Venture Kick - 1 Million Plus to kick your startup to success

If you’re a researcher at a Swiss university sitting on a promising technology or business idea, Venture Kick might be the launchpad you need. This isn’t a typical grant where you write a proposal and wait months for a decision. It’s a dynamic, three-stage program that provides up to CHF 150,000 in non-dilutive funding—meaning you don’t give up any equity—along with intensive mentorship, pitch training, and direct access to Switzerland’s investor community.

What makes Venture Kick particularly valuable is its staged approach. You don’t have to have everything figured out from day one. The program is designed to help you progress from initial idea to market-ready company through three distinct phases, each with its own funding and support. This structure acknowledges that building a company is a journey, and different stages require different resources and focus.

The program has an impressive track record. Since its launch in 2007, Venture Kick has supported over 800 startups, which have collectively raised more than CHF 4 billion in follow-on funding and created thousands of jobs. Past participants include companies that have become leaders in their fields, from medical devices to clean tech to software. The program doesn’t just provide money—it provides credibility, connections, and know-how that significantly increase your chances of building a successful company.

Another major advantage: the funding is non-dilutive. Unlike venture capital or angel investment, you’re not selling equity in your company to get this money. You maintain full ownership while getting the resources you need to validate your idea, build your team, and prepare for larger funding rounds. For early-stage teams, this is huge—it means you can reach important milestones without giving away significant portions of your company when it’s worth the least.

How the Three-Stage Program Works

Venture Kick’s structure is designed to match funding and support to your startup’s development stage.

Stage 1: Idea Validation (CHF 10,000) is where you test whether your idea has commercial potential. You’ll present your concept to a jury of experienced entrepreneurs and investors who will evaluate its market opportunity, technical feasibility, and team capability. If you succeed, you receive CHF 10,000 to conduct initial market validation, build a prototype, or develop your business model. This stage is about proving that your idea isn’t just scientifically interesting—it’s commercially viable.

Stage 2: Business Model Development (CHF 20,000) focuses on refining your go-to-market strategy. By this point, you should have validated basic feasibility and be ready to think seriously about how you’ll actually build a business. You’ll work on customer discovery, revenue models, competitive positioning, and team building. The CHF 20,000 helps you conduct more extensive market research, develop partnerships, or bring on key team members. The jury at this stage wants to see that you understand your market and have a credible path to customers.

Stage 3: Market Entry Preparation (CHF 120,000) is the final and largest funding round. This is where you prepare to launch commercially and raise institutional funding. The CHF 120,000 can support product development, initial marketing, team expansion, or other activities needed to reach your first customers or close your first major funding round. At this stage, the jury is evaluating whether you’re ready to scale and whether you’ve built a company that investors will want to back.

Throughout all three stages, you receive more than just money. Venture Kick provides intensive coaching on pitching, business model development, and fundraising. You’ll participate in workshops, receive one-on-one mentorship from successful entrepreneurs, and get feedback from investors. The program also connects you with Switzerland’s startup ecosystem, including potential co-founders, advisors, and early customers.

Key Details at a Glance

Who Should Apply

Venture Kick is designed for research teams and students at Swiss universities who are ready to commercialize their work. You don’t need to have a registered company yet, but you do need a serious commitment to building one.

PhD students and postdocs with commercially promising research are ideal candidates. If your research has led to a technology, method, or discovery that could solve real-world problems, Venture Kick can help you transition from academic research to commercial application. You don’t need business experience—the program will help you develop those skills—but you do need to be willing to step out of the purely academic mindset and think about markets, customers, and business models.

Master’s students with innovative project work can also apply. If your thesis project, capstone, or independent research has commercial potential, don’t wait until you finish your degree. Applying to Venture Kick can help you figure out whether entrepreneurship is the right path and give you resources to explore it seriously.

Research groups looking to spin out a technology should consider Venture Kick as a first step. Often, university research produces valuable intellectual property that could become a company, but researchers aren’t sure how to proceed. Venture Kick provides a structured pathway from research to startup, with support at each stage.

Student teams working on startup ideas within university programs are welcome. If you’re part of an entrepreneurship course, innovation lab, or student startup initiative and have developed a promising concept, Venture Kick can provide validation and resources to take it further.

You’re a strong candidate if you have a technology or business concept based on university research or student work, can demonstrate some initial validation (even if just preliminary), have a team or are willing to build one, and are committed to pursuing commercialization seriously. You don’t need to quit your PhD or job immediately, but you do need to be willing to invest significant time and energy into developing your startup.

