Strengthening Switzerland as a leading innovation hub by empowering entrepreneurial talent.
From first ideas at school to venture scale-up:
The Kick Foundation supports every stage of the entrepreneurial journey through one fully integrated entrepreneurship pipeline.
12’000 CHF
to IdeaKick
805’773 CHF
to TalentKick
9'367’916 CHF
to Venture Kick
10’185’689 CHF
Kick Foundation total
Our integrated pipeline delivers measurable results. Key Figures Impact:
Talent Kick
since 2021
3 Mio. CHF
Support
121
Teams
45 Mio. CHF
Raised
Venture Kick
since 2007
100 Mio. CHF
Support
16'108 Jobs
By 986 Startups
10'200 Mio. CHF
Raised
Vision
In 2021, the Ernst Göhner Stiftung (EGS) and the Gebert Rüf Stiftung (GRS) established the Kick Foundation with a shared vision: to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and strengthen Switzerland’s position as a leading innovation hub.
The Kick Foundation operates Switzerland's only fully integrated entrepreneurship pipeline, spanning schools, universities and the startup ecosystem. Through its initiatives Idea Kick, Talent Kick and Venture Kick, the Kick Foundation provides education, funding, coaching and networks at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
The independent Kickfund complements this pipeline through a systematic investment process, ensuring a continuous pathway from innovation to impact.
Sustainable Kick Value Chain
Initiatives
One ecosystem. A continuous entrepreneurial journey.
From entrepreneurial inspiration at school to building and financing high-growth companies, the Kick Foundation connects initiatives across the entire entrepreneurial journey.
Each programme serves a specific purpose while contributing to a coordinated ecosystem that helps entrepreneurial talent access opportunities, expertise, funding and networks at the right moment.
Every initiative supported by the Kick Foundation:
-
has national or international reach
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demonstrates a strong track record or exceptional potential
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actively contributes to the Kick Foundation ecosystem
Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs
Drawing on the experience of founders from the Kick ecosystem, young people take their first entrepreneurial steps through Idea Kick, transforming ideas into projects and gaining access to support, networks and opportunities.
GründerSpirit@School brings entrepreneurship directly into the classroom. Startup founders share their experiences and inspire students to develop ideas, take initiative and discover entrepreneurship as a possible future path.
Switzerland's excellence programme for entrepreneurial students and doctoral researchers.
By bringing together interdisciplinary teams, the programme enables participants to gain hands-on startup experience through coaching, mentoring, networking and early-stage funding.
During the programme, participants develop ideas into venture projects and build skills, teams and networks needed to launch future startups.
Venture Kick transforms scientific breakthroughs into successful companies through early-stage funding, entrepreneurial training and access to investors, experts and industry partners.
Through its nine-month competitive programme, selected teams receive funding, intensive coaching and access to a powerful entrepreneurial network to accelerate market entry and growth.
