Kickstart

Who are we?

Kickstart is one of Europe's largest zero equity, multi-corporate ecosystem innovation platforms that runs a scale-up program for later-stage startups with a goal to accelerate deep tech innovation. Science and engineering driven technologies have the potential to solve humanity’s biggest challenges. They require unprecedented collaboration between established organizations and the most audacious entrepreneurs out there. Thereby, Kickstart is committed to building an innovation ecosystem that brings high-growth startups, corporates, cities, foundations and universities together.

Each year Kickstart brings around 100 startups to Switzerland to collaborate with key players for proofs-of-concept, pilot projects and other innovation partnerships. The program is free of charge (no fees, no equity) for the ventures and it provides exceptional access to the executives and decision-makers of Kickstart’s partners.

Being an initiative of Impact Hub Zürich it was launched by digitalswitzerland in 2015, now Kickstart runs 5 verticals (EdTech & New Work, FinTech & InsurTech, Food & Retail Tech, SmartCity & Technology, HealthTech), one Intrapreneurship program and the Circular Economy Initiative.

Our Purpose: THE WORLD NEEDS INNOVATION TO THRIVE. We want more than a sustainable world, in which people and planet are supported. As current systems and solutions are not getting us there, we push for innovation to happen.

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