Ecole PolytechniqueFédérale de LausanneSupport to Entrepreneurship around EPFL

Hervé Lebret - June 2019

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About Ecosystems: the Rainforest

The Rainforest by Victor W. Hwang and GregHorowitt perfectly explains that entrepreneurialinnovation is chaotic and the diversity andconnection of its actors make its richness andefficiency. The complexity of the EPFLecosystem is therefore its strength even if itmay appear complicated to a first-comer. Butplease remember all this is about people, notinstitutions. Indeed the following is of utmostimportance:

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

The #7 Rainforest Rules– Break the Rules and Dream– Open Doors and Listen– Trust and Be Trusted– Experiment and Iterate Together– Seek Fairness, Not Advantage– Err, Fail and Persist– Pay it Forward

The #6 Rainforest Tools– Learn by Doing– Enhance Diversity– Celebrate Role Models and Peer Interaction– Build Tribes of trust– Create Social Feedback Loops– Make Social Contracts Explicit

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Entrepreneurship and Innovation are Complex

The next slides try to give an exhaustive list of tools and support mechanisms available for EPFL entrepreneurs. If it begins with research and technology transfer, innovation is further encouraged through: Advice (training, coaching, mentoring) Funding (grants, prizes, but also investments) Office space (co-working spaces, incubators, accelerators, technology parks) Exposure (events, networking, pitching of ideas, role models, community) Internationalization

This document shows the richness and related complexity of the EPFL ecosystem. We wish it will still be helpful as a resource reference list.

The online content can be found on www.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/resources-for-entrepreneurs

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

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Public Funding of Education & Research

Support to Innovation It begins with research

Conseil des Ecoles Polytechniques – ETH Ratwww.ethrat.ch

InnoSuisse - Agence Suisse pour la l’Encouragement de l’Innovation (Swiss Innovation Agency) www.innosuisse.ch

Fonds National Suisse – Swiss National Fundwww.snf.ch

European Unionec.europa.eu/researchec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/erc.europa.eu/

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VPI - A Facilitator Between Two Worlds

Alliance - relationships /

collaborations with

SMEs

Entrepreneurship

Innogrants

xgrants

Strategic Partnerships

Innovation Park

Technology Transfer Office (TTO)

Contracts / Licenses /

PoC (Enable)

Transdisciplinary Centers & Discovery

Projects

SMEsSTART-UPS

EPFL

Community

(Professors,

Researchers,

Students)

The OrganizationV. P. Innovation

www.epfl.ch/innovation

CORPORATESVPR VPI

VPE

Bachelors / Masters

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Innovation and Tech. Transfer

VPR / VPI Activities

EPFL Technology Transfer Office (part of VPR)tto.epfl.ch

Industry Liaison Programmewww.alliance-tt.ch

Partnerships & Innovation Square www.epfl.ch/innovation/industry/

Start-up creation www.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/start-your-ventureInnogrants www.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/innograntsXGrant www.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/xgrants/Tech4Impact t4i.epfl.ch/YGrant

Swiss TT Associationwww.switt.chAvailable technologies:www.switt.ch/pour_l_economie/swittlist

Innovation & Tech. Transfer

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Funding: Surviving the “Valley of Death” at EPFL

BasicResearch

AppliedResearch

Proof of Concept /Business Case

PrototypeFounders

Research Grants

DevelopmentGrants

PreseedGrants

Friends, Family &Fools

PrototypeFounders

ProductDevelopment

Company Fast Growth (Revenues, Employees)

BusinessAngels,Seed VCs

Early Stage VCs,Corp. Partners

Late Stage VCs(… M&A / IPO)

“Valley of Death”

Start-Up foundation

FundingA rich ecosystem

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IT’S NOT ABOUT MONEY ONLY: A RICH AND DENSE ECOSYSTEM

BasicResearch

AppliedResearch

Proof of Concept /Business Case

PrototypeFounders

Research Grants

DevelopmentGrants

PreseedGrants

Friends, Family &Fools

PrototypeFounders

ProductDevelopment

Company Fast Growth (Revenues, Employees)

