What Venture Kick does

Venture Kick is a private philanthropic initiative launched in 2007 by the Kick Foundation (a Swiss charitable foundation supervised by the Federal Supervisory Board of Foundations) to seed Swiss university spin-offs. It operates a three-stage milestone-based funding model selecting roughly 34 projects per month across five annual jury cycles: Stage 1 issues a CHF 10,000 non-repayable grant (with a moral pledge to return if successful), Stage 2 a CHF 40,000 convertible loan, and Stage 3 a CHF 100,000 convertible loan, each with ~50% selection probability. Successful awardees additionally qualify for a CHF 150,000 InnoBooster grant (Stage 2) and up to CHF 850,000 in Kickfund equity (Stage 3), bringing per-startup support to a stated CHF 1,150,000 ceiling.

The platform is co-located with the Swiss academic ecosystem: Zurich/Schlieren headquarters near ETH Zurich and a Lausanne office at the EPFL Innovation Park. It is financed by a private consortium of foundations (Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Hauser-Stiftung, Fondation Alcea, Fondation ProTechno, Lichtsteiner Foundation, Deeptech Nation Switzerland Foundation), individual philanthropists (André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner), and corporates (Swisscom, ESA BIC Switzerland), and is operated day-to-day by Venturelab Ltd under a dedicated management team (Beat Schillig, Jordi Montserrat, Philip Hassler). The revenue/financial model is not-for-profit: donor capital is disbursed as grants and convertible loans, with proceeds recycled back into the fund in a self-replenishing structure.

Since inception, Venture Kick has supported 1,251+ startup projects, deployed CHF 102 million in direct funding, and recorded CHF 10.2 billion+ in follow-on capital raised by portfolio companies, 16,100+ active jobs created, 830+ active high-tech companies, an 84% post-incorporation survival rate, and 32% of companies with women on the founding team. Deeptech, biotech, and AI-native ventures dominate the recent deal flow (e.g., quantum hardware, GaN power electronics, CO2 mineralization, AI-physics simulation, AI-supported diagnostics). Venture Kick has set a stated target of supporting 3,000 startups by 2035 and is publicly ranked among Switzerland's top European startup hubs by the Financial Times / Statista.

Name

Venture Kick

Legal name

Venture Kick

Website

https://venturekick.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Venture Kick is a Swiss philanthropic initiative, launched in 2007 by the Kick Foundation, that provides staged pre-seed funding (up to CHF 150,000 in grants/convertible loans, plus CHF 1M+ in partner-linked capital) to university spin-offs in Switzerland, backed by a private consortium of foundations and donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Pre-Seed Funding and Accelerator Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

Keywords

• Pre-seed startup funding
• Philanthropic venture capital
• University spin-off support
• Early-stage grant funding
• Startup accelerator program

Headquarters

HQ city

Schlieren

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Funding Distribution: Venture Kick operates as a philanthropic initiative that provides staged funding to Swiss university spin-offs. The first CHF 10,000 is offered as a non-repayable grant, with moral pledge to return funds if successful. The CHF 40,000 and CHF 100,000 kicks are offered as convertible loans with startup-friendly conditions that convert at the company's next equity round. All proceeds are reinvested to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Venture Kick operates a philanthropic three-stage funding model that awards pre-seed capital (CHF 10,000, CHF 40,000, and CHF 100,000) to early-stage startup projects originating from Swiss universities. Selected startups gain access to Kickers Camps business development coaching, a network of 250+ investor and industry expert jury members, and follow-on funding pathways including up to CHF 850,000 in Kickfund equity and a CHF 150,000 InnoBooster grant.

