Project Switzerland

What Project Switzerland does

Project Switzerland is a non-profit national initiative launched in January 2026 and initiated by Deep Tech Nation Switzerland. It operates a single annual cohort program that selects 10 Swiss scale-ups from a nomination- and application-based funnel (160 nominations and 60 applications for the 2026 cohort) and matches them with a curated bench of 20+ role models — unicorn founders and serial entrepreneurs such as the leaders of Scandit, Beekeeper/LumApps, SonarSource, Wefox, MindMaze, Lakera, Auterion, Metaco, and GetYourGuide. The core product is the 12-month Mentorship Program, comprising curated 1:1 matchmaking, five peer sessions, two closed community events (Zurich and Lausanne), and lifelong alumni community access. There is no charge to participants; contributions are made in time, ambition, and effort.

The business model is non-commercial: scale-ups participate free of cost, and the initiative is funded through Deep Tech Nation Switzerland and ecosystem partners (HSG START Accelerator, Fongit, SICTIC, Swiss Startup Association, Startup Days). Distribution is nomination-based within the Swiss startup ecosystem, supplemented by newsletter, LinkedIn, earned media in NZZ am Sonntag, Bilanz, Le Temps, Startupticker, Sifted, Founded, and Inside IT, and a public Scale-up Watchlist form for 2027 nominations. Eligible scale-ups must meet at least 3 of 4 quantitative criteria: ARR of CHF 2–10 million, addressable market greater than CHF 200 million, team size above 15, and prior financing above CHF 2 million.

Headquartered in Zurich with a secondary event location in Lausanne, Project Switzerland is structured around a small core operating team (Head Scale-up Booster, Head Marketing & Communication, Associate, Project Manager) embedded within Deep Tech Nation Switzerland. There are no disclosed investors, funding rounds, revenue figures, or equity instruments; the entity operates as an ecosystem-good initiative positioned as 'owned by Switzerland' under the oversight of institutional partners.

Name

Project Switzerland

Legal name

Project Switzerland

Website

https://project-switzerland.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project Switzerland is a non-profit national initiative launched in 2026 that selects 10 Swiss scale-ups annually and matches them with 20+ unicorn founders and serial entrepreneurs for a 12-month experience-sharing program, with lifelong alumni access and no cost to participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zurich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Services: Project Switzerland is a non-profit national initiative. There is no financial cost for participating scale-ups. The program is funded through initiative partners and does not generate revenue from participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Project Switzerland runs a 12-month experience-sharing program that connects up to 10 selected Swiss scale-ups per year with 20+ role models (unicorn founders and serial entrepreneurs). Selected scale-ups receive curated matchmaking, five tailored peer sessions, two closed community events in Zurich and Lausanne, at least two hours per month of role model engagement, and lifelong access to the alumni community. Participation is free, with scale-ups contributing commitment, ambition, and effort.

Product overview

Project Switzerland is a national initiative and mentorship program (not a software product) that connects highly promising Swiss Scale-ups with 20+ successful entrepreneurs as Role Models. The core offering consists of a 12-month curated matchmaking program featuring peer sessions, closed community events, and lifelong alumni community access. The program focuses on experience sharing at eye level between founders who have scaled global companies and entrepreneurs currently scaling their companies, rather than traditional coaching or accelerator services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Switzerland Mentorship Program A 12-month experience-sharing program that connects up to 10 selected Swiss scale-ups per year with 20+ role models (unicorn founders and serial entrepreneurs) through curated matchmaking, peer sessions, and closed community events. Designed for Swiss startup founders navigating the transition from product-market fit to international scale.
• Role Models Network A curated network of 20+ Swiss unicorn founders and serial entrepreneurs (including the CEOs/founders of Scandit, Beekeeper, SonarSource, Wefox, GetYourGuide, Lakera, MindMaze, Metaco, Auterion, and others) who commit at least two hours per month to provide experience-based guidance, networking, and strategic support to participating scale-ups.
• Scale-up Alumni Community Lifelong access to the Project Switzerland alumni community following completion of the 12-month program, enabling continued peer exchange and network building among Swiss founders who have participated in the initiative.
• Closed Community Events Two annual closed community events (Zurich and Lausanne) where role models and scale-ups meet in a trusted, high-quality setting for deeper engagement and knowledge sharing. First Zurich event held April 30, 2026; Lausanne event scheduled October 22, 2026.
• Peer Sessions Five tailored peer sessions per program cycle designed to strengthen both execution capabilities and community bonds among participating scale-up founders through facilitated peer exchange.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160 nominations, 60 applications narrowed to 10 selected scale-ups per cohort

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deep Tech Nation SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiator of Project Switzerland. Deep Tech Nation Foundation Switzerland drives the national initiative and is responsible for the overall mission of strengthening Switzerland's long-term prosperity and technological sovereignty.
• Startup DaysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss startup ecosystem event organizer supporting Project Switzerland as a partner.
• HSG START AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of St. Gallen startup accelerator supporting Project Switzerland as a partner.
• FongitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneva-based startup support organization partnering with Project Switzerland.
• SICTICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss ICT investors network partnering with Project Switzerland.
• Swiss Startup AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational startup industry association supporting Project Switzerland.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Endeavor: Global high-impact entrepreneur support organization that selects and supports scale-up founders through mentorship, peer networks, and curated connections — closely comparable model of selective founder-to-founder scaling support.
• Founders Forum: Global founder network and community organization convening successful technology entrepreneurs for peer exchange and experience sharing — directly comparable "experience sharing at eye level" approach, albeit at a more senior tier.
• Swiss Startup Association: Swiss national industry association supporting startups and connecting founders, investors, and ecosystem partners — a listed partner of Project Switzerland and operating with a similar national, community-driven mandate for the Swiss startup ecosystem.
• SOSA: Innovation community and accelerator network connecting corporates, startups, and investors with curated programs and curated matchmaking — comparable selective, community-driven approach to scale-up acceleration.
• Seedstars: Swiss-headquartered global investor and ecosystem builder supporting high-growth startups through programs and capital; comparable Swiss-rooted, ecosystem-development mission and founder community orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network running cohort-based programs with mentor networks for early-stage startups; broader incumbent offering mentorship-driven scaling support, though at an earlier-stage focus than Project Switzerland's scale-up tier.
• Plug and Play: Global innovation platform running accelerator programs, corporate-startup matchmaking, and curated cohorts across verticals — broader incumbent with comparable selective-cohort and corporate-partnership models.
• Y Combinator: Premier global startup accelerator running twice-yearly cohorts with extensive founder networks and demo days; broader incumbent offering selective cohort-based founder support, although targeting earlier-stage companies than Project Switzerland's scale-up focus.
• Station F: World's largest startup campus in Paris hosting programs, residencies, and corporate-startup matchmaking for thousands of founders — a much broader incumbent operating similar curated-matchmaking and community-event formats at greater scale.

Regional players

• START Global: Swiss student-led entrepreneurship organization and summit platform founded at the University of St. Gallen; comparable in cultivating a Swiss founder community, though focused on earlier-stage students and talent rather than scaling companies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-switzerland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Project Switzerland