BusinessAngels,Seed VCs

Early Stage VCs,Corp. Partners

Late Stage VCs(… M&A / IPO)

“Valley of Death”

Start-Up foundation

More than funding

Advice/Training:

Exposure/networks:

A rich ecosystem

Housing:A to D E to J

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A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

Financial SupportGrants, awards

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

10Support to Entrepreneurs around EPFL |

A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

Financial SupportGrants, awards

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

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A Rich Offering in Entrepreneurship Education

Teaching at EPFL

College of Management of Technology cdm.epfl.ch

emba.epfl.ch

including smte.epfl.ch

Entrepreneurship

China Hardware Innovation Campwww.chi.camp

… and much more in EPFL colleges and SHS classes for bachelor and Master students

A TTO course for PhDs mintt.epfl.ch

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A Rich Offering in Entrepreneurship Education

Teaching around EPFL

venturelabwww.venturelab.ch

including startup champions / ventureideaswww.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/startup-champions/

EIP StartupTrainingwww.businessconcept.ch

Entrepreneurship

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Coaching

Coaching

“coaching” provided by Innovation Park & subject to approval by EPFL since 1996 epfl-innovationpark.ch/get-involved/start-right-away/coaching

CTI (InnoSuisse) Start-up coaching with various steps to acceptancewww.innosuisse.ch/inno/en/home/start-and-grow-your-business/start-up-coaching.html

Start-up competitionwww.imd.org/emba/program/executive-mba-startup-competition

Entrepreneurship

www.platinn.chwww.genilem.ch

EPFL Alumni Mentorswww.epflalumni.ch/mentoring-programs/

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Financial SupportGrants, awards

A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

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EFPL Proof of Concepts & Entrepreneurial Grants

Support to Innovation Gap Funding – PoC Grants

Innogrants: a 1-year salary for EPFL future entrepreneurswww.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/innogrants

Enable: accelerating technology transfer through prototyping of IPenable.epfl.ch

XGrants: a support tool of up to CHF10’000 for EPFL bachelor and master students

YGrants: a support tool of up to CHF10’000 for EPFL bachelor and master students in social entrepreneurship

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The Swiss National Fund (SNF) is supporting similar mechanisms through its NCCRswww.nccr-robotics.ch/tech-transfer/startups/spinfund

Additional Proof of Concepts Grants

The InnoSuisse “feasibility studies” or “projects without implementation partners” support R&D projects with a high applied research contentwww.innosuisse.ch/inno/en/home/start-your-innovation-project/projekte-ohne-umsetzungspartner.html

Support to Innovation

InnoPACTT: a financial support to create your spin-off at CHUV / Unilwww.pactt.ch/pactt_home/pactt-inventor-scientist/pactt-innopacct.htm

Bridge: a joint SNF – CTI (InnoSuisse) programwww.bridge.ch

Gap Funding – PoC Grants

ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm?pg=funding

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More Funding: Foundation Grants

Support to Innovation Foundation Grants

The Gebert Rüf Foundation “sponsored” individual projects in academic environments www.grstiftung.ch/en.htmlMostly through the Innobooster program (for projects backed by Venture Kick – CHF150k for 1.5 year).www.grstiftung.ch/en/area-activity/innobooster.html

50’000CHF “Coup de pouce” award (1-3 per year) www.fondation-liechti.ch

Up to 200’000CHF for projects in Information Technologies & Telecomwww.haslerstiftung.ch

and foundations are numerous in Switzerland

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Funding & Loans

Grants & Loans

Loans of 100’000-500’000CHF to founderswww.sti-stiftung.ch

Volkwirtschaft foundation : A 150’000CHF loan to support to young entrepreneurs www.volkswirtschaft-stiftung.ch/en

A 100’000CHF loan mechanism by Fondation pour l’Innovation Technologiqueas well as other tools from Innovaudwww.fondation-fit.ch www.innovaud.ch

