Accurately selected speakers from different fields enhance the event with valuable insights. All of our speakers have a personal passion for the expertise they share.
Exploring digital solutions that tackle the challenges in biodiversity. Let’s join together in going beyond carbon credits!
Other speakers: Martin Kathriner, Sustainability Strategist, digitalswitzerland
Julia Baumann, Sustainability Manager, Lidl
Matthias Köhler, Digital Business Leader, Wipro
Digitization continues to pick up speed and change our world. It is influencing our society and the way companies interact with their customers. This creates many opportunities for start-ups and for high-tech countries like Switzerland. Trustworthy innovations are at the forefront. But we need a new approach to thinking about and promoting technology and innovation in Switzerland. Countries like Switzerland must learn to drive the commercialization of their R&D successes and to support start-ups in their growth phase.
This workshop gives you insights on how sales & growth can be approached with scientific methods and applied systematically. In addition, it provides an understanding of the impact of the Innosuisse Start-up Coaching.
We will cover best practices in raising capital for capital intensive models and for unproven technologies and markets. We will also cover various instruments – venture, other equity and other alternative financing models – and when / why each might be suitable.
Other Speakers:
Simon Aspinall, CEO, Ecorobotix
David Brandes, Founder & CEO, Planetary
Luca Christen, Deputy CFO, Climeworks
Mario Michan, Founder & CEO, Daphne Technology
Jennifer Webb, Investment Director, Swisscom Ventures
Entrepreneurial topics that are seldom publicly talked about: The feeling of failing. The loneliness in times of taking hard decisions, navigating rough seas and even in times of success. The emptiness after the rush of a successful exit when you realize that your “baby” is not yours anymore and you struggle to find a new purpose even though everyone expects you to be super happy. The relationship with your family or friends that change for the better or worse during times of hardship, deprivation, failure and also success. A talk among 5 entrepreneurs and the audience.
Other Speakers:
Jeremias Meier, Partner, session.vc Flavio Pfaffhauser, Co-Founder & CIO, Beekeeper Ronald Zemp, Founder & Chairman, RZ Capital AG
Co-Founder & President of the Board v-oice AG
#Trust and Respect #personal growth #not your glossy story #together we grow #be bold #show vulnerability #mental health
Dean and Professor at School of Management Fribourg, HEG-FR/HES-SO
15:30 - 16:15Room: Aare 2
LINDEN (Cyrille)
Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem – GEM Insights
Prof. Dr. Rico Baldegger Dean and Professor at School of Management Fribourg, HEG-FR/HES-SO
Key takeaways of the actual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report of Switzerland and trend outlooks. Discussion with expert about what is Switzerland doing good and where are the problems to tackle.
Other speakers: Gina Domanig, Managing Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Carole Hofmann, Founder, SwissGold Crypto AG
Raphael Tobler, CEO and Co-Founder, eduwo
Peter Balsiger Founder & President, TF Acceleration Group
You should join us if you want to learn
– why a competent board is crucial for a startup
– how to create a powerful board
– how to find performing board members
– how to activate lazy board members
– if your current board has the right skills and experience
Other Speakers: Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Benjamin Domenig, Managing Partner, Domenig & Partner Rechtsanwälte AG
Mascha Santschi, Partnerin, Santschi & Felber JustizKommunikation GmbH
Daniela Bar-Gera Head of Office, Basel, Plug and Play
Ten years of Open Innovation: What you REALLY need to do to land big corporate clients.
Omeed Mehinfar has seen thousands of startups and hundreds of pilot projects throughout his ten years at Plug and Play.
Learn about how Corporate Innovation has evolved, what corporates expect from startups today, and what you need to do to land that Fortune 1000 client.
Other Speakers: Omeed Mehrinfar, Managing Partner, EMEA, Plug and Play
Gabriel Selbach, Head of Innovation, GF Casting Solutions
Raphael Fässler, VC, Schweizerische Post
– Introduction – Loan vs. Equity Financing – at what stage to use which instrument – Valuation of your Startup – the start of every financing round – Subscription Preference – understanding the waterfall – Anti-Dilution Protection – avoiding it in difficult times – Good Corporate Governance – board and shareholder matters – Transfer Restrictions – general principles
Other Speakers:
Michele Vitali, Head of Startup Financing & VC, Legal Expert, LEXR
Stefan Bauer Teamleiter Sensors & Medical Electronics
Digital health enabled devices open entire new market opportunities for startups and established medical device manufacturer. But how to take advantage of these new market opportunities? In this workshop we will discuss some of the challenges and pitfalls in developing digital health enabled medical devices. Real cases and practical examples will be showcased.
Other Speakers:
Stefan Troller, Senior Vice President, Partner, Helbling Technik Bern AG
Exploring digital solutions that tackle the challenges in biodiversity. Let’s join together in going beyond carbon credits!
Other speakers: Martin Kathriner, Sustainability Strategist, digitalswitzerland
Camille Accolas, Venture Builder, Brainforest
Matthias Köhler, Digital Business Leader, Wipro
CHF 12 bn VC within 4 years – utopia or realizable?
Mike Baur Swiss Venture Investor, Swiss Ventures Group
What it takes to grow the venture capital investments up to CHF 12 billion in the coming four years. And which role do the institutional investors in Switzerland play in this undertaking?
Other Speakers: Tanya Fröhlich, COO, Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC)
Christian Wenger, Partner & Verwaltungsrat, Wenger Vieli
Rainer Syha, Managing Director, Direct Investments Group, UBS
Project Manager, Swissnex - State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 3
Swissnex - State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Your Strategy for International Expansion
Tatiana Benavides Project Manager, Swissnex - State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Get an overview of the process to formalize a general strategy and participate in a live exercise to create a first draft of your strategy for internationalization with key metrics to measure and address regional differences for international markets.
Other Speakers:
Charlotte Chenu, Innosuisse Internationalisation Programme Manager, Swissnex – Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom
Mario Garcia, Founder and CEO, Lighting Up Ventures
Minyong Lee, Project Manager, Swissnex – Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea
Daniel Bermejo-Carrasco Co-Managing Director Startup INVEST
Daniel Bermejo-Carrasco will conduct the spectacular pitching battle of innovative startups of the four verticals – Sustainable Solutions, Health Solutions, ICT, Autonomous Systems & Industry. He moderates the Semi-Finaland Final together with Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier.
Lessons Learned from The First Fundraising Experience: Do’s and Don’ts for Entrepreneurial Success. Meet the founders of startups Bionomous and Voltiris who will talk about their own experience, what worked, what they should have done differently, some key elements when they met their first investors.
Do’s and Don’ts in Start-Up Financing in Challenging Times – term sheet negotiations in the current economic environment and in the light of recent events (such as SVB collapse).
We will cover best practices in raising capital for capital intensive models and for unproven technologies and markets. We will also cover various instruments – venture, other equity and other alternative financing models – and when / why each might be suitable.
Other Speakers:
Simon Aspinall, CEO, Ecorobotix
Luca Christen, Deputy CFO, Climeworks
Mario Michan, Founder & CEO, Daphne Technology
Jennifer Webb, Investment Director, Swisscom Ventures
Emilie Brandt Executive Board Member, Women in Tech Switzerland
If you want to become your own version of a Super(wo)man and start your journey towards building the right business at the right time, bringing your project to the next level, or simply becoming the best version of yourself – you’ll need the right mindset for it.
Overall, becoming Super(wo)man is a journey, not a destination.
Other Speakers:
Christina Reitenbach, Education Partner Sales Manager ECAL, Dassault Systèmes
Gap Report - How to transition Switzerland into Circular Economy
Noora Buser Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
This first Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland reveals the country’s high material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to satisfy its residents’ needs and wants. The report underlines the urgent need to act and marks the launch of an ambitious national multistakeholder process to achieve a truly circular economy in Switzerland.
Other Speaker: Kathrin Fuchs, Co-Lead Circular Economy Switzerland, Circular Economy Switzerland
Carlo Giardinetti, Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
Ingrid Kissling-Näf, Head of BFH Business School
Katka Letzing, CEO Kickstart Innovation
Adèle Thorens, Member of the Council of States
Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property (IGE)
Victorinox and the fight against free riders
Eveline Capol Head of Stop Piracy Secretariat, Stop Piracy
Swiss products and trade marks are popular worldwide and thus attract free riders. The pocket knife manufacturer Victorinox explains what Swissness means for its business and describes some of its experiences with counterfeiters, as well as how it keeps them at bay. Find out why IP rights are only of value if you defend them.
