Startup accelerators and incubators in Switzerland
- 30 organizations
- 14 cities
- Oct 2026 last checked
Swiss start-ups raised CHF 2.9 billion in venture capital in 2025, up 23.9% from 2024, according to the Swiss Venture Capital Report 2026. Funds invested across 354 financing rounds, a figure broadly stable year on year. Biotech set a record at CHF 946 million.
Sources: Greater Geneva Bern area, summary of the Swiss Venture Capital Report 2026, February 2026
Innosuisse, the Swiss innovation agency, offers Initial Coaching to science-based start-ups. It grants a voucher worth up to CHF 10 000 for sessions with accredited coaches over up to twelve months, and it is the entry step to Innosuisse's Core Coaching programme.
Sources: Innosuisse, Initial Coaching, accessed October 2026
30 of 30 shown
Nothing matches these filters.
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be-advanced Startup-Programm
Bern agency program with staged startup support (Explore, Challenge, Evolve, High Tech Pitch), including coaching and connections to partners in the Swiss startup ecosystem.
- Run by
- be-advanced AG
- Duration
- Challenge stage: 3 months
HealthtechIndustry & manufacturingSocial impact
be-advanced.ch Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Blaze Accelerator
EPFL execution-focused accelerator for student and alumni founders, with a four-week validation sprint followed by up to six months of acceleration, coaching and small non-dilutive grants.
- Run by
- EPFL
- Duration
- 4-week validation sprint plus up to 6-month acceleration phase
- Funding
- CHF 2,000 Roadblock Remover grants
All sectors
epfl.ch Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Bluelion Acceleration Program
Zurich foundation running a free 12-week pre-seed acceleration program for B2B tech startups, with masterclasses, mentoring, coaching and an investor roundtable.
- Run by
- Bluelion Foundation
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Equity
- No fees, no equity
B2B software
bluelion.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Boldbrain Startup Challenge
Ticino accelerator for early-stage startups with individual coaching, workshops and a final competition, run by Fondazione Agire.
- Run by
- Fondazione Agire
- Duration
- 90 days
All sectors
boldbrain.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
CV Labs
Zug Web3 accelerator running a ten-week program that combines an in-person bootcamp with mentorship and investment from CV VC.
- Run by
- CV VC
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Equity
- 6% standard deal plus token side letter
- Funding
- up to $150,000 ($115k cash plus $35k programme value)
- Founded
- 2018
cvlabs.com Latest activity: Jul 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
DayOne
Basel non-profit accelerator running a three-month hybrid program for TechBio and healthtech startups, with non-dilutive grants, mentoring and introductions to pharma partners.
- Run by
- Basel Area Business & Innovation
- Duration
- 3 months
- Equity
- no equity
- Funding
- non-dilutive grants
Healthtech
dayone.swiss Latest activity: Aug 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
EPFL Innovation Park
Deep-tech hub at EPFL running sector-specific seasonal acceleration programs with non-dilutive funding, coaching and market access, alongside incubator office space for startups.
- Equity
- Equity-free
HealthtechCybersecurityClimate & energy
epfl-innovationpark.ch Latest activity: Jul 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
EPFL Startup Launchpad
EPFL incubator for lab-anchored founders offering staged grants such as Ignition Grant and Innogrant, prototyping support, interns and acceleration programs.
- Run by
- EPFL
epfl.ch Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
ETH Pioneer Fellowship
ETH Zurich incubation program helping students and researchers turn research into a market ready spin-off, with 12 to 18 months of funding, coaching and a host professor.
- Run by
- ETH Zurich
- Duration
- 12-18 months
- Funding
- CHF 120'000 for 12 months or CHF 180'000 for 18 months (Deep-Tech); CHF 150'000 for 18 months (Global Development)
Deep techLife sciencesSocial impact
entrepreneurship.ethz.ch Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
FONGIT
Geneva non-profit foundation offering staged startup support with coaching, office space, legal and administrative help, and financing guidance.
- Founded
- 1991
Life sciences
fongit.ch Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
GENILEM
Geneva and Lausanne association assigning innovative companies a dedicated coach for three years, with expert and mentor access and training.
- Duration
- 3 years
- Founded
- 1995
genilem.ch Upcoming: Nov 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
HSG Entrepreneurship
St. Gallen university entrepreneurship center running the one-semester Entrepreneurial Talents program plus incubation and acceleration coaching for student founders.
- Run by
- University of St. Gallen (HSG)
- Duration
- 1 semester
unisg.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
HSG START Accelerator
St. Gallen based accelerator foundation that prepares European deep tech startups in early growth phase for scaling, with a scholarship, 1:1 coaching, mentoring and potential follow-on investment.
- Funding
- CHF 10,000 scholarship plus CHF 5,000 in benefits per start-up, with up to CHF 200,000 in follow-on funding for selected startups
Deep tech
hsgstartaccelerator.org Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
HSLU Smart-up
Lucerne university support program giving students, alumni and staff free coaching, a start-up study track, infrastructure, workshops and matchmaking for founding a company.
- Run by
- Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU)
hslu.ch Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Impact Hub Geneva
Geneva and Lausanne hub running a Circular Economy Incubator and community programs for impact-driven founders.
Social impact
geneva.impacthub.net Latest activity: Feb 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Impact Startup Accelerator Bern
Bern program giving mission-led founders a six-month, equity-free scaling residency with monthly stipends and no participation fee.