Venturekick provides seed funding up to 150’000CHFwww.venturekick.ch

Entrepreneurship

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Academic Awards

Support to Innovation Academic Awards

A 30’000CHF award by HEC Lausanne & EPFL studentsstartlausanne.ch

10’000CHF plus 3x 1’000CHF, with ETHZ and EPFL as co-organizerswww.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/young-entrepreneur-award& www.cnccef.org

Prix Musy – 50’000CHF for a Woman Entrepreneurwww.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/prix-musy/

A 50’000CHF award by HEC - Uni. Lausannewww.prixstrategis.ch

>>Venture>> 2019 www.venture.chUp to CHF150’000 awards

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External Awards

Support to Innovation

PERL awardwww.lausanne-region.chA total of 100’000CHF (50’000CHF, 20’000CHF and 3x – 10’000CHF)

Fondation de Vigier (restricted to Swiss residents)www.devigier.ch100’000CHF per project (usually 4-5 per year)

External awards

A 160’000 € pan-European competitionfor <2-year old start-ups and projectswww.hello-tomorrow.org

Generation Entrepreneur – in Romandiewww.generationentrepreneur.ch

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External Awards

Support to Innovation External awards

Swiss Economic Award - A total of 75’000CHFfor Swiss-based companies set up in the past six years www.swisseconomic.ch/en/sef-award

All type of business ventures with high growth potential. For German-speaking Swiss entrepreneurs150’000CHF amount (3 prizes; every two years)www.jungunternehmerpreis.ch

Swiss Technology Awardwww.swiss-innovation.com/awardwww.en.swiss-innovation.com/award

A 200’000CHF total. Annual business plan competition sponsored by several partners. 4 awards. www.swiss-startups-awards.ch

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External Awards

Support to Innovation

10kCHF Dyson Student AwardMarketingawardhttps://www.swissmarketingforum.ch/events/marketing-tag

Entrepreneur of the year AWARD with a start-up category www.ey.com/ch/eoy

External awards

20k & 10k Awards around ideas for sustainable development in Genevawww.prix-iddea.ch

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A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

Financial SupportGrants, awards

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

24Support to Entrepreneurs around EPFL | The EPFL infrastructure

The Innovation Park: 13 buildings for companies partnering & collaborating with EPFL

Including 6 buildings for start-ups, offering a variety of value-added services (coaching, training, funding,…)

The Garage (opened in 2008) for very early stage venturesepfl-innovationpark.ch/legarage

A co-working open-space for early-stage projects

Close support: the EPFL Innovation Park

epfl-innovationpark.ch

epfl-innovationpark.ch/laforge

Entrepreneurship

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More Co-Working Spaces

Infrastructure around EPFLEntrepreneurship

La Muse – Geneva & Lausannela-muse.ch/coworking

geneva.impacthub.netzurich.impacthub.net

www.gothamco.com

edtech-collider.ch

coworking.univercite.ch

lausanne.impacthub.net

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More Science Parks

Support to Innovation Infrastructure in Romandie

www.eclosion.ch

www.neode.ch

www.y-parc.ch

www.theark.ch

www.fongit.ch

www.friup.ch

www.creapole.ch

www.campusbiotech.ch

www.biopole.ch

www.bluefactory.ch

geneus.ch

www.swissparks.ch

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A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

Financial SupportGrants, awards

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

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Building a community

Steve Jobs was mentored by Robert Noyce, founder of Intel

Join the EPFL start-up community on www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=516530

Subscribe to the EPFL start-up events memento memento.epfl.ch/subscription/start-up

Entrepreneurship Community

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EPFL VPI Events

Events

www.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/startup-champions/

Pizzas & Start-up

Entrepreneurship

Most Tuesdays 5:30pm at Puur @EIPepfl-innovationpark.ch/happy-hour

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EPFL Events

Events

Startup Corner www.facebook.com/pages/A3-Startup-Corner/120165334746207

Startup Weekends –lausanne.startupweekend.org

Entrepreneurship

http://forum.epfl.chStart-Up Day

beyondlab.org

Salon des Technologies et de l’Innovation de Lausanneen.salon-stil.ch

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External Events

Events

www.euforiaction.org

LIFT Innovation Conference –www.liftconference.com

And many more…

techup.ch

Swiss Start-up Daywww.swiss-startup-day.ch/

Innovation Forum Lausanne –inno-lausanne.ch/

Entrepreneurship

digitalswitzerland.com/startupbootcamps/

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Innovation Platforms

Support to Innovation Thematic Platforms

In addition to many platforms supported by FNS or CTI such as the NCCRs or Nano-Tera, French-speaking Switzerland has its own clusters and support organizations:

