Venturelab
Venturelab is a Swiss private startup support organization founded in 2004 that operates flagship programs (Venture Kick, Venture Leaders, TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award, Innosuisse Training) to fund, train, and connect Swiss entrepreneurs with investors, corporates, and global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSchlieren, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Venturelab does
Venturelab is a private Swiss startup support organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Schlieren, Switzerland. It designs and operates four flagship programs aimed at Swiss entrepreneurs at all stages: Venture Kick (providing over CHF 1 million in cash plus support and networks for university-born startups), Venture Leaders (international roadshows to nine global tech hubs with the Swiss National Startup Team), the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award (annual ranking and investor summit), and Innosuisse Start-up Training (mission-based entrepreneurship training operated with the Swiss Innovation Agency). The organization claims to have supported 90% of Swiss startups, with its guided portfolio having attracted over CHF 15 billion in investments and created more than 25,000 active jobs.
Venturelab's business model is hybrid: it receives funding from corporate partners (Swisscom Ventures, Kellerhals Carrard, SIX Swiss Exchange), public institutions (Innosuisse, Cantons of Vaud and Zurich), and foundations (Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Hansjörg Wyss), while also generating advertising and sponsorship revenue through its 32,000+ subscriber Swiss Startup Insights newsletter, the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine, and the startup.ch portal. All startup-facing programs are offered free of charge, with selection through expert juries drawn from investors, founders, and industry experts. The organization derives its competitive position from the prestige of its award programs, the network of 560+ Venture Leaders alumni, and deep partnerships with EPFL, ETH Zurich, and Swissnex.
Notable alumni include MindMaze (which reached unicorn status, raised over USD 230 million in private financing, and went public on SIX Swiss Exchange in late 2025 via reverse merger with Relief Therapeutics), Scandit (unicorn, raised USD 150 million Series D in 2022), Planted Foods (raised CHF 70 million Series B in 2022), and other Swiss growth companies such as Climeworks, GetYourGuide, and Flyability. Venturelab does not develop proprietary technology and has no public API or AI/ML capabilities of its own; its value proposition is programmatic rather than technological.
Venturelab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Venturelab
- Legal name
- Venturelab Ltd.
- Website
- https://venturelab.swiss
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Venturelab is a Swiss private startup support organization founded in 2004 that operates flagship programs (Venture Kick, Venture Leaders, TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award, Innosuisse Training) to fund, train, and connect Swiss entrepreneurs with investors, corporates, and global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Venturelab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Support Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
Keywords
Where Venturelab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schlieren
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Venturelab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Startup Programs (Free): Programs for startups including training, fundraising support, business development, and international roadshows are free for participants. Venturelab is funded through partnerships with corporations, public institutions, and ecosystem supporters.
- Advertising & Sponsorship: Venturelab offers advertising opportunities reaching 32,000+ innovators through newsletters, magazines (TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine), social media, online advertising on startup.ch, sponsored reports, interviews, and custom content.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free programs for startups |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Venturelab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Venturelab designs and operates flagship startup programs to support Swiss entrepreneurs at all stages of development. Core programs include Venture Kick (cash funding exceeding CHF 1 million for university startups), Venture Leaders (global investor and business development roadshows), TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award (annual recognition and ranking), and Innosuisse Start-up Trainings (mission-based entrepreneurship training). All programs are provided free of charge to selected Swiss startups, with the organization funded through corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and public institution partnerships.
Product overview
Venturelab is a Swiss startup support organization that operates as a platform-plus-programs model, offering four flagship programs designed to support entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey. The core offerings include Venture Kick (funding and support for university-born startups), Innosuisse Entrepreneurship Training (mission-based training), Venture Leaders (global roadshows with the Swiss National Startup Team), and the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award (annual ranking and recognition). Additionally, Venturelab provides supporting products including the Swiss Startup Insights newsletter (32,000+ subscribers) and the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine, all designed to connect Swiss startups with investors, corporates, and international markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Venture Kick: Flagship startup funding program providing cash and support to Swiss university startups.
- Venture Leaders
- TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award
- Innosuisse Start-up Trainings
Products and services
- Venture Kick A flagship funding and support program for startups from Swiss universities, providing more than CHF 1 million in cash plus support and access to investor networks. Targets early-stage university-born founders seeking seed capital.
- Innosuisse Entrepreneurship Training Mission-based training programs for the next generation of Swiss-based entrepreneurs, designed and operated in collaboration with Innosuisse. Provides workshops and educational content for early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Venture Leaders Global investor and business development roadshows with the Swiss National Startup Team, connecting selected Swiss startups with international markets including Boston, London, Barcelona, Munich, and Silicon Valley. Targets growth-stage Swiss startups preparing for international expansion.
- TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award An annual award program that spotlights and ranks Switzerland's most promising startups, featuring investor summits and networking opportunities. Provides ecosystem-wide visibility and recognition for selected startups.
