Kick the Next Generation

At Venture Kick, we believe that entrepreneurship is a catalyst for innovative solutions to tackle global challenges and make the world a more sustainable and better place. Our focus is cutting-edge research at Swiss universities performed by brilliant scientists. We help them transition from the lab to become entrepreneurs and bring winning Swiss innovation to global markets.

Transforming such scientific innovation into commercial activity and jobs is the foundation of social and economic prosperity. Early-stage startups bear high risks that aren’t covered by public money or private investors. Supporting such seed-stage startups therefore fills a crucial gap and performs a philanthropic role in society.

Venture Kick has been financed with CHF 80 million by private donors and foundations to promote entrepreneurship at Swiss universities and kick-start science-based, highly innovative startups. Today, our consortia of private donors include Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Hauser-Stiftung, Fondation Alcea, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation ProTechno, European Space Agency, Swisscom, Lichtsteiner Foundation and Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation.

Since 2007, Venture Kick has kicked 1,111 startup projects from Swiss universities, built a portfolio of 750 growing high-tech companies, creating 14,500 jobs and attracting CHF 9 billion in investment. Venture Kick alumni account for two third of all winners of Swiss Startup Awards and half of all venture capital invested in Swiss startups.

However, currently around 50% of promising applicants cannot be supported, and we need to ensure that more startups have access to the resources they need to succeed. We need more spin-offs to commercialize the R&D potential and turn it into jobs and economic growth for Switzerland.

Join the consortia of donors and give a kick to the next generation. Considering Venture Kick as an element of your estate planning is another way in which you can support our continued endeavors. We welcome and accept endowments and bequests in the form of legacies. Due to the philanthropic nature of Venture Kick, such a gift is tax exempt in Switzerland.

We would be delighted to give you more information in a personal meeting. Please contact our Co-Managing Director, Beat Schillig (email).