Talent Kick Spring 2027 Batch

About

A free, selective cross-university program helps master’s and PhD students at Swiss higher-education institutions form co-founder teams, validate ideas while studying, and access mentorship, leadership coaching and up to CHF 5,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Benefits

• 🤝Co-founder matching
  Support to find co-founders with complementary skills from another Swiss university
• 💰Non-dilutive funding
  Up to CHF 5,000 in non-dilutive funding for the strongest teams to test and validate ideas
• 🧑‍🏫 Leadership coaching
  personal leadership coaching and intensive support
• 🧭Expert mentorship
  Mentoring by experienced entrepreneurs
• 🌐Startup ecosystem access
  Connection to Switzerland’s best support structures for entrepreneurs and startups
• 🎓Free premium program
  Selected participants receive the program free of charge, with a stated value of CHF 20,000 per student, funded by leading Swiss foundations
• 📈Study synergies
  Support to leverage synergies with a master’s degree or PhD program

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: enrolled as a master’s or PhD student at any Swiss university or higher education institution
• Mandatory: 2–4 semesters remaining at the start of the program
• Mandatory: apply as an individual or as a pre-formed team
• Preferred: demonstrated entrepreneurial drive through exploring a problem space or novel technology
• Preferred: team-player and aspiring-leader mindset with openness to add team members or pivot if sensible
• No fixed idea or team is required, but an understanding of a problem or technology space is important.

Participation Commitments

• Apply as an individual or as a pre-formed team
• Applicants must be enrolled as a university student with 2–4 semesters left at the start of the program
• The program is held in English
• The program takes place at different locations between Zürich, Lausanne and Bern
• Selected participants receive the program free of charge, with a stated value of CHF 20,000 per student, funded by Swiss foundations
• No shares are taken from participants
• Participants should be open to accepting additional team members if sensible and to pivoting their idea if necessary

Target Region

Switzerland — applicants must be enrolled at a Swiss university or higher education institution.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other