Other Speakers:
Bettina Linder, Legal Counsel, Victorniox
Lorena Piticco, Swiss and European Patent Attorney, Isler & Pedrazzini AG
David Stärkle, Managing Director, Association Swissness Enforcement
Sibilla Delorenzi, Patent Expert, Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property
Head Digital Medicine Unit, Universitätsklinik Balgrist
14:15 - 15:00Room: Aare 1
digitalswitzerland
A Swiss digital healthcare system
Sebastiano Caprara Head Digital Medicine Unit, Universitätsklinik Balgrist
With insights from a nationwide study on Swiss citizen’s attitudes to digitalisation of healthcare, the expert panel will discuss opportunities for innovative solutions needed to transform ownership and understanding of patient data to enable patients to feel empowered to navigate through their health journey.
Other Speaker: Susanne Gedamke, Managing Director, Patientenorganisation SPO / Personal Trainer, Zenmove
Jade Sternberg, Senior Innovation Manager, digitalswitzerland
Nicolas Loeillot, New Business Models & Innovation, CSS
Innosuisse Internationalisation Programme Manager, Swissnex - Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 3
Swissnex - State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Your Strategy for International Expansion
Charlotte Chenu Innosuisse Internationalisation Programme Manager, Swissnex - Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom
Get an overview of the process to formalize a general strategy and participate in a live exercise to create a first draft of your strategy for internationalization with key metrics to measure and address regional differences for international markets.
Other Speakers:
Mario Garcia, Founder and CEO, Lighting Up Ventures
Minyong Lee, Project Manager, Swissnex – Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea
Tatiana Benavides, Project Manager, Swissnex – State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
We will cover best practices in raising capital for capital intensive models and for unproven technologies and markets. We will also cover various instruments – venture, other equity and other alternative financing models – and when / why each might be suitable.
Other Speakers:
Simon Aspinall, CEO, Ecorobotix
David Brandes, Founder & CEO, Planetary
Mario Michan, Founder & CEO, Daphne Technology
Jennifer Webb, Investment Director, Swisscom Ventures
Patent Expert, Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property
11:00 - 11:45Room: Panorama 7
Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property (IGE)
Victorinox and the fight against free riders
Sibilla Delorenzi Patent Expert, Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property
Swiss products and trade marks are popular worldwide and thus attract free riders. The pocket knife manufacturer Victorinox explains what Swissness means for its business and describes some of its experiences with counterfeiters, as well as how it keeps them at bay. Find out why IP rights are only of value if you defend them.
Other Speakers:
Eveline Capol, Head of Stop Piracy Secretariat, Stop Piracy
Bettina Linder, Legal Counsel, Victorniox
Lorena Piticco, Swiss and European Patent Attorney, Isler & Pedrazzini AG
David Stärkle, Managing Director, Association Swissness Enforcement
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion with founders, industry experts and governments as we explore the future of technology innovation in Switzerland and beyond. From the role of startups in emerging technologies to the importance of collaboration, we’ll delve into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and how Switzerland can continue to lead the way in innovation.
Other Speakers: Andy Yen, CEO, Proton James Miners, Head of Startup and Innovation Programs, FONGIT
Swisspreneur host Silvan Krähenbühl sits down with startup CEO Madiha Derouazi to discuss the Amal Therapeutics journey: from hopeful research, to developing new generation of cancer vaccines, to their big biotech exit.
Other Speaker: Silvan Krähenbühl, Host & Managing Director, Swisspreneur
Key takeaways of the actual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report of Switzerland and trend outlooks. Discussion with expert about what is Switzerland doing good and where are the problems to tackle.
Other speakers: Prof. Dr. Rico Baldegger, Dean and Professor at School of Management Fribourg, HEG-FR/HES-SO
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Carole Hofmann, Founder WomenWay Association & SwissGold Crypto AG
Raphael Tobler, CEO and Co-Founder, eduwo
Managing Partner, Domenig & Partner Rechtsanwälte AG
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 6
Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
How to upgrade your Board
Benjamin Domenig Managing Partner, Domenig & Partner Rechtsanwälte AG
You should join us if you want to learn
– why a competent board is crucial for a startup
– how to create a powerful board
– how to find performing board members
– how to activate lazy board members
– if your current board has the right skills and experience
Other Speakers: Peter Balsiger, Founder & President, TF Acceleration Group
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Mascha Santschi, Partnerin, Santschi & Felber JustizKommunikation GmbH
Every year, Inartis Foundation is picking the 10 technologies that will shape the future of LifeSciences. You’ll recognize some. Others might surprise you. We look for paradigms that will have a big impact on our lives and then break down why they matter.
Community Manager Microsoft for Startups, Microsoft
15:30 - 16:15Room: Panorama 7
Microsoft
Sustainability impact through partner ecosystems
Giovanna Dughera Community Manager Microsoft for Startups, Microsoft
How do you drive environmental impact via innovation ecosystems? Discover the examples of Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, ABB’s sustainable innovation approach, and Correntics’ solution for future-proof supply chain in the face of climate change.
Other Speakers:
Michael Gloor, CEO & Co-Founder, Correntics
Yves Fontana, Sustainability Lead Microsoft Switzerland, Microsoft
Krassimir Gurov, Global Strategy & Portfolio Management, ABB Smart Buildings
Good investors support start-ups with money, their network and know-how. From the outset, start-ups should follow a path to attract them. Our session provides examples and data-based insights about who are top class investors and how to get in touch.
Other Speaker: Stefan Kyora, Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch
Oliver Heimes, Partner, Lakestar
Thomas Heimann, Startupticker.ch, Seca
Sandra Tobler, CEO, Futurae Technologies AG
You plan to attract and retain talent for your startup? Then incentive plans in the form of shares, ESOPs or Phantom Stock Option Plans are a crucial instrument. Learn about structuring and setting-up incentive plans and how to assign options or shares in this workshop with our experienced startup lawyers from Wenger Vieli who will provide you with first-hand practical tips.
Pension funds and venture capital are not yet a love story in Switzerland. Together with specialists from both worlds, we want to find out which characteristics a venture capital fund should have in order to be attractive for pension funds.
Other Speakers:
Thomas Heimann, Head Risk Management & Equity Analyst, HBM Partners AG / VC Representative, SECA
Gisela Jäggi, Head Manager Selection & Alternative Investments, Die Mobiliar Asset Management AG / Stiftungsrätin, Pensionskasse der Gruppe Mobiliar
Thomas van Ditzhuyzen, President & Partner, AvelaLaw AG
10 years Open Innovation: Landing Corporate Clients
Raphael Fässler VC, Schweizerische Post
Ten years of Open Innovation: What you REALLY need to do to land big corporate clients.
Omeed Mehinfar has seen thousands of startups and hundreds of pilot projects throughout his ten years at Plug and Play.
Learn about how Corporate Innovation has evolved, what corporates expect from startups today, and what you need to do to land that Fortune 1000 client.
Other speakers:
Omeed Mehrinfar, Managing Partner, EMEA, Plug and Play
Gabriel Selbach, Head of Innovation, GF Casting Solutions
Daniela Bar-Gera, Head of Office, Basel, Plug and Play
80 out of every 100 newly founded startups fail within the first three years. You should not be one of them. Startup uniqFEED has already successfully mastered many growth challenges and shares insights in a dialog with ZKB Start-up Finance.
Sustainability Lead Microsoft Switzerland, Microsoft
15:30 - 16:15Room: Panorama 7
Microsoft
Sustainability impact through partner ecosystems
Yves Fontana Sustainability Lead Microsoft Switzerland, Microsoft
How do you drive environmental impact via innovation ecosystems? Discover the examples of Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, ABB’s sustainable innovation approach, and Correntics’ solution for future-proof supply chain in the face of climate change.
Other Speakers:
Michael Gloor, CEO & Co-Founder, Correntics
Giovanna Dughera, Community Manager Microsoft for Startups, Microsoft
Krassimir Gurov, Global Strategy & Portfolio Management, ABB Smart Buildings
Virginia Franco CEO and Co-Founder, YONI Solutions
FemTech is set up to disrupt the women’s health market entirely. Attend this session to get a better view of the FemTech landscape in Switzerland today. Let’s discuss the trends and opportunities that will shape our future. After an introductory presentation, a panel discussion will follow with previous and current participants of Tech4Eva.
Other speaker: Anna Soederlind, Head of Innovation, Groupe Mutuel
Wolfgang Hackl, CEO, OncoGenomX, INC.
Petronela Sandulache, Founder & CEO, CorDiFio Health
CHF 12 bn VC within 4 years – utopia or realizable?
Tanya Fröhlich COO, Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC)
What it takes to grow the venture capital investments up to CHF 12 billion in the coming four years. And which role do the institutional investors in Switzerland play in this undertaking?