Product overview

Venture Kick is a philanthropic three-stage funding model designed to support Swiss startups with initial funding of up to CHF 150,000 to kick-start their entrepreneurial success. Winning startups can secure additional CHF 850,000 in equity funding from Kickfund plus an InnoBooster grant of CHF 150,000. The program provides hands-on business development support through Kickers Camps, access to a global industry and investor network, and strong media coverage. The core offering consists of three funding stages (CHF 10,000, CHF 40,000, and CHF 100,000) plus additional follow-on funding opportunities through partner programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stage 1 Funding Initial Venture Kick funding stage where selected pre-incorporation projects present their business ideas to the jury. Winners receive CHF 10,000 as a non-repayable grant to validate their startup concept. Targets academic researchers and founders from Swiss universities.
• Stage 2 Funding Second Venture Kick funding stage where project teams structure their business case, identify initial customers and strategic partners, and present to the jury. Winners receive CHF 40,000 as a convertible loan that converts at the company's next equity round.
• Stage 3 Funding Final Venture Kick funding stage where teams demonstrate entrepreneurial capacity, build execution foundations, and validate their vision with market feedback. Winners receive CHF 100,000 as a convertible loan and become eligible for follow-on Kickfund equity and InnoBooster grants.
• Kickers Camps Two-day intensive coaching sessions offered after each Venture Kick funding stage. Provides guidance on business development, pitch preparation, customer acquisition, and investor relations to help founders move from research idea to investor-ready startup.
• Kickfund Equity Funding Follow-on equity investment offering up to CHF 850,000 to Venture Kick Stage 3 winners through a dedicated investment vehicle managed alongside the program.
• InnoBooster Grant Non-dilutive CHF 150,000 grant available to Venture Kick Stage 2 winners, administered by the Gebert Rüf Stiftung as a complementary funding instrument for qualifying startups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% survival rate of incorporated companies
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Venturelab LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Operating partner managing Venture Kick's day-to-day operations, including program management, jury coordination, and startup support services. Management team includes Beat Schillig, Jordi Montserrat, and Philip Hassler.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator operator with sector-specific programs, structured mentorship cohorts, and demo-day investor exposure. Comparable on the staged cohort + investor networking model, though operating at much larger scale and with explicit equity terms rather than philanthropic grants.
• SOSV: Multi-stage global venture firm running vertical-specific accelerator programs (e.g., HAX for hardware, IndieBio for biotech) at seed stage. Comparable on stage-gated accelerator programs for science- and engineering-driven founders, though operating globally and returns-focused rather than philanthropic.
• Y Combinator: The benchmark global startup accelerator, providing small amounts of seed capital in exchange for equity plus intensive cohort-based mentorship and investor introductions. Comparable on cohort staging and demo-day network dynamics; differs in geography and equity-driven (vs. philanthropic) returns model.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator running structured, cohort-based programs that funnel founders toward angel/VC capital, with mentorship networks across dozens of cities. Comparable on early-stage, staged cohort education and investor pipeline focus, though it takes equity stakes versus Venture Kick's grant/convertible loan model.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): EU-level grant and equity instrument for breakthrough and scale-up deep-tech startups, including Pathfinder and Accelerator grants. Comparable staged, jury-evaluated non-dilutive/grant funding for research-driven European spin-offs at a continental rather than Swiss scale.

Direct peers

• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator operating equity-free, cohort-based programs with extensive partner networks. Closely comparable on the no-equity / grant-style philanthropic model, mentor- and jury-driven selection, and impact-oriented KPIs (jobs, survival).
• Founders Factory: London-based accelerator and venture builder that co-creates and accelerates startups with corporate backers across stages. Comparable on structured, multi-stage funding plus hands-on operational support and a curated investor/corporate network, with similar scale and sponsor-driven model.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Silicon Valley-headquartered corporate-backed accelerator and venture fund operating sector-specific programs with corporate and investor partners. Comparable on multi-stage cohort acceleration, network of corporate/investor partners as jury analogues, and cross-border scaling support for early-stage startups.
• High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Germany's leading public-private early-stage fund providing seed financing to technology spin-offs from academia and research institutes. Closely comparable to Venture Kick in mission (bridging research spin-offs to commercial capital), staged funding, and high-volume deal flow across deep-tech verticals.
• ESA BIC Switzerland: Swiss-based, sector-focused (space and deep-tech) business incubation program offering staged non-dilutive funding and coaching to early-stage startups. Direct match on Swiss geography, public/philanthropic-style funding model, and pre-seed/seed stage focus; also cited by Venture Kick as a consortium partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/venturekick
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL0VQaZPzct9H-R_wM3CiG7_qEeFewXAmo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/venture-kick/?originalSubdomain=ch
• Facebookfacebook.com/venturekick

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1477 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Venture Kick