Ecosystem Actors

The aim of the Digitization Initiative (DIZH) is to promote cooperation between Zurich’s universities in the field of digitization and thus strengthen Zurich as a location for research and business. The University of Zurich (UZH), the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) are systematically networking in DIZH to specifically drive research and innovation in topics related to digitization using interdisciplinary approaches.

Our expertise is the conception and implementation of high-quality conferences and other event formats.

In a fast-moving society in which technological and economic change processes have become commonplace, we set ourselves the goal of creating “islands of attention” with our range of conferences.

Through innovative programs, we offer unique knowledge and networking platforms to the participants of our conferences. In this way, we want to stimulate the generation of ideas and offer orientation to decision-makers from the Swiss work and financial center.

As Finanz und Wirtschaft Forum, we stand for quality, reliability, commitment, flexibility and personal customer service.

Swiss Food Research, is the largest, independent and self-supporting network with more than 200 members for the promotion of agro-food innovation. For knowledge transfer and as a bridge builder between research and implementation, we offer consulting for Future Food Trends, Resilient Process Design, Innovation Strategy and Funding Strategy. In so-called innovation groups on the most urgent fields of action in the industry, e.g. alternative proteins, digitalization, mushroom systems and many more, Swiss Food Research offers the exchange of the latest research results and their implementation at the most diverse points of the system. We enable a holistic view and linking of important actors towards a sustainable food system.

Soil to Soul is an international movement that was born in 2021 in Switzerland and Portugal. Topics include soil conservation, regenerative agriculture and the context of a responsible, healthy and enjoyable diet. Soil to Soul develops initiatives, publishes and informs, organizes and networks. The highlight is the annual conference and public event in September in Zurich.

Lauren Wildbolz is the founder of Future Cuisine and is dedicated to creating delicious, healthy, and sustainable food solutions. She works with food and food-tech companies globally, leveraging her expertise in plant-based nutrition and collaborating with scientists and startups to provide people with safe, affordable, and high-quality food.

The Professional in Residence program (PiR) offers experienced professionals the opportunity to gain practical and positive experience in the world of startups and to contribute their expertise and project experience.

The program begins with an intensive course, which can be attended either compactly over four weeks or part-time over three months. Participants will be introduced to the latest innovation techniques, agile project management methods, and startup tools and apps.

After completing the course, the newly accredited “Professionals in Residence” have the opportunity to apply for one or more mandates at startups via the PiR matching platform, where they can fully immerse themselves in the culture and gain a very practical understanding of startups and their agile working methods.

Switzerland’s leading digital finance (fintech, insurtech, crypto assets) conference and information platform.

We help healthtech founders to build their company faster and more successfully. We do this with operational support in regulatory affairs, go-to-market, product development and other areas, and also with fundraising support.

With approx. 13’000 members Swiss Engineering is one of the largest professional network of engineers and architects in Switzerland.

Our key networking activities include:

• Organising events: such as workshops, and networking events to bring together engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and learn about new developments in the field.
• Facilitating mentorship and coaching: we provide opportunities for engineers and entrepreneurs to connect with experienced mentors and coaches who can provide guidance and support as they develop and commercialise their ideas.
• Building partnerships: with other organisations such as universities, research institutions, and companies to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Networking with the industry: we help to connect engineers and researchers with industry partners to increase the chances of technology transfer and commercialisation of developed products.

Swiss Engineering Innovation Hub aims to create an environment where engineers, entrepreneurs, and researchers can come together to share ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate to turn innovative ideas into real-world applications.

Lifefair brings together decision-makers, implementers and innovators from business, politics, science and NGOs. Through critical-constructive dialog, we jointly advance sustainability: economically, socially, ecologically. Since 2011, Lifefair has stood for business and sustainability.

With 14,000 participants at Lifefair Forums and the Swiss Green Economy Symposium, Lifefair has become the most comprehensive dialogue and innovation platform for business and sustainability.

Around 1600 speakers share their expertise on topics including the world of work, digitization, energy, health, real estate, investing, climate, mobility, food, resources, smart city and tourism.

Keynotes, lectures, publications, consulting and leadership coaching in the context of digital transformation, platform business models and ecosystems.

We are an independent association of Swiss financial institutions committed to collaboration and digital innovation in the financial services industry.

Innosuisse is the Confederation’s innovation agency and pursues the task of promoting science-based innovation in the interests of industry and society in all disciplines. Therefore, it created the Innosuisse Start-up Training to help you develop your business idea, set up your company and implement a strategy for growth.

Venturelab was commissioned by Innosuisse to execute the trainings in cities all over Switzerland. The mission-based startup training enables entrepreneurs to execute their plan and bring their vision to reality. Our trainers – successful entrepreneurs, investors and experts – are here to equip you with the tools to build a world-class winning startup.

BUSINESS CREATION in ICT / Advanced Engineering / Biotech / Medtech
5-day intensive training for aspiring entrepreneurs. Build your startup with the help from the best trainers in your industry.

BUSINESS GROWTH in ICT / Advanced Engineering / Biotech / Medtech
5-day intensive training to grow your business. Successful entrepreneurs from different industries will help you grow a thriving company.

elleXX is a finance and media platform and aims to reduce financial inequality between women and men. With an inspiring and holistic platform, elleXX aims to empower women to master their finances and close financial gaps.

elleXX offers its users content and products tailored to women. This includes sustainable, women-friendly and simple financial solutions and future-proof digital applications. elleXX has already built the largest female community for finance in Switzerland in just five months.