Other Speakers: Mike Baur, Swiss Venture Investor, Swiss Ventures Group
Christian Wenger, Partner & Verwaltungsrat, Wenger Vieli
Rainer Syha, Managing Director, Direct Investments Group, UBS
This first Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland reveals the country’s high material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to satisfy its residents’ needs and wants. The report underlines the urgent need to act and marks the launch of an ambitious national multistakeholder process to achieve a truly circular economy in Switzerland.
Other Speaker: Noora Buser, Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
Carlo Giardinetti, Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
Ingrid Kissling-Näf, Head of BFH Business School
Katka Letzing, CEO Kickstart Innovation
Adèle Thorens, Member of the Council of States
Swissnex - State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Your Strategy for International Expansion
Mario Garcia Founder and CEO, Lighting Up Ventures
Get an overview of the process to formalize a general strategy and participate in a live exercise to create a first draft of your strategy for internationalization with key metrics to measure and address regional differences for international markets.
Other Speakers:
Charlotte Chenu, Innosuisse Internationalisation Programme Manager, Swissnex – Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom
Minyong Lee, Project Manager, Swissnex – Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea
Tatiana Benavides, Project Manager, Swissnex – State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Head of MSc BA, major in Entrepreneurship School, Board Member, Haute école de gestion Fribourg
15:30 - 16:15Room: Aare 2
LINDEN
Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem – GEM Insights
Raphaël Gaudart Head of MSc BA, major in Entrepreneurship School, Board Member, Haute école de gestion Fribourg
Key takeaways of the actual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report of Switzerland and trend outlooks. Discussion with expert about what is Switzerland doing good and where are the problems to tackle.
Other speakers: Gina Domanig, Managing Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Carole Hofmann, Founder, SwissGold Crypto AG
Raphael Tobler, CEO and Co-Founder, eduwo
Managing Director, Patientenorganisation SPO / Personal Trainer, Zenmove
14:15 - 15:00Room: Aare 1
digitalswitzerland
A Swiss digital healthcare system
Susanne Gedamke Managing Director, Patientenorganisation SPO / Personal Trainer, Zenmove
With insights from a nationwide study on Swiss citizen’s attitudes to digitalisation of healthcare, the expert panel will discuss opportunities for innovative solutions needed to transform ownership and understanding of patient data to enable patients to feel empowered to navigate through their health journey.
Other Speaker:
Sebastiano Caprara, Head Digital Medicine Unit, Universitätsklinik Balgrist
Jade Sternberg, Senior Innovation Manager, digitalswitzerland
Nicolas Loeillot, New Business Models & Innovation, CSS
Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
14:15 - 15:00Room: Aare Plenum
Impact Hub Bern
Gap Report - How to transition Switzerland into Circular Economy
Carlo Giardinetti Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
This first Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland reveals the country’s high material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to satisfy its residents’ needs and wants. The report underlines the urgent need to act and marks the launch of an ambitious national multistakeholder process to achieve a truly circular economy in Switzerland.
Other speakers: Ingrid Kissling-Näf, Head of BFH Business School
Katka Letzing, CEO Kickstart Innovation
Adèle Thorens, Member of the Council of States
Noora Buser, Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
Kathrin Fuchs, Co-Lead Circular Economy Switzerland, Circular Economy Switzerland
Trendscout Future of Work Life & Learn, Vitra GmbH
09:30 - 10:15Room: Panorama 2
Vitra GmbH
Zoom out
Raphael Gielgen Trendscout Future of Work Life & Learn, Vitra GmbH
Working environments are changing more rapidly than ever. „Stable Diffusion“, „Metaverse“, „Workation“, „Quiet Quitting“ – future work environments are influenced by different technological and socio-economic factors. After the past pandemic years and in the face of the ongoing climate crisis, the future of work seems more and more uncertain.
How do you drive environmental impact via innovation ecosystems? Discover the examples of Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, ABB’s sustainable innovation approach, and Correntics’ solution for future-proof supply chain in the face of climate change.
Other Speakers: Yves Fontana, Sustainability Lead Microsoft Switzerland, Microsoft
Giovanna Dughera, Community Manager Microsoft for Startups, Microsoft
Krassimir Gurov, Global Strategy & Portfolio Management, ABB Smart Buildings
Women-led companies receive 4% of the invested startup capital in Switzerland (Kyora & Rockinger, 2020). Research shows a gender funding bias, where investors tend to evaluate women based on risks, and men based on potential.
As the Collective, we want to hear from female investors and founders about their experience: What works and what doesn’t when women want to get funding?
IMD and Swiss Ventures Group give an overview of the newly created executive education program. The IMD Masterclass „Venture as an Asset Class“ is for experienced investment professionals to improve their understanding of the venture capital market.
Other Speakers: Dr. Maik Meusel, CEO, SYLVA / Research Fellow, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Prof. Karl Schmedders, Professor of Finance, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Ronan Guirey Director ZH office, Patent attorney, P&TS SA
Do you own the relevant IP and do you have the right to use the protected technology? We will address the general principles of IP ownership and the common ownership problems that start-ups face, along with possible resolutions to those problems. We will also explain what steps start-ups can take to establish if they are free to use their protected technology.
Other Speaker:
Claudia Nash, Patent engineer, P&TS
Global Strategy & Portfolio Management, ABB Smart Buildings
15:30 - 16:15Room: Panorama 7
Microsoft
Sustainability impact through partner ecosystems
Krassimir Gurov Global Strategy & Portfolio Management, ABB Smart Buildings
How do you drive environmental impact via innovation ecosystems? Discover the examples of Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, ABB’s sustainable innovation approach, and Correntics’ solution for future-proof supply chain in the face of climate change.
Other speakers:
Giovanna Dughera, Community Manager Microsoft for Startups, Microsoft
Yves Fontana, Sustainability Lead Microsoft Switzerland, Microsoft
We bring together two startups from different stages with two funding vehicles in an exchange. What are the biggest challenges for healthtech startups when it comes to funding? What funding options are available for them in Switzerland? Find out the answers to these questions in the panel discussion.
Other Speakers:
Vincent Irrling, Founder, KAPSLY Ventures
Anna Rosenkranz, Co-Founder & CEO, Health Yourself AG
Dr. Tobias Wolf, Co-Founder, OnlineDoctor AG Niklas Rückwald, Delegate of the University of St.Gallen (HSG) Bernd Schneider, Startup Consulting, Startfeld
Co-Creation of the Collective Map – for more female founders & investors
In this interactive workshop, you’ll get an overview over the different organisations and initiatives that are part of the Collective, understand their contributions and how you can receive support from them rsp contribute to their cause. Together, we’ll work out what’s needed, identify gaps and priorities, for more female founders and investors.
Other Speaker:
Melanie Kovacs, Lead Collective, startup days
Merle Zur, Program Manager Female Founders Initiative, Impact Hub Zürich
80 out of every 100 newly founded startups fail within the first three years. You should not be one of them. Startup uniqFEED has already successfully mastered many growth challenges and shares insights in a dialog with ZKB Start-up Finance.
Thomas Haberthuer Corporate Development, Coop Genossenschaft
Explore how Coop is using technology to make its mutual impact between society, environment, and its financial results measurable and manageable along its global value chains. But is technology alone really enough?
FemTech is set up to disrupt the women’s health market entirely. Attend this session to get a better view of the FemTech landscape in Switzerland today. Let’s discuss the trends and opportunities that will shape our future. After an introductory presentation, a panel discussion will follow with previous and current participants of Tech4Eva.
Other speaker: Virginia Franco, CEO and Co-Founder, YONI Solutions
Anna Soederlind, Head of Innovation, Groupe Mutuel
Petronela Sandulache, Founder & CEO, CorDiFio Health
Thomas Heimann Head VC Chapter & General Deputy Secretary, SECA
Good investors support start-ups with money, their network and know-how. From the outset, start-ups should follow a path to attract them. Our session provides examples and data-based insights about who are top class investors and how to get in touch.
Other Speaker: Stefan Kyora, Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch
Oliver Heimes, Partner, Lakestar
Kai Eberhardt, CEO and Co-Founder, Oviva
Sandra Tobler, CEO, Futurae Technologies AG
#investors #growth #strategy #funding
Another session with Thomas Heinmann:
Venture as an Asset Class 11:00 – 11:45 Room: Panorama 3
Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
How to invest in VC as a pension fund?
Pension funds and venture capital are not yet a love story in Switzerland. Together with specialists from both worlds, we want to find out which characteristics a venture capital fund should have in order to be attractive for pension funds.
Other speakers:
Gisela Jäggi, Simon Enderli, Thomas van Ditzhuyzen
Good investors support start-ups with money, their network and know-how. From the outset, start-ups should follow a path to attract them. Our session provides examples and data-based insights about who are top class investors and how to get in touch.
Other Speaker: Thomas Heimann, Startupticker.ch, Seca
Kai Eberhardt, CEO and Co-Founder, Oviva
Stefan Kyora, Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch
Sandra Tobler, CEO, Futurae Technologies AG
#investors #growth #strategy #funding
Another Session with Oliver Heimes
Venture as an Asset Class
11:00 – 11:45 Room: Panorama 4
Lakestar
The Endowment Model – Venture as at asset class
Together we examine how the endowment model has performed and offer insights on how the leading institutional investors invest and how they think about venture capital as an asset class.
Women-led companies receive 4% of the invested startup capital in Switzerland (Kyora & Rockinger, 2020). Research shows a gender funding bias, where investors tend to evaluate women based on risks, and men based on potential.
As the Collective, we want to hear from female investors and founders about their experience: What works and what doesn’t when women want to get funding?
Startup-University collaboration: From pain to gain
Nina Hobi CEO, AlveoliX AG
By collaborating with universities, startups gain access to expertise, technology platforms, scientific knowhow, and a pool of talents. Yet, the academic and entrepreneurial worlds differ in many ways. What do startups need to consider to maximize the gain, and to minimize the pain?
Other Speakers:
Eva Lüthi, Head of Entrepreneurship, Innosuisse
Jürgen Vogel, Professor of Computer Science, Berner Fachhochschule
Stefan Weber, CEO, CAScination AG
Sebastien Hug, Head of Innovation Office, University of Bern
Founder WomenWay Association & SwissGold Crypto AG
15:30 - 16:15Room: Aare 2
LINDEN
Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem – GEM Insights
Carole Hofmann Founder WomenWay Association & SwissGold Crypto AG
Key takeaways of the actual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report of Switzerland and trend outlooks. Discussion with expert about what is Switzerland doing good and where are the problems to tackle.
Other speakers: Prof. Dr. Rico Baldegger, Dean and Professor at School of Management Fribourg, HEG-FR/HES-SO
Gina Domanig, Managing Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Raphael Tobler, CEO and Co-Founder, eduwo
Startup-University collaboration: From pain to gain
Sebastien Hug Head of Innovation Office, University of Bern
By collaborating with universities, startups gain access to expertise, technology platforms, scientific knowhow, and a pool of talents. Yet, the academic and entrepreneurial worlds differ in many ways. What do startups need to consider to maximize the gain, and to minimize the pain?
Other Speakers:
Nina Hobi, CEO, AlveoliX AG Eva Lüthi, Head of Entrepreneurship, Innosuisse
Jürgen Vogel, Professor of Computer Science, Berner Fachhochschule
We bring together two startups from different stages with two funding vehicles in an exchange. What are the biggest challenges for healthtech startups when it comes to funding? What funding options are available for them in Switzerland? Find out the answers to these questions in the panel discussion.
Other Speakers:
Dr. Cornelia Gut-Villa, CEO, Stiftung Startfeld
Anna Rosenkranz, Co-Founder & CEO, Health Yourself AG
Dr. Tobias Wolf, Co-Founder, OnlineDoctor AG
Niklas Rückwald, Delegate of the University of St.Gallen (HSG)
Head Manager Selection & Alternative Investments, Die Mobiliar Asset Management AG / Stiftungsrätin, Pensionskasse der Gruppe Mobiliar
11:00 - 11:45Room: Panorama 3
LINDEN / SEFoundation
How to invest in VC as a pension fund?
Gisela Jaeggi Head Manager Selection & Alternative Investments, Die Mobiliar Asset Management AG / Stiftungsrätin, Pensionskasse der Gruppe Mobiliar
Pension funds and venture capital are not yet a love story in Switzerland. Together with specialists from both worlds, we want to find out which characteristics a venture capital fund should have in order to be attractive for pension funds.
Other Speakers:
Thomas Heimann, Head Risk Management & Equity Analyst, HBM Partners AG / VC Representative, SECA
Simon Enderli, CEO, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Thomas van Ditzhuyzen, President & Partner, AvelaLaw AG
Martin Kathriner Sustainability Strategist, digitalswitzerland
Exploring digital solutions that tackle the challenges in biodiversity. Let’s join together in going beyond carbon credits!
Other speakers: Camille Accolas, Venture Builder, Brainforest
Julia Baumann, Sustainability Manager, Lidl
Matthias Köhler, Digital Business Leader, Wipro
Michael Katz Senior Equity Lead, SIX Digital Exchange
The funding journey of new companies is expensive, inefficient, highly intermediated and driven by manual processes. Private equity is becoming more attractive as source of funding and growth companies tend to stay private longer. SDX is building an ecosystem to support private companies in their funding journey, and to give investors more transparency and enhanced investment experience.
VCs Unplugged: Female Perspectives on the Startup Ecosystem
Olivia Kinghorst Journalist and Moderator
Join us for an exciting closing fireside chat: Our panelists, Bettine Schmitz and Laura Möller are two experienced female investors with unique perspectives on the industry. The discussion will be moderated by Olivia Kinghorst, and promises to offer valuable insights, ideas, and inspiration. Gain fresh perspectives and learn from these successful women in venture capital!
Other speakers:
Bettine Schmitz, Founding Partner, Auxxo Fund Management GmbH
Laura Möller, Growth VC, Burda Principal Investments
Get ready for a user journey on how you should be using AI to save time, money, and effort (plus developing products, improving your marketing, and more) featuring sites to use, prompts to copy, and hands-on fun!
Gap Report - How to transition Switzerland into Circular Economy
Ingrid Kissling-Näf Head of BFH Business School
This first Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland reveals the country’s high material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to satisfy its residents’ needs and wants. The report underlines the urgent need to act and marks the launch of an ambitious national multistakeholder process to achieve a truly circular economy in Switzerland.
Other speakers:
Noora Buser, Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
Kathrin Fuchs, Co-Lead Circular Economy Switzerland, Circular Economy Switzerland
Katka Letzing, CEO Kickstart Innovation
Adèle Thorens, Member of the Council of States
Carlo Giardinetti, Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
Women-led companies receive 4% of the invested startup capital in Switzerland (Kyora & Rockinger, 2020). Research shows a gender funding bias, where investors tend to evaluate women based on risks, and men based on potential.
As the Collective, we want to hear from female investors and founders about their experience: What works and what doesn’t when women want to get funding?
Co-Creation of the Collective Map - for more female founders & investors
Melanie Kovacs Lead Collective, startup days
In this interactive workshop, you’ll get an overview over the different organisations and initiatives that are part of the Collective, understand their contributions and how you can receive support from them rsp contribute to their cause. Together, we’ll work out what’s needed, identify gaps and priorities, for more female founders and investors.
Other Speaker: Cornelia Gut-Villa, Board Member, SICTIC
Merle Zur, Program Manager Female Founders Initiative, Impact Hub Zürich
Swisspreneur host Silvan Krähenbühl sits down with startup CEO Madiha Derouazi to discuss the Amal Therapeutics journey: from hopeful research, to developing new generation of cancer vaccines, to their big biotech exit.
The ongoing digital transformation in healthcare is setting new standards for care and efficiency. The Swiss industrial heritage in precision engineering and decades of knowledge in the areas of low-power electronics, sensing and processing is contributing to a new era of digital, personalized healthcare with better monitors, implants, assistive devices, and AI-based diagnostic tools.
Other Speakers:
Bahaa Roustom, Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, CSEM
We embark on a journey through the stages of a typical early-stage financing round, discussing best practices and identifying legal pitfalls that founders should make sure to avoid. From initial structuring considerations, cap table and term sheet negotiations all the way to signing agreements and closing the round – we’ll share our experiences based on actual examples from our daily practice.
Learn from our pharma experts about the potential of digital therapeutics but also the challenges of developing digital therapeutics: from regulatory, data privacy, business models to user engagement.
Good investors support start-ups with money, their network and know-how. From the outset, start-ups should follow a path to attract them. Our session provides examples and data-based insights about who are top class investors and how to get in touch.
Other Speaker: Thomas Heimann, Startupticker.ch, Seca
Oliver Heimes, Partner, Lakestar
Kai Eberhardt, CEO and Co-Founder, Oviva
Sandra Tobler, CEO, Futurae Technologies AG
Women-led companies receive 4% of the invested startup capital in Switzerland (Kyora & Rockinger, 2020). Research shows a gender funding bias, where investors tend to evaluate women based on risks, and men based on potential.
As the Collective, we want to hear from female investors and founders about their experience: What works and what doesn’t when women want to get funding?