Insider Tips for Success

Start with Stage 1 even if you think you’re further along. Some teams are tempted to skip Stage 1 and apply directly to Stage 2 or 3, thinking they’re already past the idea validation phase. Don’t. The program is designed as a progression, and each stage builds on the previous one. The coaching and feedback you receive in Stage 1 will strengthen your application for later stages. Plus, CHF 10,000 is still meaningful funding for early-stage validation.

Treat the jury sessions seriously. These aren’t casual conversations—they’re high-stakes pitches to experienced entrepreneurs and investors who will decide whether you advance. Practice your presentation extensively. Anticipate tough questions about your market, competition, business model, and team. The jury members have seen hundreds of pitches; they can quickly spot teams that haven’t done their homework.

Focus on the problem and market, not just the technology. Many academic teams fall into the trap of spending most of their pitch explaining how their technology works. The jury cares more about what problem you’re solving, who will pay to solve it, and why your solution is better than alternatives. Lead with the market opportunity, then explain how your technology addresses it. Your brilliant science matters, but only if it solves a real problem people will pay for.

Build a balanced team. Venture Kick looks favorably on teams that combine technical expertise with business capability. If you’re all engineers or all scientists, consider bringing on someone with business development, marketing, or sales experience. If that’s not possible yet, demonstrate that you’re aware of the gap and have a plan to fill it.

Show traction, even if it’s early. Any evidence that validates your concept strengthens your application. This could be letters of intent from potential customers, successful pilot tests, partnerships with industry players, or positive feedback from market research. You don’t need paying customers at Stage 1, but you do need something beyond “we think this is a good idea.”

Be realistic about timelines and milestones. The jury wants to see that you understand what needs to happen to build a successful company and that you have a realistic plan to get there. Overly optimistic timelines (“we’ll have 1,000 customers in six months”) or vague milestones (“we’ll develop the product”) hurt your credibility. Be specific and honest about what you can achieve with the funding and time available.

Use the coaching. Venture Kick provides extensive support between jury sessions. Take advantage of it. The coaches have helped hundreds of teams and can provide valuable perspective on your pitch, business model, and strategy. Teams that actively engage with coaching tend to perform better at jury sessions.

Application and Selection Process

The Venture Kick process is more interactive than a traditional grant application.

Initial application is submitted online and includes basic information about your team, your technology or business concept, and your university affiliation. This doesn’t need to be lengthy, but it should clearly communicate what you’re building and why it matters.

Stage 1 jury session is where you present your idea to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors. You’ll have a short time to pitch (typically 5-10 minutes) followed by questions. The jury evaluates your market opportunity, technical feasibility, team capability, and commitment. If you pass, you receive CHF 10,000 and move to Stage 2.

Between Stage 1 and Stage 2, you use the funding to validate your concept and refine your business model. You’ll also participate in coaching sessions to strengthen your pitch and strategy. This typically takes 2-4 months.

Stage 2 jury session focuses on your business model and go-to-market strategy. The jury wants to see that you’ve made progress since Stage 1, understand your market better, and have a credible plan to reach customers. Successful teams receive CHF 20,000 and advance to Stage 3.

Between Stage 2 and Stage 3, you further develop your product, business model, and team. This is when many teams incorporate their company, file patents, or bring on key hires. The CHF 20,000 supports these activities. This phase typically takes 3-6 months.

Stage 3 jury session is the final evaluation. The jury assesses whether you’re ready to launch commercially and raise institutional funding. They’re looking for teams that have made significant progress, have a clear path to market, and are prepared to scale. Successful teams receive CHF 120,000 to support market entry and fundraising.

Post-Stage 3, you’re part of the Venture Kick alumni network, which provides ongoing access to investors, mentors, and other resources. Many teams use the credibility and connections from Venture Kick to raise their first venture capital round.

What Makes a Winning Application

Clear market opportunity is fundamental. The jury needs to understand who will buy your product or service, why they’ll buy it, how big the market is, and how you’ll reach customers. Vague statements about “huge market potential” aren’t convincing. Specific data about market size, customer pain points, and willingness to pay are.

Defensible competitive advantage matters. Why will you win against competitors? This could be proprietary technology, unique expertise, strategic partnerships, or first-mover advantage. The jury knows that most markets have competition, so they’re looking for a credible explanation of why you’ll succeed.

