Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation

What Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation does

The Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation (SwissEF) is a privately funded nonprofit foundation established in December 2017 in Bern, Switzerland, under the patronage of Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin (previously Johann N. Schneider-Ammann). Its stated mission is to strengthen the Swiss startup ecosystem through three integrated pillars: the UpScaler growth program, the Shaper policy advocacy instrument, and the FINMA-regulated Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund. SwissEF serves growth-stage Swiss startups and scale-ups seeking international expansion — particularly those requiring growth financing in the CHF 5–15 million range, a segment historically underserved by domestic capital markets.

The foundation operates three core offerings. The UpScaler is a two-year intensive growth program combining a 360-degree strategy analysis with monthly workshops led by a pool of 50+ experienced entrepreneurs and experts; prerequisites include at least CHF 500,000 in revenue and 20% YoY growth. The Shaper instrument drives policy advocacy through the Swiss Startup Association (SWESA, founded by SwissEF in March 2020) and the Parliamentary Group on Startups and Entrepreneurship, with current focus areas including employee stock option taxation and access to qualified foreign talent. The Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund, launched in February 2019 with FINMA approval, is a CHF 250 million vehicle split between approximately CHF 160 million in fund-of-funds investments (UBS-managed) and up to CHF 90 million in direct investments (Credit Suisse-managed). Direct investments to date include Beekeeper, Distalmotion, Medimaps Group, Lunaphore Technologies, Nexxiot, SkyCell, and Yamo.

SwissEF is funded by six founding partners — Mobiliar (anchor investor with CHF 100 million committed to the fund), UBS, Credit Suisse, Swisscom, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, and Wenger+Vieli — alongside additional corporate donors (Helvetia, Loeb Holding, ZID) and individual donors. The foundation operates with a small core team (1–10 employees) and channels investment and program resources free of charge to qualifying Swiss startups. All UpScaler programs, events, and policy advocacy are offered without commercial pricing; revenue derives solely from philanthropic donations and institutional support. In 2024, SwissEF announced a merger with Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation (DTNSF) targeting mobilization of approximately CHF 5 billion annually for Swiss deeptech startups over ten years.

Name

Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation

Legal name

Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation

Website

https://swissef.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation is a privately funded Bern-based nonprofit that supports Swiss growth-stage startups through the UpScaler two-year growth program, the FINMA-regulated CHF 250 million Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund, and policy advocacy via SWESA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Support

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Startup growth programs
• Entrepreneurship support
• Venture capital funds
• Scale-up advisory
• Policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and institutional support: SwissEF is a nonprofit foundation. It is privately financed by founding partners (Mobiliar, UBS, Credit Suisse, Swisscom, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Wenger+Vieli), corporate donors, and individual donors. The foundation does not seek commercial profit; all revenues and capital are used exclusively for supporting Swiss startups and entrepreneurship.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation is a Swiss non-profit foundation that supports startups and entrepreneurship in Switzerland through three core offerings: the UpScaler two-year intensive growth program for scaling startups, the Shaper policy advocacy instrument implemented via the Swiss Startup Association, and the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund—a CHF 250 million FINMA-regulated investment vehicle making fund-of-funds and direct investments in Swiss startups and SMEs.

Product overview

Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation (SwissEF) is a non-profit foundation supporting Swiss startups and entrepreneurship. The organization operates three core offerings: (1) The UpScaler growth program provides two-year intensive support for scaling startups through experienced entrepreneurs and experts; (2) The Shaper instrument works on improving economic policy framework conditions through the Swiss Startup Association; (3) The Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund is a CHF 250 million FINMA-regulated investment vehicle that supports startups via fund-of-funds and direct investments. The foundation also facilitates networking events and policy advocacy for the Swiss startup ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UpScaler: Growth program for startups that supports scaling to international markets through experienced entrepreneurs, experts, and focused workshops
• SwissEF Shaper
• Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund

Products and services

• SwissEF UpScaler A two-year intensive growth program for growth-stage Swiss startups that provides tailor-made support through experienced entrepreneurs and experts, including monthly workshops, a 360-degree strategy analysis, and focus on international scaling. Prerequisites include CHF 500,000+ revenue, 20% growth in the last fiscal year, and an existing growth strategy.
• SwissEF Shaper An advocacy instrument that identifies needs in cooperation with top performers of the Swiss startup scene, prioritizes action areas, and implements selected projects through the Swiss Startup Association and the Parliamentary Group on Startups and Entrepreneurship to improve framework conditions for Swiss startups.
• Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• PXL Vision (UpScaler alumni) increased revenue by over 50% and doubled its team during the program.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation (DTNSF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SwissEF and DTNSF merged in 2024 to create a stronger combined foundation. The merged entity aims to mobilize approximately CHF 5 billion annually for Swiss deeptech startups over 10 years, representing a doubling of current investment volume and potentially creating up to 100,000 indirect jobs.
• Swisscom VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwisscom Ventures co-sponsored the Swiss Scale-Up Report 2026, the first comprehensive study of the Swiss scale-up landscape. Approximately 500 Swiss scale-ups were identified and invited to participate. Results will be presented at the Swiss Growth Stage Summit (September 2026).
• SIXmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIX (Swiss financial market infrastructure operator) co-sponsored the Swiss Scale-Up Report 2026, contributing to research on Swiss scale-up development, team growth, financing, and internationalization.
• StartuptickermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartupticker co-sponsored the Swiss Scale-Up Report 2026 and has been an ongoing ecosystem partner providing data and visibility for Swiss startups and scale-ups.
• Swiss Startup Association (SSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Startup Association (SSA, also known as SWESA) was founded on the initiative of SwissEF in March 2020. SSA is responsible for implementing the SwissEF Shaper program, which identifies and addresses framework condition issues for startups through political engagement and the Parliamentary Group on Startups and Entrepreneurship.
• SwisspreneurmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwisspreneur co-sponsored the Swiss Scale-Up Report 2026 and has partnered with SwissEF on initiatives supporting Swiss startups. Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin sent a closing video message for their joint partnership.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPFL is a partnership/network partner of SwissEF. EPFL President Martin Vetterli served on the SwissEF Foundation Board. EPFL professor Marc Gruber regularly contributes to SwissEF's Business Model Booster workshops and ScaleUp Network Switzerland initiatives.
• EPFL Innovation ParkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EPFL Innovation Park is a founding member of ScaleUp Network Switzerland together with EPFL, Innovaud, and SwissEF. The network aims to accelerate growth and internationalization of Swiss scale-ups by leveraging synergies between programs and expert pools.
• InnovaudmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovaud is a founding member of ScaleUp Network Switzerland, working with EPFL, EPFL Innovation Park, and SwissEF to systematically network and support Swiss scale-ups in the internationalization phase.
• ScaleUp Network SwitzerlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScaleUp Network Switzerland was founded by EPFL Lausanne, EPFL Innovation Park, Innovaud, and SwissEF to optimally promote scale-up growth in Switzerland. The network leverages synergies between support programs, shares experiences, and systematically networks scale-ups from across Switzerland.
• Bühler GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBühler Group is part of the UpScaler Industry Network, providing participating startups with access to international markets through Bühler's industrial ecosystem. SwissEF organized a visit by Patron Bundesrat Guy Parmelin to Bühler's headquarters in Uzwil to demonstrate how large industrial companies and startups create synergies.
• SGSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGS (Société Générale de Surveillance), the international leading goods testing corporation headquartered in Geneva, joined the SwissEF Industry Network in 2020. SGS supports UpScaler startups in internationalization using its network of 2,600 locations in over 140 countries and the experience of its 90,000+ employees.
• WesthiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWesthive is the fastest-growing flexible office solutions provider in Switzerland with nearly 1,000 workspaces in Zurich and Basel and expanding to Geneva, Basel, Zurich, and Zug. UpScaler program participants receive preferential rates on Westhive office offerings through the partnership.
• Joinup.chminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoinup.ch is listed as a partnership/network partner of SwissEF, contributing to the startup ecosystem support infrastructure.
• TrilliumBiOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrilliumBiO partnered with Oncobit (UpScaler alumni) for the US launch of Oncular™ for uveal melanoma patients, enabling Swiss innovation to successfully enter the US market.
• YokogawaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYokogawa, a worldwide leading provider of industrial automation and control solutions, formed a strategic partnership with ANYbotics (UpScaler alumni) to jointly advance autonomous inspection robotics in industrial plants globally.
• Zentrum für Innovation und Digitalisierung (ZID)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZID (Center for Innovation and Digitalization) is a corporate donor to SwissEF, supporting the foundation's mission to strengthen Swiss startups and entrepreneurship.
• SwissTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwissEF partnered with SwissTech to support the Swiss national presence at Slush 2022 in Helsinki. 15 Swiss startups were selected to present to an international audience at Europe's largest startup event (~12,000 attendees).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Skoll Foundation: US-based private foundation funding social entrepreneurs and ecosystem change. Comparable as a private foundation deploying capital and influence to advance entrepreneurship and shape ecosystem framework conditions at a global scale.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator operating in numerous countries with structured founder-support programs. Comparable as a long-duration (multi-month) startup accelerator program with mentorship focus, serving growth-stage founders — directly parallel to SwissEF's UpScaler model.
• EPFL Innovation Park: Swiss startup incubator and innovation hub located at EPFL Lausanne, co-founding member of ScaleUp Network Switzerland with SwissEF. Provides growth-stage support, infrastructure, and internationalization pathways to Swiss startups — directly overlapping with UpScaler's mission and target audience.
• Innovaud: Innovation and economic promotion agency for the Canton of Vaud, co-founding member of ScaleUp Network Switzerland with SwissEF. Provides ecosystem support, networking, and growth assistance to Swiss startups — direct overlap with SwissEF's scale-up support mandate.
• Venture Kick: Swiss pre-seed and startup support initiative funded by a non-profit foundation. Operates similarly to SwissEF by providing capital and coaching to Swiss founders, with a comparable mandate of strengthening the Swiss startup pipeline.
• IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen: Swiss foundation supporting young entrepreneurs through coaching, startup checklists, and ecosystem events. Comparable as a Swiss non-profit foundation providing free or subsidized support services to early-stage founders across Switzerland.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: US-based private foundation focused on advancing entrepreneurship and education, with programs supporting founders and ecosystem research. Highly comparable as a private non-profit foundation deploying capital and programs specifically for entrepreneur success and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Innosuisse: Swiss federal innovation promotion agency supporting science-based innovation, startups, and SMEs. Comparable as a Swiss-focused innovation and entrepreneurship support institution, though operating with public funding rather than private foundation backing.
• Y Combinator: World's largest startup accelerator providing seed capital and intensive mentorship to early-stage companies globally, including many Swiss applicants. Comparable in growth-program structure but operates as a for-profit with equity terms and at vastly larger scale.
• MassChallenge: Global non-equity startup accelerator operating in multiple countries including Switzerland. Comparable as a non-equity, foundation-supported model but at much larger global scale and with a broader portfolio of programs across geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Swiss_EF

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation