What ZID Bernapark AG does

ZID Bernapark AG (Zentrum für Innovation und Digitalisierung) is a privately held Swiss business and innovation center headquartered in the Bernapark quarter in Stettlen, near Bern. Founded in 2017 and operating with a core team of nine, the company serves as a regional facilitator for SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs in the Espace Mittelland, combining physical workspace infrastructure with curated innovation programming and a partner ecosystem that includes the Swiss Venture Club, Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB), Berner Fachhochschule, the University of Bern, and angel networks such as Aare Ventures and SICTIC. The Bernapark campus hosts approximately 150 companies, providing ZID with a captive community base for its event-driven go-to-market motion.

The product portfolio spans three pillars: physical workspace (serviced offices for 2–5 workstations at CHF 1,300–3,150/month, the new Space West open-plan suite for up to 55 workstations, coworking with half-day passes at CHF 24 and fixed desks at CHF 600/month, a podcast studio with hourly and bundled pricing, and event rooms ranging from small meeting rooms at CHF 40/hour to the Forum and House of Future at CHF 285–350/hour); innovation programs (the free KMU Update community events and paid KMU Upgrade workshops covering AI integration, digital transformation, and business succession); and community/networking formats (Skill Share Lunch, Founders Unplugged, Entrepreneur Circle, Founders Circle). The technology stack is operationally rather than product-led — Nexudus for workspace booking, Airtable for podcast subscriptions, HubSpot Meetings for scheduling — and the company holds an equity stake in Digital Innovation Lab AG, which co-develops innovation services and shares access to an 80,000 m² Real Lab spanning 11 football fields across the Bernapark quarter for real-world product testing.

The business model is a mix of recurring workspace subscriptions (monthly desks, fixed desks, serviced offices, minimum 3-month leases) and transactional revenue (hourly/day passes, event room rentals, podcast studio bookings, paid KMU Upgrade workshops, corporate event bookings). Distribution is primarily direct and community-led — self-serve online booking for transactional products, consultative sales for offices and large events, and event-driven lead generation (250+ attendees at events like the Superpower Party). The company is currently navigating a leadership transition, with Martin Hofer permanently appointed Managing Director on July 1, 2025, succeeding Frank Lange, and has refocused strategy around KMU digital transformation, AI integration services, and the new Space West capacity expansion.

Name

ZID Bernapark AG

Legal name

ZID Bernapark AG

Website

https://zid-bernapark.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZID Bernapark AG operates an innovation and business center in the Bernapark quarter near Bern, Switzerland, offering serviced offices, coworking, event rooms, and a podcast studio alongside KMU-focused digital transformation and AI workshops for SMEs and startups in the Espace Mittelland region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stettlen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Workspace Rentals: Revenue from renting flexible workspaces including coworking passes (daily, half-day, monthly subscriptions), fixed desks, serviced private offices, and meeting/event rooms. Includes the Podcast-Sofa recording studio rental. Rental agreements range from pay-as-you-go (hourly/day passes) to monthly subscriptions and multi-month office leases (minimum 3 months).
2. Innovation Programs (KMU Update & KMU Upgrade): KMU Update offers free community events (Skill Share Lunch, workshops); KMU Upgrade provides paid workshops and facilitated programs focused on digital transformation, AI integration, and succession planning for SMEs.
3. Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting external events in the Forum (up to 100 persons), House of Future, and other workshop spaces. External organizations rent ZID venues for conferences, award nights, and corporate events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ZID Bernapark AG operates a business and innovation center providing serviced offices, coworking spaces, event and workshop rooms, and a podcast studio. The company also runs innovation acceleration programs (KMU Update and KMU Upgrade) and offers facilitator services, supported by access to a Real Lab spanning approximately 11 football fields located within the Bernapark quarter in Stettlen, near Bern, Switzerland.