- Swiss Startup Insights Newsletter A weekly newsletter reaching over 32,000 subscribers with the latest startup news, innovation insights, fundraising updates, and market intelligence from Switzerland. Offers advertising and sponsorship opportunities for ecosystem participants.
- TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine An annual publication showcasing Switzerland's top startups, featuring editorial content, company profiles, and industry insights. Provides advertising and advertorial opportunities for ecosystem participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of Swiss startups supported
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Venturelab
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Venturelab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Venturelab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EPFLcoreAcademic partner providing research collaboration, startup pipeline, and institutional credibility. EPFL spin-offs regularly participate in Venturelab programs.
- ETH ZürichcoreAcademic partner providing research collaboration, startup pipeline, and institutional credibility. ETH spin-offs regularly participate in Venturelab programs.
- InnosuissecoreSwiss Innovation Agency partner for the Innosuisse Start-up Training program, providing entrepreneurship training for the next generation of Swiss-based entrepreneurs.
- Gebert Rüf StiftungcoreFoundation partner supporting Swiss startup ecosystem development and innovation programs.
- Kellerhals CarrardcoreLegal partner providing support for startup programs and ecosystem development.
- SwissnexcoreSwissnex Boston and New York partner for organizing Venture Leaders roadshows to US markets, particularly Boston's life sciences hub.
- Health Innovation Hub AargauminorHealthcare innovation hub partner supporting Venture Leaders Medtech program with connections to Baden Cantonal Hospital and regional ecosystem.
- Canton de VaudcoreRegional government partner supporting startup ecosystem development in the Canton of Vaud.
- Canton ZurichcoreRegional government partner supporting startup ecosystem development in Canton Zurich.
- SIX Swiss ExchangecoreStock exchange partner supporting Swiss startup ecosystem and providing market access for growing companies.
- VischerminorLegal partner supporting Venture Leaders Medtech program.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Venturelab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator with industry verticals (similar to Venturelab's medtech, fintech tracks) and corporate partner integrations. Competes for the same international cohort of European scale-up founders.
- MassChallenge: Non-equity global accelerator with free programs for startups. Closest analog to Venturelab's free, sponsor-funded model; provides training, mentorship, and corporate connections across multiple verticals.
- Station F: World's largest startup campus in Paris, hosting accelerator programs and partner programs. Comparable as a startup ecosystem hub with corporate partner integrations and program operator relationships.
- Seedstars: Swiss-founded emerging markets accelerator and competition platform. Operates a similar model of curated competitions, training programs, and visibility awards targeting founders in growth markets.
- Antler: Global early-stage investor and accelerator operating in multiple geographies including Europe. Competes directly for European founder mindshare with structured cohort programs and pre-seed funding.
Broad incumbents
- Y Combinator: World's largest startup accelerator with global founder reach and equity-based model. Operates at vastly larger scale than Venturelab but competes for top international founder talent, including Swiss applicants.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network with equity-based model and industry-specific verticals (similar to Venture Leaders medtech/biotech/fintech tracks). Competes with Venturelab for the same cohort of internationalizing founders.
- European Innovation Council (EIC): EU-level innovation funding and accelerator body. Operates grant and equity programs that increasingly compete for the same deeptech and biotech founders Venturelab supports.
Others
- Innosuisse: Swiss Innovation Agency that is itself a core partner of Venturelab for the Innosuisse Start-up Training program. As the public-sector counterpart, it shapes the policy and funding environment in which Venturelab operates.
Regional players
- Swiss Startup Association: Swiss-specific founder advocacy and ecosystem organization. Adjacent to Venturelab's mission of supporting Swiss founders, with overlap in policy engagement and ecosystem visibility.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Venturelab social profiles
Digital presenceVenturelab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Venturelab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Venturelab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Venturelab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Venturelab
What does Venturelab do?
Venturelab designs and operates flagship startup programs to support Swiss entrepreneurs at all stages of development. Core programs include Venture Kick (cash funding exceeding CHF 1 million for university startups), Venture Leaders (global investor and business development roadshows), TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award (annual recognition and ranking), and Innosuisse Start-up Trainings (mission-based entrepreneurship training). All programs are provided free of charge to selected Swiss startups, with the organization funded through corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and public institution partnerships.
Is Venturelab a public or private company?
Venturelab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Venturelab founded?
Venturelab was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Venturelab based?
Venturelab is headquartered in Schlieren, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Venturelab make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Startup Programs (Free) is the primary driver. The others are advertising & Sponsorship.
Who are Venturelab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Startupbootcamp, MassChallenge, Station F, Seedstars and Antler. Broad incumbents are Y Combinator, Techstars and European Innovation Council (EIC). Innosuisse is listed as an others. Swiss Startup Association is listed as a regional player.
Does Venturelab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Venturelab.
What industry is Venturelab in?
Venturelab's product category is Startup Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8742.