Capable, committed team is critical. The jury invests in people as much as ideas. They want to see a team with the right mix of skills, a track record of execution, and genuine commitment to building the company. If your team has gaps, acknowledge them and explain how you’ll fill them.

Evidence of progress and learning shows you’re not just theorizing. What have you done to validate your concept? What have you learned from talking to customers? How has your thinking evolved? Teams that show they’re actively testing assumptions and learning from the market are more convincing than those presenting a static plan.

Realistic financial projections demonstrate business understanding. The jury doesn’t expect perfect accuracy, but they do expect logical assumptions and realistic thinking about costs, revenues, and timelines. Wildly optimistic projections or vague financial plans hurt your credibility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Focusing too much on the technology, not enough on the market. Academic teams often spend their entire pitch explaining how their technology works, leaving little time for the business case. The jury cares about the market opportunity first, technology second. Lead with the problem and market, then explain your solution.

Underestimating the competition. Claiming you have no competitors is a red flag. Every market has alternatives, even if they’re not direct competitors. Show that you understand the competitive landscape and have a strategy to differentiate.

Vague or unrealistic plans. Saying you’ll “develop the product and find customers” isn’t a plan. Be specific about milestones, timelines, and how you’ll use the funding. Unrealistic timelines (launching in two months when you haven’t built anything) hurt your credibility.

Weak team or unclear roles. If you’re a solo founder with no plans to build a team, that’s concerning. Most successful startups have multiple co-founders with complementary skills. If you’re currently solo, explain how you’ll build your team.

Poor presentation skills. You might have a brilliant idea, but if you can’t communicate it clearly and confidently, the jury will doubt your ability to sell to customers or investors. Practice your pitch extensively. Get feedback from people who don’t know your field.

Ignoring feedback. If the jury or coaches provide feedback, take it seriously. Teams that ignore advice and present the same pitch at the next stage rarely succeed. Show that you’re coachable and willing to adapt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have a registered company to apply? No, you can apply as a university research team or student project. Many teams incorporate between Stage 2 and Stage 3, but it’s not required to start the program.

Can I apply if I’m not currently a student or employee of a Swiss university? The program is for Swiss university spin-offs, so you need a connection to a Swiss university. This could be as a current student, researcher, or recent graduate (typically within a year or two).

What if my idea isn’t based on deep technology? Venture Kick primarily focuses on technology-based startups, but “technology” is interpreted broadly. Software, digital platforms, and innovative business models can qualify if they’re based on university research or student work.

How long does the whole process take? From Stage 1 to Stage 3 typically takes 6-12 months, depending on how quickly you progress and when jury sessions are scheduled. Some teams move faster, others take longer to develop their concept.

What happens if I don’t pass a jury session? You can reapply after addressing the jury’s concerns and making progress. Many successful teams didn’t pass on their first attempt. Use the feedback to strengthen your concept and pitch.

Do I have to give up equity? No, Venture Kick funding is non-dilutive. You maintain full ownership of your company.

Can I use the funding for salary? Yes, within reason. The funding is meant to support startup development, which can include modest compensation for founders if it enables you to work on the startup full-time or part-time.

What if I’m still doing my PhD? That’s fine. Many Venture Kick participants are PhD students who work on their startup alongside their research. However, you need to demonstrate serious commitment to the startup, not just casual interest.

How to Apply

Ready to get started? Here’s your action plan:

First, visit the Venture Kick website and review the program details, success stories, and upcoming jury session dates. Understanding the program thoroughly will help you prepare a stronger application.

Second, assemble your core team. While you can apply solo, having co-founders with complementary skills strengthens your application. If you don’t have co-founders yet, start networking within your university to find potential partners.

Third, validate your concept with potential customers. Before applying, talk to people who might buy your product or service. Understand their needs, pain points, and willingness to pay. This customer insight will strengthen your pitch.

Fourth, prepare your pitch. Practice presenting your idea clearly and concisely. Focus on the problem, market opportunity, your solution, and why your team can execute. Get feedback from mentors, professors, or other entrepreneurs.

Fifth, submit your application through the Venture Kick website. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with jury sessions scheduled throughout the year.

Finally, if invited to pitch, prepare thoroughly. Review the jury’s likely questions, refine your presentation, and practice until you’re confident.

For complete program information, application details, and upcoming jury session dates, visit: https://www.venturekick.ch/

Questions about eligibility or the application process? Contact the Venture Kick team through their website. They’re helpful and responsive to inquiries from potential applicants.