INNOSUISSE START-UP TRAINING

The Innosuisse start-up training programme helps you develop your business idea, set up your company and implement a strategy for growth. Our four training modules are led by experienced entrepreneurs and held all over Switzerland.

Do you have an innovative vision that’s just waiting to become reality? Are you in the process of founding a company? Do you have an innovative and forward-looking business idea that you just can’t get out of your head? Do you want to make headway with your company?

Then the Innosuisse start-up training is just the thing for you.

You can choose from four separate training and development modules that will help you establish or develop your entrepreneurial skills. with some 120 trainers boasting plenty of practical experience at your disposal. The four separate modules allow you to start  at exactly the right place for your company.

MODULES & EVENTS OFFERED IN THE CENTRAL REGION

MODULE 1 | Business Ideas – Feel the start-up groove

Successful role models are the best motivation for anyone wanting to take the plunge into self-employment. At our «Business Ideas» motivational events, you will meet interesting high-profile entrepreneurs and be inspired by their success stories.

Who can take part?
Members of higher education institutions: Students, doctoral students, members of staff, post-doctoral students, professors at universities and universities of applied sciences (including research institutions)

Contents

  • Entrepreneurial success stories: Motivational talks by successful business people with tips and tricks for the initial stages.
  • Panel discussion: Discussion about the factors for success in business and answers to specific questions about setting up a company.
  • In the background – support and interaction: Introduction to the institutions and stakeholders (technology transfer, start-up centres, coaching, business prizes, investors, etc.).

Following this, we will invite you to a networking drinks reception.

Duration
Two hours in the afternoon or evening

Town/city
Held at various higher education institutions across Switzerland

Cost
The events are free of charge.

MODULE 2 | Business Concept – Get the start-up toolbox

So you’ve got an innovative business idea and intend to set up a knowledge- or technology-based company? In the «Business Concept» module, you will learn how to think and act like an entrepreneur and acquire both the theoretical and practical expertise to set up and run your own company.

Who can take part?
Members of higher education institutions: Students, doctoral students, post-doctoral students, professors at universities and universities of applied sciences (including research institutions), people with experience in research and development within companies. Max. 25 participants per course.

Contents

  • Company and business strategy
  • Product development
  • Market research (analysis, potential, target audience, USP, competition)
  • Marketing/sales
  • Strategy, marketing mix, campaign planning
  • Communication
  • Finances (financial planning, needs assessment, search for investors, financing, liquidity)
  • Management and organisation
  • Business planning
  • Intellectual property, legal matters, contracts, etc.
  • Developing a business plan based on a concrete business idea
  • Individual and group work
  • Presentation to a jury

Duration
Semester course: 14 evenings of four hours, from 5.15 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Town/city
Held at 15 higher education institutions in Switzerland

Kosten
The courses are free of charge.

Current courses / provider
They are held by three different consortia.

ALUMNI EVENTS

Join our Alumni Events and get to know academics, innovators, coaches and startups from the other Innosuisse cohorts. Stay tuned and learn from inspiring entrepreneurs with all different sources of backrounds and stories.

ALUMNI EVENT BERN/BIEL

FEMALE FOUNDERS EVENTS

Female Founders: the key to a strong startup ecosystem!

The secret to a strong startup ecosystem is diversity. Diversity of backgrounds, ideas, and approaches driven by successful entrepreneurs, who inspire and give back to the community. Join our female founders events and learn from inspiring women with all different sources of backrounds and stories.

ADDITIONAL MODULES OFFERED AT OTHER LOCATIONS

MODULE 3 | Business Creation – Jumpstart your business

Are you about to set up your own company or have you recently started a new business? In the «Business Creation» training module, you will receive specific answers to your questions about your project and company. This module will also help you to firm up your plans and consolidate your knowledge.
Who can take part?

People who have the firm intention of founding a start-up within the next six to twelve months (12-18 months for those in the MedTech/BioTech cluster). The basis of the company is a technological, academic or business model-oriented innovation. In addition, there should already be a team that dedicates a substantial amount of its time (at least 30%) to the project. Number of participants: Min. 10, max. 17.

