Applications for the 2025 >>venture>> competition are closed.
Submissions will reopen in October 2025 — stay tuned!
How it works
Calling all entrepreneurs!
If you’re ready to launch — or have recently launched — an innovative startup or nonprofit in one of the following six industry verticals, you can apply for the >>venture>> competition.
Finance & Insurance
Health &
Nutrition
ICT
Industrials & Engineering
Retail &
Consumer Services
Social & Environmental Impact
Register & submit your startup plan
From October 1, 2024 to February 27, 2025
First, check out our requirements, then register here from October 1, 2024 to February 27, 2025 (23:59 CET).
We will send you invitations to helpful workshops where you can make connections and polish up your application, but you can also check out our Guidelines.
Applications reviewed by our team of experts
March 2025
Once the applications are in, our team of experts pores over the startup plans in search of the ten most compelling startup ideas in each of the verticals. All applicants will receive personalized feedback.
Access to Mentorship
April to June 2025
Make it to the top 10 of your vertical and you’ll get your own mentors.
Pitch Training
May 2025
All finalists can take advantage of our pitch training sessions with investors and McKinsey & Company experts. Learn more about the pitch trainers who helped our entrepreneurs in the last edition.
Live pitches to our jury
May 2025
The 60 finalists will have the chance to pitch their idea to an industry-specific jury consisting of seasoned investors and entrepreneurs. Jurors then select 18 winners– three teams per vertical – to advance into the final round and compete for the grand prize of CHF 100’000.
Final pitch and Award Ceremony
June 23, 2025
It’s a day of high stakes and suspense: both the final pitch and the Award Ceremony take place on the same day. First there’s the ranking round: six industry-specific juries consisting of members of the >>venture>> Advisory Board meet and rank the winners in each of the six verticals. The first, second and third place winners take home prizes of CHF 50’000, CHF 20’000 and CHF 10’000, respectively. The first-place winners then go head-to-head and pitch to the entire Advisory Board for a chance to win an additional CHF 100’000.
Learn How To Craft A Winning Startup Plan
Download our Playbook to find out how you can put together a winning startup plan.