The Venture Leaders – the members of the Swiss National Startup Team – have a clear-cut goal. They envision themselves as global players and want to take the first step to their global expansion. The investor and business development roadshows for Swiss startups are specifically structured to help them achieve this goal. For the past 15 years, the Swiss National Startup Team travelled to Boston to discover the exciting entrepreneurial scene of the United States of America. In 2014, we extended the Venture Leaders roadshow to China and New York and then added Silicon Valley in 2017 and Barcelona in 2019.

Only the 10 most promising Swiss startups per vertical will have the unique chance to join the Swiss National Startup Team every year and experience the intense international roadshow. It is a unique and exclusive opportunity to meet top international investors and industry leaders to build an exceptional business network. By interacting with peers and discussing their experience, the founders will benefit from a group learning environment. The entrepreneurs will share their challenges, develop ideas and motivate one another, and return to Switzerland with a new outlook and drive to succeed.

Go international! Join the Venture Leaders and travel to:

• Barcelona, Spain
• Boston, USA
• Munich, Germany
• London, UK
• Hong Kong
• China
• Silicon Valley, USA

As a member of the SWISS NATIONAL STARTUP TEAM

• Present your startup to international experts and pitch to selected startup investors
• Knowledge workshops with experts in business development, IP, corporate affairs etc.
• Advanced entrepreneurship training
• Hands on execution workshops focusing on developing your startup
• Group feedback sessions
• Multiple networking events with the local entrepreneurs’ scene
• Flexibility for personal business development activities during the whole stay

The startup.ch Zurich platform offers startup and investor profiles, news, investments and resources to help you discover investment opportunities. Your radar for Swiss startups to discover rising stars, track funding activities and innovation trends in Zurich and beyond.

GreenBuzz Zurich is a non-profit organisation founded in 2010 with a focus on sustainable business. We have a very diverse, cross-sector, 3,500-strong network of business changemakers who drive sustainability in and with their organisations. We organise 20-30 networking and knowledge transfer events per year on the most relevant sustainability topics.

Digital Health Nation is an NTN Innovation Booster powered by Innosuisse. We aim at transforming and improving the Swiss healthcare system, but more importantly, patients’ lives.

We help you with all the important aspects for the successful implementation of ideas right from the start: customer needs, feasibility and profitability.

With benefits such as personalised coaching, funding, visibility and access to our network you will be supported to transform your idea into a minimum viable product (MVP).

Administrative units and bodies of the Canton of Zurich make data that is not required to be protected available in a machine-readable form and free of charge as open government data. Anyone and everyone can access them, share them and use them freely.

We network SMEs. True to this motto, the Swiss Venture Club has been offering members, partners, and sponsors in all eight economic regions of Switzerland the opportunity to exchange ideas for many years. The SVC places itself at the service of small and medium-sized enterprises and today, with over 3,200 members from all industries and regions, offers one of the largest and most important networks for entrepreneurs in Switzerland. In the Zurich region, we hold the Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich every two years.

The Entrepreneur Club Winterthur is the driver of Winterthur’s innovation ecosystem. We have our roots at the ZHAW. Today, we are a group of students, start-up founders and many others. What we have in common: We volunteer and are passionate about the innovation ecosystem and the jobs of the future in Winterthur.

The CLAIRE initiative aims to strengthen European excellence in research and innovation. The network forms a pan-European alliance of artificial intelligence research laboratories in Europe.
Its members from research groups and institutions are working together to achieve CLAIRE’s vision: European excellence in all areas of AI, for all of Europe, with a human-centered focus.

We make entrepreneurs!
genisuisse Zurich-Eastern Switzerland is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the the promotion of entrepreneurship in the Zurich-Eastern Switzerland region.
With our free, three-year coaching programme, we support ambitious founders with central questions about the startup world.
We have already coached over 80 start-ups and integrated them into our attractive genisuisse network.
If you are also interested in genisuisse coaching, we look forward to receiving your application via our homepage.

The Life Science Zurich Business Network is an independent association with representatives from industry, academia, research, clinical and public sectors in the Zurich area. It advises and supports those who work at the interface between science and industry.
The Life Science Zurich Business Network is closely linked to Life Science Zurich (LSZ). LSZ is a joint venture initiated by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich to promote Zurich as an international center for cutting-edge research, first-class education and economic innovation.

Health-Trends was launched in 2016 with the ambition of tracking global trends in digital health and reflecting them against the backdrop of the market-specific characteristics of the Swiss healthcare system. Our motivation is to create more transparency about various trends and developments in the Swiss healthcare market and, in particular, to provide positive impetus for the development of startups and entrepreneurship in the healthcare sector. We run our activities as a hobby besides our professional engagement and provide most of the information for free. Health-Trends is not founded.

Swiss Healthcare Startups is a non-profit organization that supports innovative startups that want to add value to the Swiss healthcare system. We support the startups by providing them with a meaningful platform and facilitating access to relevant stakeholders. As a neutral platform, we promote dialog, networking and exchange within our ecosystem.

​feminno offers all female scientists (from life sciences, natural sciences, medicine, health, psychology and tech) the opportunity to bridge research from an academic perspective with innovation, entrepreneurship and industry.