www.nano-tera.ch

BioAlps www.bioalps.orgMicronArc www.micronarc.chAlp ICT www.alpict.comCleantechAlps www.cleantech-alps.com

digitalswitzerland.comStrengthen the country‘s position as a digital hub

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Innovation Related-media in Switzerland

Support to Innovation News

www.inno-swiss.com

www.startupticker.ch

republic-of-innovation.ch

A local student mediainnovation-time.com

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Information about Swiss Start-ups

spied.ch

www.epfl.ch/innovation/entrepreneurship/epfl-spin-offs

www.epfl-innovationpark.ch/community/companies

Support to Innovation

www.startup.ch

Info about startups

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A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

Financial SupportGrants, awards

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

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Exposure to US entrepreneurship

Vleaders by Venturelab and sponsored by EPFL: a free training in the USA and China of selected individuals (a Prize format)venturelab.ch/ventureleaders

A week in Silicon Valley: a competition opened to residents of Canton de Vaud under 25 year-old. www.facebook.com/BCVsvsc

www.bcv.ch/La-BCV/Responsabilite-d-entreprise/Silicon-Valley-Startup-Camp

Entrepreneurship Exposure to the USA

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Exposure to Entrepreneurship in Europe

Entrepreneurship Exposure to Europe

www.europeanventureprogramme.com

Previous sessionJuly 7-13, 2019 at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),August 25-31, 2019 at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

Next session deadline: March 29, 2019

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Swiss Accelerators

Swiss Accelerators

www.swissstartupfactory.com

kickstart-accelerator.com

masschallenge.org/programs/switzerland

fintechfusion.ch

www.f10.ch

www.seedhopper.ch

Entrepreneurship

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International Accelerator Programs

www.startup-book.com/2012/03/09/the-startup-factories-the-rise-of-accelerator-programmes/International AcceleratorsEntrepreneurship

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Support from the Cantons

Cantonal Support

Service de la promotion de l’économie et de l’innovation (SPEI) (Up to 50kCHF per year)https://www.vd.ch/themes/economie/soutien-aux-entreprises/soutiens-aux-entreprises/https://www.vd.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/organisation/dec/selt/fichiers_pdf/Support-organizations-Vaud-2018.pdf

Développement économique, recherche et innovationhttps://www.ge.ch/comment-creer-entreprise/aides-aux-entreprises-encouragement-innovationService de la promotion économique www.neuchateleconomie.ch

Promotion Economiquewww.jura.ch/eco

Direction du développement économique (DEVS)www.business-valais.ch

www.promfr.chwww.lereseau.ch

www.ggba-switzerland.org

Entrepreneurship

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Creating the Company

A lot of advice on www.gruenden.ch/english-version/and a very complete pdf guide: www.kmu.admin.ch/dam/kmu/fr/dokumente/Publications/g3_engl_version_201212.pdf.download.pdf/g3_engl_version_201212.pdf

https://www.cvci.ch/en/services/company-set-up/guide-for-entrepreneurs.html

Entrepreneurship How to ?

