Lichtsteiner Foundation partners with Venture Kick to drive health innovation
28.11.2024
By 2033, Venture Kick’s ambition is to support 3,000 science-based startups generating 100,000 jobs. To achieve this goal, the foundation is broadening its network of partners to provide increased financial support to startups from Swiss universities. Venture Kick is delighted to welcome the Swiss Lichtsteiner Foundation as a new partner to support the successful growth of its startup funding.
 |
 |
The Lichtsteiner Foundation's mission is to advance healthcare by empowering pioneers to bring their groundbreaking inventions to life. The foundation invests in early-stage Swiss startups across life sciences, medical technology, mental health, public health, and well-being sectors, focusing on impact investing through equity funding. The Lichtsteiner Foundation's heart beats for disruption and innovation that will positively impact people’s health. Thanks to its unique investing strategy, the foundation is bringing value both to startups and society.
Lichtsteiner Foundation will join the existing partner consortia supporting the Kick Foundation, which includes Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, Hauser-Stiftung, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation Pro Techno, ESA BIC Switzerland, and Swisscom.
“We are excited to join this prominent network,” explains Marco Strahm, President of Lichtsteiner Foundation. “Our mission to support health-related innovation aligns with the goals of Venture Kick, and we look forward to pursuing innovative projects together.”
“The participation and involvement of the Lichtsteiner Foundation strengthens our partnership consortia,” shared Pascale Vonmont, President of the Venture Kick Strategy Board. “This collaboration builds a strong environment for impactful startups to address global health challenges. We are delighted to welcome the Lichtsteiner Foundation as a strong supporter of our life science startups.”
Goal 2033 with 100,000 jobs created
Over the last 17 years, Venture Kick has supported more than 1,100 startups, which raised more than CHF 9 billion from investors and created more than 15,000 jobs. Venture Kick is considered a reference for early-stage support, shaped by the outstanding market success of its alumni addressing global challenges. Venture Kick contributed by offering credibility, visibility, and access to a wide network of investors and industry partners. For the next decade, the team behind Venture Kick plans to scale up their successful model.
“The key driver of the Venture Kick growth is the increasing demand of very talented researchers wanting to kick their innovations out of their labs to solve real-world problems of our generation,” commented Beat Schillig and Jordi Montserrat, co-managing directors of Venture Kick. “We used to kick one project out of three applications – today it is only one out of ten. To support more promising startups from Swiss universities, Venture Kick needs more partners.”
ABOUT LICHTSTEINER FOUNDATION
The purpose of the Lichtsteiner Foundation is to promote discoveries in the field of medicine for the improvement of people’s health. The Lichtsteiner Foundation has been supporting health pioneers since 2018; its startup portfolio includes 13 companies so far. The foundation aims to enlarge its track record in the upcoming years. The Foundation supports up to 6 early-stage startups every year (no research projects) with a total value of CHF 3 million.
Sabina Sperisen, CEO at Lichtsteiner Foundation
ABOUT VENTURE KICK
The Venture Kick philanthropic initiative provides up to CHF 150,000 in seed funding to Swiss startups and offers a well-structured entrepreneurial path toward building a winning business. Startups pitch to expert juries at three stages to obtain funding and gain direct feedback and access to an international network of 200 successful entrepreneurs and investors. Winners of Venture Kick are eligible for a CHF 850,000 investment from the Kickfund and an InnoBooster grant of an additional CHF 150,000.
Since its launch in 2007, Venture Kick has supported more than 1,107 Swiss startup projects with CHF 80 million. Thanks to financial support, coaching and matching with investors, the initiative has led to the emergence of 800 thriving startups and the creation of 15’000 jobs. Venture Kick alumni companies have attracted CHF 9 billion from investors and represent 66 companies ranked in the TOP 100 Swiss Startups in 2024.
Venture Kick, an initiative of the Kick Foundation, is supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, Lichtsteiner Foundation, Hauser-Stiftung, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation ProTechno, ESA BIC Switzerland, and Swisscom.
Find more information on venturekick.ch, with all startup projects supported by Venture Kick, and follow the success stories of our startups on Facebook, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Lichtsteiner Foundation will join the existing partner consortia supporting the Kick Foundation, which includes Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, Hauser-Stiftung, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation Pro Techno, ESA BIC Switzerland, and Swisscom.
“We are excited to join this prominent network,” explains Marco Strahm, President of Lichtsteiner Foundation. “Our mission to support health-related innovation aligns with the goals of Venture Kick, and we look forward to pursuing innovative projects together.”
“The participation and involvement of the Lichtsteiner Foundation strengthens our partnership consortia,” shared Pascale Vonmont, President of the Venture Kick Strategy Board. “This collaboration builds a strong environment for impactful startups to address global health challenges. We are delighted to welcome the Lichtsteiner Foundation as a strong supporter of our life science startups.”
Goal 2033 with 100,000 jobs created
Over the last 17 years, Venture Kick has supported more than 1,100 startups, which raised more than CHF 9 billion from investors and created more than 15,000 jobs. Venture Kick is considered a reference for early-stage support, shaped by the outstanding market success of its alumni addressing global challenges. Venture Kick contributed by offering credibility, visibility, and access to a wide network of investors and industry partners. For the next decade, the team behind Venture Kick plans to scale up their successful model.
“The key driver of the Venture Kick growth is the increasing demand of very talented researchers wanting to kick their innovations out of their labs to solve real-world problems of our generation,” commented Beat Schillig and Jordi Montserrat, co-managing directors of Venture Kick. “We used to kick one project out of three applications – today it is only one out of ten. To support more promising startups from Swiss universities, Venture Kick needs more partners.”
ABOUT LICHTSTEINER FOUNDATIONThe purpose of the Lichtsteiner Foundation is to promote discoveries in the field of medicine for the improvement of people’s health. The Lichtsteiner Foundation has been supporting health pioneers since 2018; its startup portfolio includes 13 companies so far. The foundation aims to enlarge its track record in the upcoming years. The Foundation supports up to 6 early-stage startups every year (no research projects) with a total value of CHF 3 million.
Sabina Sperisen, CEO at Lichtsteiner Foundation
ABOUT VENTURE KICK
The Venture Kick philanthropic initiative provides up to CHF 150,000 in seed funding to Swiss startups and offers a well-structured entrepreneurial path toward building a winning business. Startups pitch to expert juries at three stages to obtain funding and gain direct feedback and access to an international network of 200 successful entrepreneurs and investors. Winners of Venture Kick are eligible for a CHF 850,000 investment from the Kickfund and an InnoBooster grant of an additional CHF 150,000.
Since its launch in 2007, Venture Kick has supported more than 1,107 Swiss startup projects with CHF 80 million. Thanks to financial support, coaching and matching with investors, the initiative has led to the emergence of 800 thriving startups and the creation of 15’000 jobs. Venture Kick alumni companies have attracted CHF 9 billion from investors and represent 66 companies ranked in the TOP 100 Swiss Startups in 2024.
Venture Kick, an initiative of the Kick Foundation, is supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, Lichtsteiner Foundation, Hauser-Stiftung, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation ProTechno, ESA BIC Switzerland, and Swisscom.
Find more information on venturekick.ch, with all startup projects supported by Venture Kick, and follow the success stories of our startups on Facebook, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn.