Swiss Entrepreneurship Program

What Swiss Entrepreneurship Program does

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) is a market systems development initiative launched in 2015 and implemented by Swisscontact, an independent Swiss foundation for international development cooperation founded in 1959. Swiss EP builds local startup communities in developing and emerging countries by working with ecosystem leaders, startup support organizations, and business support organizations to strengthen entrepreneurship support infrastructure, facilitate connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and support institutions, and improve access to markets, services, and finance. The program is active across countries including Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, and Vietnam, with no commercial product, software platform, or proprietary technology offering.

Swisscontact as the operating parent delivers its work through direct field-based implementation via 37 country offices and 217 active projects, supported by 1,001-5,000 employees. The organization is not a technology company; it executes development projects through vocational training, market systems development approaches, and ecosystem building activities. Swisscontact's revenue model is entirely non-commercial, funded through institutional donors (primarily the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), plus USAID, AFD, and STDF), corporate partnerships (Hilti, Geberit, Schindler, Nestlé, Hilti Foundation), and philanthropic contributors. Reported cumulative outcomes include 613,831 people trained (2021-2025), 178,456 jobs created or secured, CHF 1.3 billion in financial services accessed, and 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions saved.

Swisscontact has sub-brands beyond Swiss EP, including PropelA (a dual apprenticeship program in Kenya and Tanzania adapted from the Swiss VET model) and SIPPO (Swiss Import Promotion Programme). The organization is headquartered in Zurich, holds Swiss charity registration (CHE-107.828.868), carries the Zewo quality seal, and is a member of Transparency International Switzerland and the UN Global Compact.

Name

Swiss Entrepreneurship Program

Legal name

Swisscontact

Website

https://swisscontact.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) is a 2015-launched initiative of Swisscontact, a Zurich-based Swiss development foundation, that builds local startup and entrepreneurship ecosystems in developing and emerging countries through partnerships with ecosystem leaders, governments, and corporate supporters across multiple markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Career Exploration & Industry Exposure (Guest Speakers, Company Visits) (EDAMAHAJ)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship ecosystem development
• Startup community building
• Market systems development
• Business support services
• International development cooperation

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: Primary funding comes from institutional donors including Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and government-to-government development cooperation programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with companies combining economic activity with sustainable development. Support for company initiatives, feasibility studies, and project implementation.
3. Philanthropic Engagement: Funding from foundations and philanthropic supporters for specific topics or project ideas, creating tangible impact based on shared values and goals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program is a market systems development initiative implemented by Swisscontact that supports building local startup communities by working with ecosystem leaders, startup support organizations, and public-private partners across developing and emerging countries. The program strengthens entrepreneurship ecosystems through ecosystem diagnostics, capacity building for business support organizations, and facilitation of connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and support institutions, with active operations in countries including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, and Vietnam since 2015.

Product overview

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) is a market systems development initiative that does not offer a commercial product or software platform. It is an international development cooperation program implemented by Swisscontact that works to build local startup communities by partnering with ecosystem leaders and startup support organizations across developing and emerging countries. The program focuses on fostering entrepreneurship ecosystems, strengthening business support services, and facilitating connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and support institutions. Swiss EP operates as a programmatic offering rather than a product with discrete modules or sub-products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP): A program supporting building local startup communities by working with ecosystem leaders and builders since 2015, active in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, Vietnam, and other countries.
• PropelA

Products and services

• Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) A market systems development initiative implemented by Swisscontact that supports building local startup communities by working with ecosystem leaders, startup support organizations, and public-private partners in countries including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, and Vietnam. The program strengthens entrepreneurship ecosystems through ecosystem diagnostics, capacity building for business support organizations, and facilitation of connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and support institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 613,831 people completed training programmes; 178,456 found jobs or started businesses generating CHF 124.6 million in additional income
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Transparency InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Transparency International demonstrating commitment to transparency and anti-corruption standards.
• UN Global CompactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant in UN Global Compact demonstrating commitment to sustainable development principles.
• HiltiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading firm participating in PropelA Kenya dual apprenticeship program, co-designing curriculum and hosting apprentices.
• GeberitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading firm participating in PropelA Kenya dual apprenticeship program, co-designing curriculum and hosting apprentices.
• SchindlerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading firm participating in PropelA Kenya dual apprenticeship program, co-designing curriculum and hosting apprentices.
• NestléminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNestlé's Plan Nescafé initiative in Honduras where Swisscontact serves as technical ally for training on human rights and women's empowerment.
• SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule LuzernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss hotel school collaborating on Private Sector Engagement in Vocational Education and Training (PSE-VET) project in Georgia.
• Khmer EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Cambodia co-hosting Give a Day events under 3Ei (Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments) initiative.
• Enterprise GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgian government agency partnered to improve inclusivity of Micro and Small Business Support Program.
• Rural Development Agency (RDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgian government agency with renewed MoU for strengthening support for rural businesses.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch non-profit development organization active in ~30 countries with a focus on agriculture, energy, and water, sanitation. Comparable to Swisscontact in size, mandate, and the use of market systems development approaches to build local entrepreneurship and SME capacity.
• Endeavor: Global non-profit supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets through mentoring, networks, and ecosystem building. The most direct competitor to the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program's mandate of building local startup communities.
• ACDI/VOCA: International development non-profit specializing in agriculture, value chains, and private sector engagement across ~80 countries. Comparable to Swisscontact's agribusiness, market systems, and SME development programmes in emerging markets.
• TechnoServe: US-headquartered non-profit focused on business solutions to poverty in developing countries, with strong programmes in value chain development, entrepreneurship, and SME support. Directly comparable to Swisscontact's entrepreneurship and SME development programming.
• Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation: Swiss-based non-profit development organization working in water, agriculture, and skills development. The closest Swiss peer to Swisscontact, with shared Swiss donor ecosystem (SDC/SECO), similar governance model, and overlapping focus on vocational training and rural entrepreneurship.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's federal development agency, comparable to Swisscontact as a state-backed, multi-country international development organization delivering skills, private sector, and good governance programmes across emerging markets. Both operate large country office networks and are funded primarily by their home governments.

Broad incumbents

• FHI 360: US-based international development non-profit with deep programming in education, workforce development, and youth livelihoods. Comparable to Swisscontact on skills and vocational training mandates, though broader in scope and larger in scale.
• Palladium: Global advisory firm delivering development consulting and impact investing across 90+ countries. Competitor to Swisscontact for donor-funded private sector development mandates, with broader commercial consulting capability.
• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and development organization with significant programming in entrepreneurship, youth employment, and market systems. Broader than Swisscontact because it includes humanitarian relief, but a comparable institutional peer in the development cooperation space.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization): UN specialized agency promoting industrial development and inclusive sustainable enterprise in developing economies. A multilateral peer to Swisscontact on SME development, entrepreneurship, and private sector mobilization in emerging markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Swisscontactworldwide
• Facebookfacebook.com/swisscontactworldwide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swisscontact
• Instagraminstagram.com/swisscontact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Entrepreneurship Program