Genilem
Genilem is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 1995 that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva through a free, three-year personalized acceleration program, project diagnostics, and training, funded by 58 corporate and public sponsors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersGenève, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Genilem does
Genilem is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 1995 and headquartered across Geneva and Lausanne, operating in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva to support early-stage entrepreneurs. Its core offering is a free, three-year personalized acceleration program that pairs each entrepreneur with a dedicated coach, supplemented by project diagnostics (11,500+ conducted over 30 years), training courses, networking events, and pitch competitions such as PRÊT? PARTEZ, PITCH!. The program covers business model design, prototype and product development, market validation, and fundraising preparation, with a reported 85% three-year survival rate among accelerated companies.
In 2024, Genilem extended its service surface with the launch of GENILEM IA, a pre-prompted generative AI tool intended to deliver on-demand expert-style guidance to entrepreneurs across business modeling, market validation, and fundraising topics. The organization also operates a podcast and additional digital content channels to broaden reach beyond its in-person coaching cohort, and it runs the Prix de la Galaxie in partnership with Pulse Incubateur HES-SO to link with the academic startup pipeline. Across 30 years, Genilem has accompanied 330+ companies, supported the creation of 3,000+ jobs, and in 2023 alone accompanied 47 companies whose cumulative revenue exceeded CHF 14M.
The business model is non-transactional on the entrepreneur side: services are provided free of charge, removing price as an adoption barrier and positioning the program as a public-good utility within the regional innovation ecosystem. Genilem funds its operations through a sponsorship model comprising 58 corporate and public sponsors and through public-private partnerships, giving it a hybrid public-private subsidy structure. Leadership comprises Director David Narr and co-founders Anne Southam Aulas and Armand Lombard, with a small operational team of 1–10 coaches serving the two-canton territory.
Genilem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Genilem
- Legal name
- Genilem
- Website
- https://genilem.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Genilem is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 1995 that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva through a free, three-year personalized acceleration program, project diagnostics, and training, funded by 58 corporate and public sponsors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Genilem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Acceleration Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Succession Planning & High-Potential (HiPo) Leadership Programs (EDABAAAL)
Keywords
Where Genilem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Genève
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Genilem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Non-profit association services: GENILEM is a non-profit association offering services free of charge to entrepreneurs, funded entirely through sponsorships and partnerships with public and private entities. Services are offered exclusively to entrepreneurs whose business projects are based in the cantons of Vaud or Geneva.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free services for qualifying entrepreneurs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Genilem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Genilem is a non-profit organization that supports the creation of innovative businesses in French-speaking Switzerland (cantons of Vaud and Geneva). It provides project diagnostics, a 3-year acceleration program, business creation training, and digital resources including the GENILEM IA AI tool, an online guide, a toolkit, a pitch competition, and a podcast.
Product overview
GENILEM is a non-profit entrepreneurship acceleration association based in French-speaking Switzerland, offering a portfolio of services including a 3-year acceleration program, project diagnostics, and training courses. The core offerings are the Diagnostic de projet (individual coaching sessions), the Programme d'accélération de 3 ans (personalized 3-year coaching with mentor access), and Formation à la création d'entreprise (collective training). Digital resources include GENILEM IA (AI-powered idea testing tool), the Guide en ligne (online business creation guide), and the Boite à outils de l'entrepreneur (entrepreneur toolkit). The organization also runs the PRÊT? PARTEZ, PITCH! pitch competition and produces the Podcast Sans détour featuring entrepreneur interviews. All services are primarily offered to entrepreneurs in the cantons of Vaud and Genève.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Diagnostic de projet (Project Diagnostic)
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% survival rate of accelerated companies at 3 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Genilem
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Genilem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Genilem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- La MobilièrecoreLa Mobilière hosts GENILEM's selection committee meetings, providing venue support for evaluating startup applications to the acceleration program.
- Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV)coreBCV partners with GENILEM to organize webinars and training courses, including 'Devenir entrepreneur' and 'Financer son entreprise'. The bank's support enables these courses to be offered free of charge to participants.
- Chambre Vaudoise du Commerce et de l'Industrie (CVCI)coreCVCI was one of the founding members of GENILEM in 1995 and continues to partner on training courses, events, and the ecosystem mapping of entrepreneurship support in the region.
- Chambre Vaudoise du Commerce et de l'Industrie (CVCI)corePartners with GENILEM for the 'Lancer son entreprise' training course covering administrative procedures for business creation.