Rising interest rates, advancing digitalisation, increased sustainability requirements and new user needs in the context of New Work: In this panel discussion, we will discuss together with sustainability experts, entrepreneurs and investors which (new) investment opportunities and patterns (real estate companies and venture capitalists) will be seen in 2023 onwards and which role proptechs play.
Other speakers: Massimo Mannino, Co-Founder & Partner, Novalytica
Dr. Dirk Reiner, Founder & CEO, Memox Innovations AG
Bastian Zarske Bueno, Head Group Corporate Ventures & Innovation, Swiss Prime Site
A Founder x Investor discussion on nurturing resilience, creativity and personal growth.
David Tedaldi is Morgen.so Co-founder & CEO and Olivier Laplace is Technology Partner at Vi Partners. They will discuss eating, exercising, resting, personal time, feedback, mentor, network & team.
80 out of every 100 newly founded startups fail within the first three years. You should not be one of them. Startup uniqFEED has already successfully mastered many growth challenges and shares insights in a dialog with ZKB Start-up Finance.
Project Manager, Swissnex - Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 3
Swissnex - State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Your Strategy for International Expansion
Minyong Lee Project Manager, Swissnex - Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea
Get an overview of the process to formalize a general strategy and participate in a live exercise to create a first draft of your strategy for internationalization with key metrics to measure and address regional differences for international markets.
Other Speakers:
Charlotte Chenu, Innosuisse Internationalisation Programme Manager, Swissnex – Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom
Mario Garcia, Founder and CEO, Lighting Up Ventures
Tatiana Benavides, Project Manager, Swissnex – State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Every year, Inartis Foundation is picking the 10 technologies that will shape the future of LifeSciences. You’ll recognize some. Others might surprise you. We look for paradigms that will have a big impact on our lives and then break down why they matter.
Gap Report - How to transition Switzerland into Circular Economy
Katka Letzing CEO Kickstart Innovation
This first Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland reveals the country’s high material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to satisfy its residents’ needs and wants. The report underlines the urgent need to act and marks the launch of an ambitious national multistakeholder process to achieve a truly circular economy in Switzerland.
Other speakers: Noora Buser, Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
Kathrin Fuchs, Co-Lead Circular Economy Switzerland, Circular Economy Switzerland
Ingrid Kissling-Näf, Head of BFH Business School
Adèle Thorens, Member of the Council of States
Carlo Giardinetti, Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property (IGE)
Victorinox and the fight against free riders
Bettina Linder Legal Counsel, Victorinox
Swiss products and trade marks are popular worldwide and thus attract free riders. The pocket knife manufacturer Victorinox explains what Swissness means for its business and describes some of its experiences with counterfeiters, as well as how it keeps them at bay. Find out why IP rights are only of value if you defend them.
Other Speakers:
Eveline Capol, Head of Stop Piracy Secretariat, Stop Piracy
Lorena Piticco, Swiss and European Patent Attorney, Isler & Pedrazzini AG
David Stärkle, Managing Director, Association Swissness Enforcement
Sibilla Delorenzi, Patent Expert, Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property
Nicolas Loeillot New Business Models & Innovation, CSS
With insights from a nationwide study on Swiss citizen’s attitudes to digitalisation of healthcare, the expert panel will discuss opportunities for innovative solutions needed to transform ownership and understanding of patient data to enable patients to feel empowered to navigate through their health journey.
Other speakers:
Sebastiano Caprara, Head Digital Medicine Unit, Universitätsklinik Balgrist
Susanne Gedamke, Managing Director, Patientenorganisation SPO / Personal Trainer, Zenmove
Jade Sternberg, Senior Innovation Manager, digitalswitzerland
Learn from our pharma experts about the potential of digital therapeutics but also the challenges of developing digital therapeutics: from regulatory, data privacy, business models to user engagement.
Christian Lundsgaard-Hansen Head of Startup Program, be-advanced AG
Here you get the knowledge and toolset you need to develop and work on your own „Product Market Fit Strategy“: Assess your company and prioritize your ressources based on your strategy. Get to know the „Product Market Fit Canvas“, developed by be-advanced, made for Startups.
Project Manager for Education, Professionals & Diversity, digitalswitzerland
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 7
digitalswitzerland
#herHACKmini female-led hackathon
Nicole Lüthi Project Manager for Education, Professionals & Diversity, digitalswitzerland
Experience #herHACK, Switzerland’s largest female-led hackathon in just 45 minutes! Teams of 2-5 people pick one of digitalswitzerland’s ambitious challenges, ideate new solutions, and submit their top idea to our expert panel. Open to all genders!
Startup-University collaboration: From pain to gain
Eva Lüthi Head of Entrepreneurship, Innosuisse
By collaborating with universities, startups gain access to expertise, technology platforms, scientific knowhow, and a pool of talents. Yet, the academic and entrepreneurial worlds differ in many ways. What do startups need to consider to maximize the gain, and to minimize the pain?
Other Speakers:
Nina Hobi, CEO, AlveoliX AG Eva Lüthi, Head of Entrepreneurship, Innosuisse
Jürgen Vogel, Professor of Computer Science, Berner Fachhochschule
Stefan Weber, CEO, CAScination AG
Sebastien Hug, Head of Innovation Office, University of Bern
Rising interest rates, advancing digitalisation, increased sustainability requirements and new user needs in the context of New Work: In this panel discussion, we will discuss together with sustainability experts, entrepreneurs and investors which (new) investment opportunities and patterns (real estate companies and venture capitalists) will be seen in 2023 onwards and which role proptechs play.
Other Speakers: Gnanli Landrou, Co-Founder & CEO Oxara AG
Dr. Dirk Reiner, Founder & CEO, Memox Innovations AG
Bastian Zarske Bueno, Head Group Corporate Ventures & Innovation, Swiss Prime Site
You plan to attract and retain talent for your startup? Then incentive plans in the form of shares, ESOPs or Phantom Stock Option Plans are a crucial instrument. Learn about structuring and setting-up incentive plans and how to assign options or shares in this workshop with our experienced startup lawyers from Wenger Vieli who will provide you with first-hand practical tips.
Omeed Mehrinfar Managing Partner, EMEA, Plug and Play
Ten years of Open Innovation: What you REALLY need to do to land big corporate clients.
Omeed Mehinfar has seen thousands of startups and hundreds of pilot projects throughout his ten years at Plug and Play.
Learn about how Corporate Innovation has evolved, what corporates expect from startups today, and what you need to do to land that Fortune 1000 client.
Other Speakers: Daniela Bar-Gera, Head of Office, Basel, Plug and Play
Gabriel Selbach, Head of Innovation, GF Casting Solutions
Raphael Fässler, VC, Schweizerische Post
Entrepreneurial topics that are seldom publicly talked about: The feeling of failing. The loneliness in times of taking hard decisions, navigating rough seas and even in times of success. The emptiness after the rush of a successful exit when you realize that your “baby” is not yours anymore and you struggle to find a new purpose even though everyone expects you to be super happy. The relationship with your family or friends that change for the better or worse during times of hardship, deprivation, failure and also success. A talk among 5 entrepreneurs and the audience.
Other Speakers: Carlo Badini, Founder & CEO, Pabio Flavio Pfaffhauser, Co-Founder & CIO, Beekeeper Ronald Zemp, Founder & Chairman, RZ Capital AG
Co-Founder & President of the Board v-oice AG
#Trust and Respect #personal growth #not your glossy story #together we grow #be bold #show vulnerability #mental health
Two serial entrepreneurs share their experiences and provide valuable insights for business owners. They focus on the challenges of starting a business and successfully overcoming funding hurdles.
CEO, SYLVA / Research Fellow, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
12:00 - 12:45Room: Panorama 3
LINDEN (Cyrille)
Sneak peek into the IMD Masterclass “VAC"
Dr. Maik Meusel CEO, SYLVA / Research Fellow, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
IMD and Swiss Ventures Group give an overview of the newly created executive education program. The IMD Masterclass „Venture as an Asset Class“ is for experienced investment professionals to improve their understanding of the venture capital market.
Other Speakers: Prof. Karl Schmedders, Professor of Finance, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Dominique Gruhl-Begin, COO, Swiss Venture Group
Women-led companies receive 4% of the invested startup capital in Switzerland (Kyora & Rockinger, 2020). Research shows a gender funding bias, where investors tend to evaluate women based on risks, and men based on potential.
As the Collective, we want to hear from female investors and founders about their experience: What works and what doesn’t when women want to get funding?
