technology Entrepreneur , Stealth Mode
- 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
- Lilla Peczely: co-director, Founder Institute Switzerland
- Liran Akavia: Serial entrepreneur (2 exits) | Executive Chairman | , CallMarker / Seebo / Sogomatic / Intelichain
- Lukas Böni: Co-Founder, Planted
- Magdalena Tarasinska: Investor, SICTIC
- Majbritt Byskov Bridges: COO and Co-Founder, Alver World SA
- Manuel Gonzalez: CEO and Managing Partner, Global RIFF
- 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
- 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 Käch: Senior IP Trainer, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
- Max Itskovich: CEO and Founder, Mobindustry
- Michael Striligás: Founder, Vertliner
- Michael Mosimann: Partner, Eversheds Sutherland Ltd.
- Michael Dudli: CEO and Founder, Xelon
- Michelle Roborg Sondergaard: VP HR, Carlsberg
- Michelle Tschumi: Head Start-up Finance, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB)
- Mike Lingle: Entrepreneur / Mentor, Rocket Pro Forma
- Mohammad Hossein Tavangar: Director , Founder Institute Germany
- Nadav Kaidar: Partner, Systems Of Disruption
- Natasha Drapeau: Founder, Executive Consultant, Augeous
- Nathan Evans: Co-Founder, fulfin - financing ecommerce
- Neriya Rosner: Founder , SpecBite
- Nicolas Egger: COO, Poinz
- Nimrod Vromen: Partner, Yigal Arnon
- Nina Portier Reinhart: Managing Director, Reinhart Capital
- Noam Tamari-Wekser: Growth Investor, TheCircle
- Ofer HaCohen: Head of Innovation Center, Israel, AT&T
- Olena Bochulia: Co-Founder, Severus
- Olha Kubiv: Startup Mentor, Beloyara
- Oliver Stahl: FOUNDER, Snackbox Express / Früchtebox Express / Hofladen Express / Dalou / Fruchtbox Express
- Oron Zachar: CEO & Founder , Vytonic
- 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
- Peter Lazou: Creative Future Venture Builder & Investor, otherDOTS
- Philippe Küng: Executive Board Member, resilient
- Pouria Kay: Mentor, Founder Institute
- 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
- Réginald Bien Aimé: Founder & Managing Director, Veelab
- Rene Lehmann: Co-Founder, Kanbii Solutions AG
- Ricardo Perez Font: VP Marketing & Product Management , Invacare Corporation
- Rolf Van De Velde, Undagrid
- Sandro Kunz: Co-Founder & CEO, Pingen
- Sasha Schriber: Founder and CEO, Nanos.AI
- Sean Paul Shanor: Bliss, Breathwork, Startup Coach, Synergy Space
- Sharon Tal: Author & Facilitator, Where to Play
- Shira Teger: Attorney, Arnon, Tadmor - Levy
- Simon Dössegger: former CEO, modum
- Sona Chandra: CEO and Founder, Terra Lumina
- Sonia Eterno: CEO and Founder, SHUBiDU AG
- Søren Bjønness: Partner, Catapult Capital GmbH
- Stavros Pavlidis: Expert network services, Independent
- Suzanne Van der Maarel: Portfolio Manager, Sentient Ventures VC
- Thomas Baer: Chief Operations Officer, Koch & Gsell
- Thomas Ackermann: Co-Director, Founder Institute Switzerland
- Thomas Helbling: Co-CEO, CARU AG
- Timo Hahn: Chief Venture Officer, Sparrow Ventures
- Tobias Gunzenhauser: Co-Founder and CEO, Yamo
- Trudi Haemmerli: Partner, SNGLR CAPITAL
- Veroniek Vermeulen: Founder, Silatha
- Vincent Irrling: Co-Founder | CEO, KAPSLY Ventures
- Yoav Bar: VicePresident, CocaCola Israel
- Yury Melnichek: Co-founder & ex-CEO, MAPS.ME
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Zurich to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Switzerland Spring 2024 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