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Swissnex – Embassy Antennas

Support to Innovation Internationalization

Swiss House for Advanced Research and Education Boston www.swissnexboston.org

Swiss House for Scientific and Technological CooperationSan Francisco www.swissnexsanfrancisco.org

Knowledge and Competencies in Science, Education, Art, and InnovationShanghai www.swissnexchina.org

Connecting Switzerland and India in Science, Education, Art, and InnovationBangalore www.swissnexbangalore.org

Connecting Switzerland and Brazil in Science, Education and InnovationRio de Janeiro www.swissnexbrazil.org

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US Market Entry and Swissnex

Support to Innovation Internationalization

Also follow Swissnex webinars and eventsswissnexsanfrancisco.org/Ourwork/events

www.swissnexsanfrancisco.org/what-we-do/residents/

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A Diversity of Support Tools

Support to Entrepreneurs A complex ecosystem

Community servicesEvents, information,

online services

AdviceTraining, coaching,

mentoring

HousingCo-working spaces,

technology parks

Financial SupportGrants, awards

DevelopmentSummer camps,

accelerators, cantons

InvestmentsBusiness angels, Venture Capital

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Seed Investors

Swiss Investor Associationwww.swiss-startup-invest.ch

www.startangels.ch

www.businessangels.ch

Swiss Private Equity Associationwww.seca.ch

www.b-to-v.com

www.redalpine.com

www.go-beyond.biz

www.blueocean-ventures.com

Private FundingEntrepreneurship

EPFL Alumni – Angelswww.epflalumni.ch/start-up-services/

www.sictic.ch

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More Funding Tools

Private Funding

ZKB provides convertible loanswww.zkb.ch

www.c-crowd.com

www.investiere.ch

Platforms to connect with investors

Banks (usually they do not directly fund innovation)

A Credit Suisse initiativewww.swiss-venture-club.ch

Even Micro-credit initiatives should be looked at (World Microfinance Geneva, Microcredit solidaire)

Entrepreneurship

www.crcpme.ch

www.technologyfund.ch/

https://wemakeit.com

home.angelsquare.co

47Support to Entrepreneurs around EPFL | Private Funding

Venture Capital – 3 funds at EIP

CHF190M, office at EIPrenaissance.net

CHF100M, office at EIPwww.vipartners.ch

www.investeurope.eu

www.polytechventures.ch

Seed fundoffice at EIP

Entrepreneurship

Swiss Private Equity Associationwww.seca.ch

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Venture Capital – more funds in Romandie

Private Funding

Pan-European fund with offices in Geneva, London & San FranciscoFund V of €300Mwww.indexventures.com

Geneva based$200M Fund Iwww.forestaycapital.com

Geneva based Life-science seed fundwww.eclosion.com

Entrepreneurship

www.medicxi.comIndex spin-off in life sciences

Geneva based€160M Endeavour II fundwww.endeavourvision.com

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Venture Capital – funds in Switzerland

Private Funding

German, French VCs invest in CH (eg Wellington, Sofinnova, Auriga, Banexi, etc ) as well US ones (Highland, Oak, Matrix, Austin, Greylock…)

Office in Schlieren - ZHwww.zuehlke.com/en/ventures.html

Office in Zurichwww.creathor.de

Office in Baselwww.venturefund.novartis.com

Entrepreneurship

Office in Zurichwww.emerald-ventures.com

Office in Baselwww.versantventures.com

www.actionpotentialvc.comThe GSK VC arm in Bioelectronics

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Remember: any project takes timePedro Bados (Nexthink) is a just one but clear illustration that even a friendly ecosystem will not avoid a long maturation.

Sept 03: Invention disclosureMarch 04: Option for License April 04: Patent filing

Janv. 04: contact with an IT expert

May 04: publication in Dialogue newsletter

Mar 04-Jun 04: coaching PSE financed by EPFL

Sept 04: foundation of NEXThink SA

Avril-Sept 04: Further coaching

Déc. 04: Winner of the “startup competition”

Jan 05: 1st pilots with customers

Jun 04: Loan of CHF100k

Generate Develop Launch Grow

Dec 04: contacts with VCs

Jul. 07: 2nd round CHF 6M

April 06: 1st round CHF 1.6M

Innovation &Tech. Transfer A 2-3 year initial phase

As of 2018, more than 150M in funding, 200+ employees, www.nexthink.com

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In Summary again! A rich and dense ecosystem

The ecosystem

Poles of excellence

Training

Incubators& coaching

Funding ofresearch

Financiers

Generate Develop Launch Grow

Innovation &Tech. Transfer