- Pulse Incubateur HEScorePartners with GENILEM for the Prix de la Galaxie, which awards the most promising project among those completing 18 months of incubation at Pulse. Winners receive 10,000 CHF and 18 months of GENILEM coaching.
- La Cité du Marketing DigitalmajorPartners with GENILEM for the PRÊT? PARTEZ, PITCH! competition, providing a strategic consulting prize worth 20,000 CHF to winners along with 3,000 CHF in digital acquisition budget.
- Vaudoise AssurancesmajorPartners with GENILEM for the PRÊT? PARTEZ, PITCH! competition, providing mentoring prizes and support for the annual pitch competition.
- Fondation pour l'Innovation et la Technologie (FIT)corePartners with GENILEM on initiatives supporting female entrepreneurship, providing resources and support for events focused on helping women entrepreneurs access funding.
- YamahaminorTomplay (an accelerated company) has a partnership with Yamaha for distribution of its interactive sheet music application.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Genilem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running 3-month programs with mentorship and demo-day-driven investment. Comparable as a structured accelerator offering mentorship and network access, though Techstars takes equity and operates at much larger global scale.
- Y Combinator: Premier global startup accelerator providing seed funding, mentorship, and demo days. Comparable in coaching/mentorship and acceleration function, though YC operates at vastly larger scale and takes equity rather than offering free services.
- MassChallenge Switzerland: Global non-profit accelerator with a Swiss presence running equity-free accelerator programs for early-stage startups. Comparable in non-profit, equity-free model and structured cohort-based acceleration targeting high-impact entrepreneurs.
- Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network with industry-focused programs offering mentorship and funding. Comparable structured accelerator format though operates across multiple verticals internationally versus GENILEM's regional Romandie focus.
- Wayra (Telefónica): Corporate-backed startup accelerator operating across multiple countries including Switzerland. Comparable as a structured accelerator with corporate sponsor backing, though corporate-affiliated rather than independently non-profit like GENILEM.
Direct peers
- Venturelab: Swiss startup accelerator and coaching organization offering structured programs for early-stage founders. Directly comparable to GENILEM as a Swiss accelerator providing mentorship, networking, and growth support to early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Impact Hub Switzerland: Swiss network of innovation hubs offering incubation, accelerator programs, and coworking for impact-driven entrepreneurs. Comparable to GENILEM in delivering structured acceleration and community-driven support to early-stage ventures.
- Fongit (Geneva Innovation Foundation): Geneva-based startup incubator and innovation foundation providing office space, coaching, and seed funding. Direct peer in the same Geneva geography serving a similar early-stage founder segment with comparable coaching and acceleration services.
Regional players
- EPFL Innovation Park: Innovation park affiliated with EPFL in Lausanne supporting science-based startups through incubation and acceleration. Comparable in regional scope (Vaud-based) and accelerator services, though more focused on deep-tech ventures than GENILEM's broad sectoral coverage.
Others
- Fondation FIT (Fondation pour l'Innovation et la Technologie): Swiss foundation supporting innovation and technology ventures through grants and partnerships. Comparable as a regional innovation ecosystem partner in Romandie — listed among GENILEM's own partners — and an enabler rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Genilem social profiles
Digital presenceGenilem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Genilem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Genilem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Genilem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Genilem
What does Genilem do?
Genilem is a non-profit organization that supports the creation of innovative businesses in French-speaking Switzerland (cantons of Vaud and Geneva). It provides project diagnostics, a 3-year acceleration program, business creation training, and digital resources including the GENILEM IA AI tool, an online guide, a toolkit, a pitch competition, and a podcast.
Is Genilem a public or private company?
Genilem is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Genilem founded?
Genilem was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Genilem based?
Genilem is headquartered in Genève, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Genilem make money?
One revenue line is on record: non-profit association services.
Who are Genilem's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Techstars, Y Combinator, MassChallenge Switzerland, Startupbootcamp and Wayra (Telefónica). Direct peers are Venturelab, Impact Hub Switzerland and Fongit (Geneva Innovation Foundation). EPFL Innovation Park is listed as a regional player. Fondation FIT (Fondation pour l'Innovation et la Technologie) is listed as an others.
Does Genilem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Genilem.
What industry is Genilem in?
Genilem's product category is Startup Acceleration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAAAL, Succession Planning & High-Potential (HiPo) Leadership Programs.