Other speakers: Nicole Kleger, Co-Founder, sallea
Patrizia Laeri, CEO, elleXX
Andreas Göldi, Partner, b2venture
Bettina Hein, Founder and CEO, juli
We will cover best practices in raising capital for capital intensive models and for unproven technologies and markets. We will also cover various instruments – venture, other equity and other alternative financing models – and when / why each might be suitable.
Other Speakers:
Simon Aspinall, CEO, Ecorobotix
David Brandes, Founder & CEO, Planetary
Luca Christen, Deputy CFO, Climeworks
Jennifer Webb, Investment Director, Swisscom Ventures
James Miners Head of Startup and Innovation Programs, FONGIT
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion with founders, industry experts and governments as we explore the future of technology innovation in Switzerland and beyond. From the role of startups in emerging technologies to the importance of collaboration, we’ll delve into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and how Switzerland can continue to lead the way in innovation.
Ralph Mogicato Vice-President of the Board, SICTIC
Join us for a discussion between successful entrepreneurs and angel investors about the key factors that contribute to building a world-class company.
During this fireside chat, Vice-President of the Board of SICTIC and startup Founders, will focus on the challenges that founders and angel investors face when building a company, including fundraising, scaling, and managing growth.
VCs Unplugged: Female Perspectives on the Startup Ecosystem
Laura Möller Growth VC, Burda Principal Investments
Join us for an exciting closing fireside chat: Our panelists, Bettine Schmitz and Laura Möller are two experienced female investors with unique perspectives on the industry. The discussion will be moderated by Olivia Kinghorst, and promises to offer valuable insights, ideas, and inspiration. Gain fresh perspectives and learn from these successful women in venture capital!
Other speakers: Bettine Schmitz, Founding Partner, Auxxo Fund Management GmbH
Olivia Kinghorst, Journalist and Moderator
Explore how Coop is using technology to make its mutual impact between society, environment, and its financial results measurable and manageable along its global value chains. But is technology alone really enough?
Other speaker: Thomas Haberthuer, Corporate Development, Coop Genossenschaft
Two serial entrepreneurs share their experiences and provide valuable insights for business owners. They focus on the challenges of starting a business and successfully overcoming funding hurdles.
Do you own the relevant IP and do you have the right to use the protected technology? We will address the general principles of IP ownership and the common ownership problems that start-ups face, along with possible resolutions to those problems. We will also explain what steps start-ups can take to establish if they are free to use their protected technology.
Other Speaker:
Ronan Guirey, Director ZH office, Patent attorney, P&TS SA
A Strong Startup Ecosystem for an Innovative Switzerland
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin Swiss Federal Councillor
Parmelin’s keynote, „A Strong Startup Ecosystem for an Innovative Switzerland,“ reflects his belief that Switzerland has the potential to become a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. He will discuss the critical factors that contribute to building a thriving startup ecosystem in Switzerland and how the government can create a favorable environment for startups to flourish.
Entrepreneurial topics that are seldom publicly talked about: The feeling of failing. The loneliness in times of taking hard decisions, navigating rough seas and even in times of success. The emptiness after the rush of a successful exit when you realize that your “baby” is not yours anymore and you struggle to find a new purpose even though everyone expects you to be super happy. The relationship with your family or friends that change for the better or worse during times of hardship, deprivation, failure and also success. A talk among 5 entrepreneurs and the audience.
Other Speakers: Carlo Badini, Founder & CEO, Pabio Jeremias Meier, Partner, session.vc Ronald Zemp, Founder & Chairman, RZ Capital AG
Co-Founder & President of the Board v-oice AG
#Trust and Respect #personal growth #not your glossy story #together we grow #be bold #show vulnerability #mental health
Swiss and European Patent Attorney, Isler & Pedrazzini AG
11:00 - 11:45Room: Panorama 7
Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property (IGE)
Victorinox and the fight against free riders
Lorena Piticco Swiss and European Patent Attorney, Isler & Pedrazzini AG
Swiss products and trade marks are popular worldwide and thus attract free riders. The pocket knife manufacturer Victorinox explains what Swissness means for its business and describes some of its experiences with counterfeiters, as well as how it keeps them at bay. Find out why IP rights are only of value if you defend them.
Other Speakers:
Eveline Capol, Head of Stop Piracy Secretariat, Stop Piracy
Bettina Linder, Legal Counsel, Victorniox
David Stärkle, Managing Director, Association Swissness Enforcement
Sibilla Delorenzi, Patent Expert, Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property
Dr. Dirk Reiner Founder & CEO Memox Innovations AG
Rising interest rates, advancing digitalisation, increased sustainability requirements and new user needs in the context of New Work: In this panel discussion, we will discuss together with sustainability experts, entrepreneurs and investors which (new) investment opportunities and patterns (real estate companies and venture capitalists) will be seen in 2023 onwards and which role proptechs play.
Other speakers:
Gnanli Landrou, Co-Founder & CEO Oxara AG
Massimo Mannino, Co-Founder & Partner, Novalytica
Bastian Zarske Bueno, Head Group Corporate Ventures & Innovation, Swiss Prime Site
Christina Reitenbach Education Partner Sales Manager ECAL, Dassault Systèmes
If you want to become your own version of a Super(wo)man and start your journey towards building the right business at the right time, bringing your project to the next level, or simply becoming the best version of yourself – you’ll need the right mindset for it.
Overall, becoming Super(wo)man is a journey, not a destination.
Other Speakers: Emilie Brandt, Executive Board Member, Women in Tech Switzerland
Anna Rosenkranz Co-Founder & CEO, Health Yourself AG
We bring together two startups from different stages with two funding vehicles in an exchange. What are the biggest challenges for healthtech startups when it comes to funding? What funding options are available for them in Switzerland? Find out the answers to these questions in the panel discussion.
Other Speakers:
Dr. Cornelia Gut-Villa, CEO, Stiftung Startfeld
Vincent Irrling, Founder, KAPSLY Ventures
Dr. Tobias Wolf, Co-Founder, OnlineDoctor AG
Niklas Rückwald, Delegate of the University of St.Gallen (HSG)
Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, CSEM
12:15 - 12:45Room: Szenario 2
CSEM
Digital Transformation of Healthcare
Bahaa Roustom Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, CSEM
The ongoing digital transformation in healthcare is setting new standards for care and efficiency. The Swiss industrial heritage in precision engineering and decades of knowledge in the areas of low-power electronics, sensing and processing is contributing to a new era of digital, personalized healthcare with better monitors, implants, assistive devices, and AI-based diagnostic tools.
Niklas Rückwald Delegate of the University of St.Gallen (HSG)
We bring together two startups from different stages with two funding vehicles in an exchange. What are the biggest challenges for healthtech startups when it comes to funding? What funding options are available for them in Switzerland? Find out the answers to these questions in the panel discussion.
Other Speakers:
Dr. Cornelia Gut-Villa, CEO, Stiftung Startfeld
Vincent Irrling, Founder, KAPSLY Ventures
Anna Rosenkranz, Co-Founder & CEO, Health Yourself AG
Petronela Sandulache Founder & CEO, CorDiFio Health
FemTech is set up to disrupt the women’s health market entirely. Attend this session to get a better view of the FemTech landscape in Switzerland today. Let’s discuss the trends and opportunities that will shape our future. After an introductory presentation, a panel discussion will follow with previous and current participants of Tech4Eva.
Other speaker: Virginia Franco, CEO and Co-Founder, YONI Solutions
Wolfgang Hackl, CEO, OncoGenomX, INC.
Anna Soederlind, Head of Innovation, Groupe Mutuel
You should join us if you want to learn
– why a competent board is crucial for a startup
– how to create a powerful board
– how to find performing board members
– how to activate lazy board members
– if your current board has the right skills and experience
Other Speakers: Peter Balsiger, Founder & President, TF Acceleration Group
Benjamin Domenig, Managing Partner, Domenig & Partner Rechtsanwälte AG
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Lessons Learned from The First Fundraising Experience: Do’s and Don’ts for Entrepreneurial Success. Meet the founders of startups Bionomous and Voltiris who will talk about their own experience, what worked, what they should have done differently, some key elements when they met their first investors.
Professor of Finance, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
12:00 - 12:45Room: Panorama 3
LINDEN (Cyrille)
Sneak peek into the IMD Masterclass “VAC"
Prof. Karl Schmedders Professor of Finance, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
IMD and Swiss Ventures Group give an overview of the newly created executive education program. The IMD Masterclass „Venture as an Asset Class“ is for experienced investment professionals to improve their understanding of the venture capital market.