Sector-specific courses
Specialist trainers with lots of practical experience and Innosuisse n.start-up coaches provide start-ups with one-on-one support throughout the course. Module 3 Business Creation is offered as a sector-specific course for the following four clusters.

Are you about to set up your own company or have you recently started a new business? In the «Business Creation» training module, you will receive specific answers to your questions about your project and company. This module will also help you to firm up your plans and consolidate your knowledge.

  • ICT (online applications, software, etc.)
  • Advanced engineering (micro, nano, material science, robotics, climate/energy)
  • Biotechnology (pharmaceuticals) / MedTech (devices, mobile health)
  • Social entrepreneurship

Content (varies depending on cluster) 

  • Basic understanding of a business model and offer e.g. with a business model canvas and the value proposition canvas
  • Presentation skills and types including developing a business plan presentation/start-up pitch
  • Teaching lean management/fast learning, with practical application to the participant’s case
  • Financing strategies and finance tactics together with considerations of different exit strategies
  • Funding sources in Switzerland; Getting to know different types of investors
  • Key, practice-oriented management toolboxes
  • Founding the start-up: the most important legal steps, the advantages and disadvantages of legal forms, the significance and role of the organisation’s bodies (e.g. the Administrative Board) and the most important legal contracts and their content
  • Intellectual property and IP protection: general basic understanding, boundaries, relevance, strategies and costs
  • Quality management and regulatory affairs: basic understanding, procedures and approaches to developing a QMS and regulatory strategy

Duration
Five-day intensive course spread over several weeks, including three hours of one-on-one coaching.

Town/city
Held in Zurich, Schlieren (Zurich), Lausanne and Bern; Biotechnology/MedTech cluster in Lugano and Basel.

Kosten
CHF 300.-.

Current courses / provider
The courses are run by Venturelab Ltd. and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW (cluster 4 Social Entrepreneurship).

MODULE 4 | Business Growth – Grow your start-up

Do you want to set your newly found company on course for growth? In the «Business Growth» training module, you will analyse the barriers, opportunities and markets in your sector and learn about the processes and structures that will help you to grow your company.

Who can take part?
Young entrepreneurs who have already founded their start-up. You have been able to secure initial funding and you have just started to launch your product or intend to within the next six to twelve months (12-24 months for the MedTech/BioTech cluster). The basis of the company is a technological, academic or business model-oriented innovation. You have a balanced start-up team. Min. 7, max. 12.

Sector-specific courses
You get basic practical training and will be able to plan, establish and manage your own company in the decisive phase of launching your product on the market. Specialist trainers with lots of practical experience and Innosuisse start-up coaches provide you with one-on-one support throughout the course.  Module 4 – Business Growth – is only offered as a sector-specific course to four different clusters.

  • ICT (online applications, software, etc.)
  • Advanced engineering (micro, nano, material science, robotics, climate/energy)
  • Biotechnology (pharmaceuticals) / MedTech (devices, mobile health)
  • Social entrepreneurship

Content (varies depending on cluster) 

  • Validation of key hypotheses on business models and value propositions
  • Working out a marketing concept and an implementation plan
  • Presentation and sales techniques applied to the specific offer for a target group (ideally for early adaptors)
  • Legal foundations and the most important legal documents including their key points (work contracts, confidentiality agreements, declarations of intent, employee participation models, etc.)
  • Financing strategy for Series A and B funding rounds with consideration of a possible exit
  • Tool box: Tools to ensure productivity and improve efficiency

Duration
Five-day intensive course spread over several weeks, including three hours of one-on-one coaching.

Town/city
Held in Schlieren (Zurich), Lausanne and Bern; Biotechnology/MedTech cluster in Lugano and Basel.

Cost
CHF 300.-.

Current courses / provider
The courses are run by Venturelab Ltd. and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW (cluster 4 Social Entrepreneurship).