- Run by
- Impact Hub Bern
- Duration
- 6 months
- Equity
- none
- Funding
- CHF 12,000 runway per founder (CHF 2,000 per month for six months)
Social impact
impact-accelerator.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
ImpactLab FHNW
FHNW business school incubator offering workshops, semester modules, 1:1 coaching and matchmaking with domain and IT experts to students and staff who want to start ventures.
- Run by
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
impactlab.fhnw.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Innosuisse Start-up Coaching
Federal innovation agency program giving young Swiss companies a voucher for coaching sessions with accredited entrepreneurs, offered in three tiers from initial to scale-up stage.
- Run by
- Innosuisse
- Duration
- up to 12 months (Initial), 36 months (Core) or 24 months (Scale-up)
- Funding
- CHF 10,000 (Initial), CHF 50,000 (Core) or CHF 75,000 (Scale-up) coaching voucher
innosuisse.admin.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Kickstart Innovation
Zurich corporate-innovation program that matches startups with partner companies across finance, food, health, work and smart-city tracks.
- Equity
- Zero equity taken from startups
- Founded
- 2016
FintechInsurtechCybersecurityFood & agricultureRetail & e-commerceHealthtech
kickstart-innovation.com Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
MassChallenge Switzerland
Accelerator based in Renens that connects startups from any industry with corporate partners and mentors, with industry tracks in food, materials and health, and takes no equity.
- Equity
- no equity taken
- Founded
- 2016
All sectorsFood & agricultureIndustry & manufacturingHealthtech
masschallenge.org Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
sitem-insel Innovation Services
Bern translational medicine center offering medical startups and SMEs a structured kick-off, gap analysis and tailored in-kind innovation package via the sitem-insel Innovation Voucher, plus access to a clinical and expert network.
- Run by
- sitem-insel AG
Healthtech
sitem-insel.ch Latest activity: Mar 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Startfeld
St. Gallen-region startup support program under Switzerland Innovation Park Ost offering coaching, a funding package and seed financing.
- Run by
- Switzerland Innovation Park Ost
- Funding
- package of over CHF 18,000 plus seed financing of up to CHF 500,000
innovationspark-ost.ch Latest activity: Mar 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Tenity
Zurich fintech hub that runs startup programs in financial services, digital health and AI and backs startups through its venture arm.
- Founded
- 2015
FintechHealthtechLife sciencesAI
tenity.com Latest activity: Aug 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
UPortunity - the ETH Start-up Accelerator
ETH Zurich accelerator for recent graduates and final-year students, offering a fellowship grant, project budget, office space, coaching and a demo day.
- Run by
- ETH Zurich
- Duration
- 3 months
- Funding
- CHF 10'000 fellowship grant per fellow plus CHF 5'000 per team for project expenses
entrepreneurship.ethz.ch Latest activity: Apr 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
USI Startup Centre
Lugano university startup center running an incubation program for science-based startups with a dedicated coach, workspace, investor connections and an in-kind voucher.
- Run by
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
- Equity
- equity-free voucher worth CHF 60,000 in kind
Life sciences
startup.usi.ch Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
UZH Entrepreneur Fellowships
University of Zurich fellowship for Master graduates and early career researchers to prove a UZH research based spin-off idea, with funding, training and coaching.
- Run by
- University of Zurich
- Duration
- 12-18 months
- Funding
- CHF 100'000 for 12 months or CHF 150'000 for 18 months (Bio & MedTech)
HealthtechLife sciencesAISocial impact
innovation.uzh.ch Latest activity: Feb 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Vanguard Accelerator
Six-month digital health program at Biopole giving early-stage startups desk space, two program managers and access to clinicians, regulators, investors and IT experts.
- Run by
- Biopole SA with Swiss Healthcare Startups
- Duration
- 6 months
Healthtech
biopole.ch Latest activity: May 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Venture Leaders
Venturelab's annual business development program that selects ten startups per sector as the Swiss National Startup Team and runs them through pitch training, workshops and an international investor roadshow.
- Run by
- Venturelab
Life sciencesHealthtechFintechClimate & energyMobility
venturelab.swiss Latest activity: Aug 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Wyss Zurich Translational Center
Translational accelerator embedded within ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich that funds and supports entrepreneurial teams turning regenerative medicine, robotics and medical device research into real world projects.
- Run by
- ETH Zurich and University of Zurich
Life sciencesHealthtechHardware & IoT
wysszurich.ch Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Y-START
Public technology incubator at the Y-PARC technopole in Yverdon-les-Bains offering offices, workshops or coworking, expert support, thematic workshops and networking for young companies.
- Run by
- Y-PARC Swiss Technopole SA
- Duration
- up to 2 years
- Founded
- 2011
All sectors
y-parc.ch Upcoming: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026
How this list is made
Every card on this page passed the same three checks before it was published.
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Opened on its own website
Each organization was read on its own site, not on a directory or press page.
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Active in the last 18 months
A dated cohort, open call, demo day or news item is required. Its date is on the card; an announced one shows as Upcoming.
-
Checked a second time
A separate review re-read every record. Anything it could not confirm was left out.
What gets listed
- Accelerator cohorts
- Incubation with coaching or lab access
- Startup studios
- University founder centers
- Public programs with an application process
What is left out
- Investment funds without a program
- Office or coworking space without a program
- Programs with no dated activity in 18 months
Only what they state
Sector focus, duration, equity and funding appear only where the organization states them itself. A blank means it does not say, not that the answer is none.
Spotted a mistake?
Something out of date, or a program missing? Write to info@mentornity.com with a link to the official page.
Running a program like these?
Our guide covers how accelerators and incubators set up mentor pools, match founders with mentors and keep track of sessions across a cohort.