Other Speakers: Dr. Maik Meusel, CEO, SYLVA / Research Fellow, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Dominique Gruhl-Begin, COO, Swiss Venture Group
VCs Unplugged: Female Perspectives on the Startup Ecosystem
Bettine Schmitz Founding Partner, Auxxo Fund Management GmbH
Join us for an exciting closing fireside chat: Our panelists, Bettine Schmitz and Laura Möller are two experienced female investors with unique perspectives on the industry. The discussion will be moderated by Olivia Kinghorst, and promises to offer valuable insights, ideas, and inspiration. Gain fresh perspectives and learn from these successful women in venture capital!
Other speakers:
Laura Möller, Growth VC, Burda Principal Investments
Olivia Kinghorst, Journalist and Moderator
We bring together two startups from different stages with two funding vehicles in an exchange. What are the biggest challenges for healthtech startups when it comes to funding? What funding options are available for them in Switzerland? Find out the answers to these questions in the panel discussion.
Other Speakers:
Dr. Cornelia Gut-Villa, CEO, Stiftung Startfeld
Vincent Irrling, Founder, KAPSLY Ventures
Anna Rosenkranz, Co-Founder & CEO, Health Yourself AG
Dr. Tobias Wolf, Co-Founder, OnlineDoctor AG
Niklas Rückwald, Delegate of the University of St.Gallen (HSG)
10 years Open Innovation: Landing Corporate Clients
Gabriel Selbach Head of Innovation, GF Casting Solutions
Ten years of Open Innovation: What you REALLY need to do to land big corporate clients.
Omeed Mehinfar has seen thousands of startups and hundreds of pilot projects throughout his ten years at Plug and Play. Learn about how Corporate Innovation has evolved, what corporates expect from startups today, and what you need to do to land that Fortune 1000 client.
Other speakers:
Omeed Mehrinfar, Managing Partner, EMEA, Plug and Play
Daniela Bar-Gera, Head of Office, Basel, Plug and Play
Raphael Fässler, VC, Schweizerische Post
FemTech is set up to disrupt the women’s health market entirely. Attend this session to get a better view of the FemTech landscape in Switzerland today. Let’s discuss the trends and opportunities that will shape our future. After an introductory presentation, a panel discussion will follow with previous and current participants of Tech4Eva.
Other speaker:
Wolfgang Hackl, CEO, OncoGenomX, INC.
Virginia Franco, CEO and Co-Founder, YONI Solutions
Petronela Sandulache, Founder & CEO, CorDiFio Health
Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 6
Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
How to upgrade your Board
Peter Stähli Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
You should join us if you want to learn
– why a competent board is crucial for a startup
– how to create a powerful board
– how to find performing board members
– how to activate lazy board members
– if your current board has the right skills and experience
Other Speakers: Peter Balsiger, Founder & President, TF Acceleration Group
Mascha Santschi, Partnerin, Santschi & Felber JustizKommunikation GmbH
Benjamin Domenig, Managing Partner, Domenig & Partner Rechtsanwälte AG
#board #boardofdirectors #swissef
Another session with Peter Stähli:
Venture as an Asset Class 15:30 – 16:15 Room: Aare 2
LINDEN
Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem – GEM Insights
Key takeaways of the actual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report of Switzerland and trend outlooks. Discussion with expert about what is Switzerland doing good and where are the problems to tackle.
Other speakers: Prof. Dr. Rico Baldegger, Dean and Professor at School of Management Fribourg, HEG-FR/HES-SO
Gina Domanig, Managing Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures
Carole Hofmann, Founder WomenWay Association & SwissGold Crypto AG
Raphael Tobler, CEO and Co-Founder, eduwo
Managing Director, Association Swissness Enforcement
11:00 - 11:45Room: Panorama 7
Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property (IGE)
Victorinox and the fight against free riders
David Stärkle Managing Director, Association Swissness Enforcement
Swiss products and trade marks are popular worldwide and thus attract free riders. The pocket knife manufacturer Victorinox explains what Swissness means for its business and describes some of its experiences with counterfeiters, as well as how it keeps them at bay. Find out why IP rights are only of value if you defend them.
Other Speakers:
Eveline Capol, Head of Stop Piracy Secretariat, Stop Piracy
Bettina Linder, Legal Counsel, Victorniox
Lorena Piticco, Swiss and European Patent Attorney, Isler & Pedrazzini AG
Sibilla Delorenzi, Patent Expert, Swiss Federal Institut of Intellectual Property
With insights from a nationwide study on Swiss citizen’s attitudes to digitalisation of healthcare, the expert panel will discuss opportunities for innovative solutions needed to transform ownership and understanding of patient data to enable patients to feel empowered to navigate through their health journey.
Other Speaker: Susanne Gedamke, Managing Director, Patientenorganisation SPO / Personal Trainer, Zenmove
Sebastiano Caprara, Head Digital Medicine Unit, Universitätsklinik Balgrist
Nicolas Loeillot, New Business Models & Innovation, CSS
CHF 12 bn venture capital in 4 years – utopia or realizable?
Rainer Syha Managing Director, Direct Investments Group, UBS
What it takes to grow the venture capital investments up to CHF 12 billion in the coming four years. And which role do the institutional investors in Switzerland play in this undertaking?
Other speakers:
Tanya Fröhlich, COO, Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC)
Mike Baur, Swiss Venture Investor, Swiss Ventures Group
Christian Wenger, Partner & Verwaltungsrat, Wenger Vieli
A Founder x Investor discussion on nurturing resilience, creativity and personal growth.
David Tedaldi is Morgen.so Co-founder & CEO and Olivier Laplace is Technology Partner at Vi Partners. They will discuss eating, exercising, resting, personal time, feedback, mentor, network & team.
Gap Report - How to transition Switzerland into Circular Economy
Adèle Thorens Member of the Council of States
This first Circularity Gap Report for Switzerland reveals the country’s high material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to satisfy its residents’ needs and wants. The report underlines the urgent need to act and marks the launch of an ambitious national multistakeholder process to achieve a truly circular economy in Switzerland.
Other speakers:
Noora Buser, Managing Partner, Impact Hub Bern
Kathrin Fuchs, Co-Lead Circular Economy Switzerland, Circular Economy Switzerland
Ingrid Kissling-Näf, Head of BFH Business School
Katka Letzing, CEO Kickstart Innovation
Carlo Giardinetti, Sustainability Lead Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland
Key takeaways of the actual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report of Switzerland and trend outlooks. Discussion with expert about what is Switzerland doing good and where are the problems to tackle.
Other speakers: Prof. Dr. Rico Baldegger, Dean and Professor at School of Management Fribourg, HEG-FR/HES-SO
Gina Domanig, Managing Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures
Carole Hofmann, Founder, SwissGold Crypto AG
Peter Stähli, Head of Entrepreneurship, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Good investors support start-ups with money, their network and know-how. From the outset, start-ups should follow a path to attract them. Our session provides examples and data-based insights about who are top class investors and how to get in touch.
Other speakers:
Oliver Heimes, Partner, Lakestar
Kai Eberhardt, CEO and Co-Founder, Oviva
Thomas Heimann, Head VC Chapter & General Deputy Secretary, SECA / Head Operations & Investment Solutions HBM Partners
Stefan Kyora, Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch
Senior Vice President, Partner, Helbling Technik Bern AG
15:30 - 16:15Room: Panorama 6
Helbling Technik Bern AG
Digital Health Challenges
Stefan Troller Senior Vice President, Partner, Helbling Technik Bern AG
Digital health enabled devices open entire new market opportunities for startups and established medical device manufacturer. But how to take advantage of these new market opportunities? In this workshop we will discuss some of the challenges and pitfalls in developing digital health enabled medical devices. Real cases and practical examples will be showcased.
Other Speakers:
Stefan Bauer, Teamleiter Sensors & Medical Electronics
Get ready for a user journey on how you should be using AI to save time, money, and effort (plus developing products, improving your marketing, and more) featuring sites to use, prompts to copy, and hands-on fun!
Other speaker:
Stéphanie Kioutsoukis, Innovation Expert, Fresh Strategy
Thomas van Ditzhuyzen President & Partner, AvelaLaw AG
Pension funds and venture capital are not yet a love story in Switzerland. Together with specialists from both worlds, we want to find out which characteristics a venture capital fund should have in order to be attractive for pension funds.