Product overview

ZID Bernapark AG operates as an innovation center and business center offering a comprehensive workspace infrastructure and innovation programs for SMEs and startups in the Espace Mittelland region. The product portfolio consists of three main pillars: (1) Physical Workspace Solutions including Serviced Offices, Coworking Spaces (with day passes, FlexDesk, and FixDesk options), Event & Workshop Rooms, Space West large-format offices, and a professional Podcast Studio; (2) Innovation Programs including KMU Update (free networking formats like Skill Share Lunches), KMU Upgrade (paid implementation programs for succession, digital transformation, and AI), Innovation Services/Real Lab (business acceleration and testing), and Facilitator Services; (3) Community Networking including Founders Circle, Founders Unplugged, and Entrepreneur Circle formats. The offering is designed as an integrated ecosystem where workspace users gain access to innovation programs and community networking, creating a full-service environment for business development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Serviced Offices Fully furnished, ready-to-use private offices for SMEs, startups, and corporate teams seeking flexible workspace with all-inclusive services and amenities.
• Coworking Space Shared open-plan workspace with FlexDesk Base (CHF 200/month) and FlexDesk Medium (CHF 280/month) subscriptions, plus half-day (CHF 24) and full-day (CHF 35) passes for individual professionals, freelancers, and small teams.
• Event and Workshop Rooms Rental of two event rooms accommodating up to 20 and 50 people respectively, with options for half-day, full-day, and multi-session bundles (5- and 10-session bundles) for workshops, meetings, and corporate events.
• Space West (Large Open-Plan Office) Large open-plan office space designed for teams requiring a shared, collaborative working environment within the innovation center.
• Podcast-Sofa Dedicated podcast recording studio available for booking by individuals, content creators, and businesses seeking a professional audio recording environment.
• KMU Update (Innovation Networking Program) Innovation and networking program providing SMEs access to curated events and connections, including formats such as Founders Unplugged, Entrepreneur Circle, Skill Share Lunch, and Founders Circle.
• KMU Upgrade (Paid Innovation Program) Paid innovation acceleration program designed for SMEs seeking structured support to develop and scale innovative business models.
• Innovation Services (Real Lab) Innovation services providing companies with access to a Real Lab spanning approximately 11 football fields within the Bernapark quarter, enabling prototyping, testing, and field experiments with a resident population of roughly 3,000 people.
• Facilitator Services Professional facilitation services for KMU Update and KMU Upgrade programs, providing expert-led workshops and structured innovation processes.
• Founders Circle Confidential peer group for founders and SME leaders enabling trusted exchange of experiences and challenges within a structured circle format.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy consumption reduction of up to 30% in existing buildings within one day (Cleveron, a ZID community startup)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• be-advancedmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2023be-advanced is a KMU and startup coaching agency and ZID Supporter. Co-organizes the be-connected Summer Event & Award Night together with ZID and other regional innovation organizations. Also provides startup support programs to ZID community members.
• Digital Innovation Lab AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2022ZID holds an equity stake in Digital Innovation Lab AG (DIL) and jointly develops products and services. The partnership creates a unique combined offering of strategy + implementation — from innovation strategy to realized digital products. Together they form a comprehensive innovation ecosystem covering the Bernapark and Bern Bahnhof locations with a Real Living Lab spanning 80,000 m².
• Swiss Venture Club (SVC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership grants ZID community members access to Switzerland's largest SME network through the Swiss Venture Club. SVC organizes the Prix SVC and facilitates networking between SMEs, investors, and business experts.
• Berner Kantonalbank AG (BEKB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBEKB is the designated Mission Partner of ZID and sponsors jury awards at ZID events (Superpower Party, be-connected Awards). The bank supports founders through co-organized events (Founders Unplugged) and provides financial expertise to the community. ZID and BEKB collaborate on joint innovation programming.
• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)majorOthersBFH's Entrepreneurship Office collaborates with ZID on the be-connected ecosystem and BFH Business Breakfast events. BFH is also a community firm member of ZID.
• University of BernminorOthersThe University of Bern's Innovation Office partners with ZID as part of the be-connected consortium and is a community firm member. Jointly organizes innovation events and provides academic expertise.
• Sitem Startup ClubminorOthersSitem Startup Club (SSC) is part of the be-connected organizational committee and a network partner of ZID, connecting startups with the broader Swiss innovation ecosystem.
• RechnungswerkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRechnungswerk provides accounting, tax advisory, and financial services to ZID community members. Listed as a community partner and supporter of ZID events (sponsors Supporter of the Year award).
• AXA Versicherungen AGminorOthersAXA (Burgdorf) participates in ZID events (Skill Share Lunch on occupational pension planning) and is listed as a partner on the ZID About page.
• Digital Innovation Lab AG (Community Supporter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond the strategic partnership (equity stake, co-development), DIL also operates as a ZID community supporter, hosting meet-ups and providing expertise to the ZID community. Christoph Camenisch, DIL co-founder, has spoken at ZID Skill Share Lunches on Holokratie.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths9 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zid-bernapark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 ZID Bernapark AG