Itz Innovationstransfer Zentralschweiz

What Itz Innovationstransfer Zentralschweiz does

ITZ InnovationsTransfer Zentralschweiz is a non-profit association (Verein) founded in 1991 and headquartered in Horw, Canton Lucerne, Switzerland. The organization operates as the official innovation promotion program of six Central Swiss cantons (Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri, and Zug) and serves as the primary contact point for innovation support in the region. Its core offering is a free 'innovations coaching' service that helps startups, SMEs, and private individuals develop ideas into market-ready innovations. The organization serves three primary customer segments: startups requiring financing and business plan support, established SMEs seeking innovation process improvements and patent strategy guidance, and private individuals with innovative ideas needing validation and network access. The company_description is not a software platform; it is an advisory and ecosystem-services organization supported by a curated regional network.

The product portfolio comprises eight core services rather than a unified software platform. Beyond innovation coaching, these include Ideenscheck (a twice-yearly CHF 15,000 grant program launched in 2016), the *zünder accelerator (a 9–12 month program culminating in a CHF 100,000 investment award at the annual inspirience day), innospace coworking facilities across four locations (Horw, Luzern, Rotkreuz, Altdorf), Patentberatung Plus+ for IP strategy, Innovations-Check-up diagnostics, Innosuisse mentorship, and an annual Startup Ecosystem Study co-produced with Hochschule Luzern. The organization leverages a network of 45+ partners and 200+ association members, with regional delivery supported through 'Points-of-Entry' partners in each canton.

ITZ operates as a publicly-funded non-profit with a small team of 1–10 employees, including Co-CEOs and innovation coaches. Revenue is generated through two primary streams: subscription-style membership fees from approximately 200 association members representing business, government, and research institutions, and professional-services-style cantonal funding from the six sponsoring cantons. The organization uses HubSpot as its CRM and marketing automation platform, and operates event-driven go-to-market motions including the annual inspirience day, webinars, and partner-hosted events. Pricing is freemium — initial consultations are free for all clients, with fee-based services (e.g., patent searches at CHF 200, IP workshops at CHF 900) reserved for non-members. Distribution combines direct innovation coaching, a Points-of-Entry referral network in each canton, innospace coworking spaces, and an online self-serve portal.

Name

Itz Innovationstransfer Zentralschweiz

Legal name

ITZ InnovationsTransfer Zentralschweiz

Website

https://itz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ITZ InnovationsTransfer Zentralschweiz is a non-profit association that delivers free innovation coaching, grants, and an accelerator program to startups, SMEs, and individuals across six Central Swiss cantons, funded by cantonal government and ~200 association members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Consulting and Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting
• Technology transfer
• Startup acceleration
• Innovation coaching
• Patent advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Horw

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ITZ operates as a non-profit association (Verein) with approximately 200 members from business, government, and research institutions who pay membership fees for access to network, events, and member benefits.
2. Government/Cantonal Funding: As a program of six Central Swiss cantons (Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri, Zug) for innovation promotion, ITZ receives public funding to support its mission of strengthening regional innovation and competitiveness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ITZ Innovationstransfer Zentralschweiz is a non-profit association founded in 1991 that supports innovation in Central Switzerland by offering innovation coaching (free advisory), the Ideenscheck grant program (CHF 15,000 for early-stage innovations), the *zünder accelerator (CHF 100,000 investment), innospace coworking facilities, Patentberatung Plus+ patent consulting, Innovations-Check-up assessments, and an Innosuisse mentor program. It serves SMEs, startups, researchers, and corporate innovators across the cantons of Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri, and Zug, and is supported by approximately 200 members and 45+ partner organizations.

Product overview

ITZ InnovationsTransfer Zentralschweiz is a non-profit association serving as the primary point of contact for innovation in Central Switzerland. The organization operates a portfolio of advisory and support services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include: innovations coaching (free advisory for developing ideas into market-ready innovations), the Ideenscheck (CHF 15,000 funding for early-stage innovative ideas), patent and trademark consulting, and the Innovations-Check-up (analysis of organizational innovation capabilities). The *zünder accelerator program provides 9-12 months of startup support culminating in CHF 100,000 investment, while innospace locations provide physical workspaces for startups. Additional services include Innosuisse mentorship and the annual Startup Ecosystem Study. The organization is supported by the six Central Swiss cantons (Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri, and Zug) to strengthen regional competitiveness for SMEs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• *zünder: Startup accelerator and inspiration platform for Central Switzerland creating a world of innovation and inspiration for startups, young entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, students and interested parties
• innovations coaching
• innospace
• Ideenscheck

Products and services

• Innovations Coaching (Innovationscoaching)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 successful innovation stories documented
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 and core.

