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🎉 We're beyond excited to share that we've broken our record of applications once again this year, after already setting a new one last year! 🎈

Our previous record stood at 396 approved projects, and this year we've reached 451 💥 ― a 14% increase that reflects the thriving innovation landscape and the hard work of the entrepreneurs in our community.

This achievement wouldn't have been possible without our amazing network. A huge thank you to the support organizations and universities that championed the competition and welcomed collaborations with us. 🙏

And of course, a big thank you to all the startups who applied. We're grateful to be part of your journey and excited about what will come next. ✨

🔎 What's next? The evaluation period is already underway. Over the next month, our esteemed jurors will review, grade, and provide feedback to the projects they've been assigned to. Every project will receive written expert feedback, one of the elements that makes >>venture>> Switzerland's leading startup competition.

The 2026 semi-finalists will be officially announced on April 16th, so stay tuned! 🤩

Happy (Almost) International Women's Day! 💜

Today, we are celebrating the women of the >>venture>> office who make the competition happen all year long.

Led by our visionary CEO Lea Firmin, who has guided >>venture>> since 2015 and shaped the organization into what it is today, our small but mighty team works every day to support the next generation of entrepreneurs:

🌸 Katja, who makes sure our operations and network run smoothly.
🦋 Priscilla, our social butterfly who connects us across the ecosystem.
🌷 Maria, always thinking ahead and making sure everything that needs planning is already on the radar.
🌺 Lisa, who can handle just about anything.
🌼 Laure, leading our social media.
🪷 Karolina, always thoughtful with sweet attentions for everybody.
🪻 And Natasha, a fresh mind on the team, bringing new energy and young ideas.

Together, we work year-round to run the competition and create the platform that brings together entrepreneurs, experts, and investors — making it possible for outstanding founders to be recognized each year.

This includes the inspiring female founders and co-founders from the 2025 edition behind startups like @mynervamedical, @berninox, @livxp_official, @rrreefs, DNAir, and Besso 💥

And a special shoutout to Martino, who somehow manages to keep up with all of us! 😄

#InternationalWomensDay #WomenInStartups #WomenInInnovation #venture #VentureStartupCompetition

The next chapter of >>venture>> 2026 starts now. 🚀✨

A huge thank you to every founder who applied to this year’s competition. We truly appreciate the trust, dedication, and courage behind every submission. 💡🙏

Now your application enters our evaluation process:

1️⃣ Our team begins with a thorough internal review to ensure eligibility and alignment. 🔎
2️⃣ Accepted projects are carefully matched with experts from our jury pool. 🤝
3️⃣ In the first jury round, applications are assessed in depth, and 60 semi-finalists move forward, with written feedback shared with all teams. 📝
4️⃣ Semi-finalists enter a focused growth phase, refining their strategy and sharpening their pitch with mentors. 🎯
5️⃣ After pitching to another group of jurors, 18 startups advance to the final stage. 🎤
6️⃣ Finalists present to the >>venture>> Advisory Board, winners are selected, and we celebrate together at EPFL in Lausanne at our Award Ceremony. 🏆🎉

We’ll stay closely connected throughout the process, and we’re excited to dive into your ideas!

Let the competition begin. ✨

🚨 FINAL CALL – SUBMISSIONS CLOSE TONIGHT AT 23:59! 🚨

Still polishing your application? Before you hit SUBMIT, make sure you’ve covered exactly what our jurors will evaluate:

1️⃣ Innovation – What makes your solution truly unique?
2️⃣ Market – Is there a clear demand and growth potential?
3️⃣ Technology/Product – Is it feasible, robust, and well-defined?
4️⃣ Team – Do you have the right people to execute?
5️⃣ Sustainability/Impact – What meaningful difference will you make?
6️⃣ Business Model – Is it viable and scalable?

Have you clearly covered each of these points? Use our evaluation criteria checklist as your final sanity check before submitting. [Link in bio]

⏳ The clock is ticking. Hit SUBMIT before 23:59 tonight — this is your final call!

🚨 Only 2 days left to join the 2026 edition of >>venture>>, Switzerland’s leading startup competition, and here are 5 good reasons why you should:

1️⃣ Non-dilutive funding: win up to CHF 150,000 in cash prizes and keep 100% of your equity
2️⃣ Honest expert feedback: sharpen your strategy with written feedback from experienced investors and entrepreneurs
3️⃣ Powerful network access: connect with mentors, corporates, investors, and fellow founders who can open real doors
4️⃣ National visibility: put your startup in front of Switzerland’s leading innovation ecosystem and gain credibility
5️⃣ A chance to level up: clarify your story, market and ambition

If you’re building something bold, this is your moment. Apply now at venture.ch and take your startup to the next level! 🚀 Deadline: February 25, 2026 ⏰

🚨 Final days before the submission deadline! 🚨

Still wondering whether you can reapply if you've already participated before?

The answer is yes, absolutely. In fact, we encourage it!

Some of our strongest finalists didn’t win the first time. They refined, improved, and came back stronger — using the expert feedback they received with every submission.

So if you're still early-stage and haven't received >>venture>> funding before, this is your last chance to take your startup to the next level! Take the weekend to finalize your application and send it in.

🗓️ Deadline: February 25, 2026

venture.ch

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NEWS

Zurich entrepreneurs and startup supporters meet at ETH's Student Project House

Early-stage innovation got a kickstart in Western Switzerland

Upcoming Events

Effortless music creation

Bringing restaurants into the 21st century

A virtual fitting room to reduce return rates

Creating faster data links

Novel material analysis to reduce waste and increase efficiency

Harnessing AI to help legal professionals

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NEWS

Zurich entrepreneurs and startup supporters meet at ETH's Student Project House

Early-stage innovation got a kickstart in Western Switzerland

Upcoming Events

Effortless music creation

Bringing restaurants into the 21st century

A virtual fitting room to reduce return rates

Creating faster data links

Novel material analysis to reduce waste and increase efficiency

Harnessing AI to help legal professionals

​

Instagram

About us

Resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join our mailing list to learn about the competition, upcoming events, resources, and more.

Contact us