Swiss technology accelerator Kickstart Accelerator, an initiative of digitalswitzerland, has opened applications for its second international startup accelerator.
The accelerator is inviting startups from around the world and will shortlist 30 companies, all of whom will participate in an eleven-week programme.
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Kickstart Accelerator is looking for startups in the food, fintech, smart cities, and robotics and intelligent systems sectors, and is partnering with BaseLaunch to facilitate healthtech companies.
Applicants will need to have a business that has the potential to disrupt its given sector.
According to a press release sent to Ventureburn, “Kickstart will not be taking any equity from the participating startups”. Instead, the participants will have a chance to win 25 000 CHF, and receive other benefits.
“Our inaugural year saw over 850 applications from across the globe and so we are looking forward to seeing the calibre of this year’s innovators,” said the programme manager at Kickstart Accelerator, Patricia Schlenter, in a press release to Ventureburn.
“The Swiss ecosystem offers startups the opportunity to work with like-minded entrepreneurs, experienced mentors and some of the biggest corporate players to deliver impactful innovations to key industries.”
Those shortlisted will also meet with a variety of partners and mentors, such as Swisscom, Swiss Life, Credit Suisse. They will also have a ‘Proof of Concept’ trial with one of the partners to see how the idea works in a corporate environment.
“Cooperation between the startups and corporate partners will allow the entrepreneurs to benefit from the corporates’ know-how and large customer networks, as well as enable them to develop new technologies and disruptive products together,” adds head of transformation and market management at AXA Winterthur, Carola Wahl.
The programme will start on 4 September.
It will be operated by Impact Hub Zurich and will be based out of ewz-Unterwerk Selnau, in Zurich, Switzerland.
For more information and applications, visit the Kickstart Accelerator website.
Feature image: Khairul Abdullah via Flickr.