• Business SchmiedeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2022Personal development and business support organization in Sursee. Cooperation partnership providing networking events and Speakers Nights with discounted tickets for ITZ members.
• Wirtschaftsförderung LuzerncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal economic development agency for Luzern canton. Acts as Point-of-Entry partner, referring SMEs and entrepreneurs to ITZ innovation coaching services.
• Startup Pilatus (Obwalden)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStartup support organization for Obwalden canton. Acts as Point-of-Entry partner for startup referrals to ITZ services.
• Standort UricoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEconomic development agency for Uri canton. Point-of-Entry partner for innovation support referrals.
• Wirtschaftsförderung NidwaldencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEconomic development agency for Nidwalden canton. Point-of-Entry partner for innovation support.
• Schwyz NextcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInnovation support organization for Schwyz canton. Point-of-Entry partner with dedicated innovation coach (Celso Cattaneo) providing local support.
• Die Sphäre (Entlebuch)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional development organization for Entlebuch region. Point-of-Entry partner for innovation support referrals.
• Technologie Forum Zug / SIP CentralcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnology forum and innovation park for Zug canton. Point-of-Entry partner and co-location partner at Suurstoffi in Rotkreuz.
• CSEM Center AlpnachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss research institute. Provides technology transfer support, contacts to national and international funding programs, and CSEM contact (Alexander Steinecker) for regional company support.
• Hochschule Luzern (HSLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucerne University of Applied Sciences. Research partner and co-developer of the Startup Ökosystem Studie 2026. Prof. Manfred Huber serves on ITZ board.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen: Swiss non-profit startup consulting and coaching organization founded in 1989, offering free advisory services to founders across German-speaking Switzerland. Directly comparable to ITZ in mission (free coaching, founder support, government-backed) and overlaps geographically with Eastern and Central Switzerland.
• Basel Inkubator (BI) / start up basel: Regional innovation and startup support network for the Basel area, funded by cantonal and private sources. Comparable to ITZ as a regional, public-backed innovation intermediary with accelerator and coworking offerings, though serving North-Western Switzerland.
• StartZentrum Zürich: Zurich-based startup support organization providing coaching, networking, and events to founders. Closely analogous to ITZ's innovation coaching and event-driven GTM, but operating in the larger Zürich ecosystem.
• Genilem: Swiss non-profit association providing free personalized coaching to innovative startups across French- and German-speaking Switzerland. Same non-profit coaching model as ITZ, with similar founder-selection and milestone-based support structure.
• venturelab: Swiss non-profit running structured startup programs (Venture Kick, Venture Leaders) plus coaching and events. Comparable to *zünder's accelerator role and ITZ's event-driven model, with national reach and larger funding pools.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Zurich Area AG (GZA): Public-private economic development agency marketing the Zurich metropolitan region to international tech companies and startups. Functional peer to ITZ in regional innovation promotion, but focused on inward investment promotion rather than local SME/startup coaching.
• Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency): Switzerland's federal innovation promotion agency, providing innovation mentoring, funding instruments, and startup coaching nationwide. ITZ explicitly positions itself as a feeder to Innosuisse; comparable in offering but operating at federal scope rather than regional.
• MassChallenge Switzerland: Global non-profit accelerator with a Swiss presence in Lausanne, running equity-free accelerator cohorts. Comparable to *zünder in accelerator structure but with international brand and larger prize pools.

Regional players

• Wirtschaftsförderung Luzern: Cantonal economic development agency for Lucerne that serves as one of ITZ's six Points-of-Entry partners. Comparable in economic-development mission; differs in being a government authority rather than a coaching association, and serves only one of ITZ's six cantons.

Emerging players

• Impact Hub Switzerland (Zürich / Bern / Lausanne): Network of coworking and innovation spaces (including accelerator-style programs) targeting impact-driven entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to ITZ's innospace locations and *zünder community orientation, with similar SME/founder focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/itz-innovations-transfer-zentralschweiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Itz Innovationstransfer Zentralschweiz