Other Speakers:
Thomas Heimann, Head Risk Management & Equity Analyst, HBM Partners AG / VC Representative, SECA
Gisela Jäggi, Head Manager Selection & Alternative Investments, Die Mobiliar Asset Management AG / Stiftungsrätin, Pensionskasse der Gruppe Mobiliar
Simon Enderli, CEO, Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation
Head of Startup Financing & VC, Legal Expert, LEXR
09:30 - 10:15Room: Aare 1
LEXR
Startup Funding 101 for your next financing round
Michele Vitali Head of Startup Financing & VC, Legal Expert, LEXR
Introduction – Loan vs. Equity Financing – at what stage to use which instrument – Valuation of your Startup – the start of every financing round – Subscription Preference – understanding the waterfall – Anti-Dilution Protection – avoiding it in difficult times – Good Corporate Governance – board and shareholder matters – Transfer Restrictions – general principles
Professor of Computer Science, Berner Fachhochschule
14:15 - 15:00Room: Panorama 4
University of Bern
Startup-University collaboration: From pain to gain
Jürgen Vogel Professor of Computer Science, Berner Fachhochschule
By collaborating with universities, startups gain access to expertise, technology platforms, scientific knowhow, and a pool of talents. Yet, the academic and entrepreneurial worlds differ in many ways. What do startups need to consider to maximize the gain, and to minimize the pain?
Other Speakers:
Nina Hobi, CEO, AlveoliX AG Eva Lüthi, Head of Entrepreneurship, Innosuisse
Stefan Weber, CEO, CAScination AG
Sebastien Hug, Head of Innovation Office, University of Bern
We embark on a journey through the stages of a typical early-stage financing round, discussing best practices and identifying legal pitfalls that founders should make sure to avoid. From initial structuring considerations, cap table and term sheet negotiations all the way to signing agreements and closing the round – we’ll share our experiences based on actual examples from our daily practice.
Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier Managing Director Startup INVEST
Jean-Pierre Vuilleumier will conduct the spectacular pitching battle of innovative startups of the four verticals – Sustainable Solutions, Health Solutions, ICT, Autonomous Systems & Industry. He moderates the Semi-Final and Final together with Daniel Bermejo-Carrasco.
Jennifer Webb Investment Director, Swisscom Ventures
We will cover best practices in raising capital for capital intensive models and for unproven technologies and markets. We will also cover various instruments – venture, other equity and other alternative financing models – and when / why each might be suitable.
Lessons Learned from The First Fundraising Experience: Do’s and Don’ts for Entrepreneurial Success. Meet the founders of startups Bionomous and Voltiris who will talk about their own experience, what worked, what they should have done differently, some key elements when they met their first investors.
Startup-University collaboration: From pain to gain
Stefan Weber CEO, CAScination AG
By collaborating with universities, startups gain access to expertise, technology platforms, scientific knowhow, and a pool of talents. Yet, the academic and entrepreneurial worlds differ in many ways. What do startups need to consider to maximize the gain, and to minimize the pain?
Other Speakers:
Nina Hobi, CEO, AlveoliX AG Eva Lüthi, Head of Entrepreneurship, Innosuisse
Jürgen Vogel, Professor of Computer Science, Berner Fachhochschule
Sebastien Hug, Head of Innovation Office, University of Bern
CHF 12 bn VC within 4 years – utopia or realizable?
Christian Wenger Partner & Verwaltungsrat, Wenger Vieli
What it takes to grow the venture capital investments up to CHF 12 billion in the coming four years. And which role do the institutional investors in Switzerland play in this undertaking?
Other Speakers: Mike Baur, Swiss Venture Investor, Swiss Ventures Group
Tanya Fröhlich, COO, Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC)
Rainer Syha, Managing Director, Direct Investments Group, UBS
Learn from our pharma experts about the potential of digital therapeutics but also the challenges of developing digital therapeutics: from regulatory, data privacy, business models to user engagement.
Other Speakers:
Rana Lonnen, Managing Director, dRx capital
Stephane Wolf, Global Program Head Digital Health Solutions, Novartis
Reflections of a Swiss entrepreneur who sold his venture to Google
Samuel Widmann Angel Investor
Reflections of a Swiss entrepreneur who sold his venture to Google. Experience is priceless. Based on his journey from a simple idea to a product that has been downloaded more than 10 Billion times, Samuel outlines his most important learnings which will help startups navigate through stormy waters and stay focused on their vision.
Samuel Widmann, „co-inventor“ of Google Maps, was born in Zurich and graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). After working as a scientist, he started building up a number of companies and sold the last one to google in 2006, which became the foundation of google maps. The following 14 years, he was busy helping build google maps from a few to many users. Today he’s back in the start-up world as angel investor, advisor and board member.
We bring together two startups from different stages with two funding vehicles in an exchange. What are the biggest challenges for healthtech startups when it comes to funding? What funding options are available for them in Switzerland? Find out the answers to these questions in the panel discussion.
Other Speakers:
Dr. Cornelia Gut-Villa, CEO, Stiftung Startfeld
Vincent Irrling, Founder, KAPSLY Ventures
Anna Rosenkranz, Co-Founder & CEO, Health Yourself AG
Niklas Rückwald, Delegate of the University of St.Gallen (HSG)
Global Program Head Digital Health Solutions, Novartis
12:00 - 12:45Room: Panorama 4
Swisscom Ventures
Hopes & challenges of Digital Therapeutics
Stephane Wolf Global Program Head Digital Health Solutions, Novartis
Learn from our pharma experts about the potential of digital therapeutics but also the challenges of developing digital therapeutics: from regulatory, data privacy, business models to user engagement.
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion with founders, industry experts and governments as we explore the future of technology innovation in Switzerland and beyond. From the role of startups in emerging technologies to the importance of collaboration, we’ll delve into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and how Switzerland can continue to lead the way in innovation.
Other Speakers:
Madiha Derouazi, CEO, Speransa Therapeutics
James Miners, Head of Startup and Innovation Programs, FONGIT
Head Group Corporate Ventures & Innovation, Swiss Prime Site
12:00 - 12:45Room: Aare 2
Swiss Prime Site
The real estate & proptech industry in transition
Bastian Zarske Bueno Head Group Corporate Ventures & Innovation, Swiss Prime Site
Rising interest rates, advancing digitalisation, increased sustainability requirements and new user needs in the context of New Work: In this panel discussion, we will discuss together with sustainability experts, entrepreneurs and investors which (new) investment opportunities and patterns (real estate companies and venture capitalists) will be seen in 2023 onwards and which role proptechs play.
Other Speakers: Gnanli Landrou, Co-Founder & CEO Oxara AG
Massimo Mannino, Co-Founder & Partner, Novalytica
Dr. Dirk Reiner, Founder & CEO, Memox Innovations AG
Entrepreneurial topics that are seldom publicly talked about: The feeling of failing. The loneliness in times of taking hard decisions, navigating rough seas and even in times of success. The emptiness after the rush of a successful exit when you realize that your “baby” is not yours anymore and you struggle to find a new purpose even though everyone expects you to be super happy. The relationship with your family or friends that change for the better or worse during times of hardship, deprivation, failure and also success. A talk among 5 entrepreneurs and the audience.
Other speakers:
Carlo Badini, Founder & CEO, Pabio
Jeremias Meier, Partner, session.vc
Flavio Pfaffhauser, Co-Founder & CIO, Beekeeper
Co-Founder & President of the Board v-oice AG
#Trust and Respect #personal growth #not your glossy story #together we grow #be bold #show vulnerability #mental health
Aileen Zumstein Co-Founder & President of the Board v-oice AG
Entrepreneurial topics that are seldom publicly talked about: The feeling of failing. The loneliness in times of taking hard decisions, navigating rough seas and even in times of success. The emptiness after the rush of a successful exit when you realize that your “baby” is not yours anymore and you struggle to find a new purpose even though everyone expects you to be super happy. The relationship with your family or friends that change for the better or worse during times of hardship, deprivation, failure and also success. A talk among 5 entrepreneurs and the audience.
Other speakers: Carlo Badini, Founder & CEO, Pabio
Jeremias Meier, Partner, session.vc
Flavio Pfaffhauser, Co-Founder & CIO, Beekeeper
Ronald Zemp, Founder & Chairman, RZ Capital AG
#Trust and Respect #personal growth #not your glossy story #together we grow #be bold #show vulnerability #mental health
Program Manager Female Founders Initiative, Impact Hub Zürich
13:00 - 14:00Room: Szenario 1
LINDEN
Co-Creation of the Collective Map - for more female founders & investors
Merle Zur Program Manager Female Founders Initiative, Impact Hub Zürich
In this session, we’ll launch the Collective Map, showcasing initiatives and organizations that foster gender diversity in the Swiss startup ecosystem. Join to get to know the 30+ organizations and initiatives, from research, academia, support programs, networks for female founders, women in tech, product and VC. Together, we’re stronger and will unlock Switzerland’s innovation potential.
Other speakers:
Dr. Cornelia Gut-Villa, Board Member, SICTIC
Melanie Kovacs, Lead Collective, startup days
