Venture Kick
Funds Venture Kick with a staged model from proof grant to growth financing and mentor-backed market preparation for student startups.
Venture Kick runs a rolling three-stage competition open year-round to startups affiliated with Swiss universities or research institutions. Stage 1 provides CHF 10,000 as a non-repayable grant (a 'moral pledge' to return the amount in case of success), covering business-development expenses only. Advancing startups gain access to Stage 2 (CHF 40,000 convertible loan) and Stage 3 (CHF 100,000 convertible loan), for a maximum of CHF 150,000 per startup over approximately nine months. Convertible loans carry 5% annual interest and convert into equity at the next significant funding round at the same valuation (no discount). Each stage includes two-day 'Kickers Camps' — intensive business-development coaching sessions. Stage 2 winners may also apply for the InnoBooster grant (up to CHF 150,000). Stage 3 winners gain access to the Kickfund equity follow-on (up to CHF 850,000). The programme is sector-agnostic but historically biased toward deep tech and academic spin-offs from ETH, EPFL, ZHAW, and other Swiss institutions.
Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.
Funds Swiss university spinout founders in an early pre-seed stage with a jury reviewed non-dilutive grant path.
Funds Venture Kick alumni to continue development with growth support before next-stage financing opportunities.
Funds Venture Kick scale-up companies with bridge capital and follow-on equity support toward expansion.