Turning science into startups: 1,000 companies launched with Venture Kick
27.03.2026
With the founding of Stellar Alpina (in-space transportation), Venture Kick reaches a major milestone: its 1,000th startup has emerged from the program. Companies such as Climeworks (carbon removal), Bioversys (antibiotics), Kandou (high-speed chips), and Planted Foods (alternative proteins) demonstrate how scientific research can evolve into global players, creating over 16,000 jobs and enabling more than CHF 10 billion in follow-on financing.
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Since 2007, Venture Kick has supported teams from academia and research in transforming innovation into market-ready companies. A total of 1,286 startup projects have been funded with CHF 103 million. This has led to the creation of 1,000+ deeptech companies, which today employ more than 16,000 people and have attracted over CHF 10.2 billion in follow-on investments.
These figures highlight the strong leverage effect of early-stage funding. With comparatively limited resources, substantial economic value is generated. At the same time, the portfolio demonstrates high stability. With a survival rate of 84 percent, Venture Kick underscores the sustainable development of its supported companies.
“Who would have thought that a vision launched in 2007 to foster new company creation would lead to 1,000 companies,” says Beat Schillig, Co-Managing Director of Venture Kick. “Each of these companies shows how research can be translated into economic value by creating jobs, attracting international investment, and contributing in tangible ways to Switzerland’s economy and society.”
Over the long term, these startup companies make a significant contribution to employment in Switzerland. They employ 19 people on average today. Companies that have been on the market for more than 10 years employ, on average, more than 37 people today and continue to show strong growth. This development is also reflected in increasing diversity. 42 percent of supported projects have at least one woman in the founding team. This highlights the growing role of women in science-based entrepreneurship in Switzerland.
Looking ahead, Venture Kick aims to support a total of 3,000 startups by 2035, generating up to CHF 50 billion in follow-on investments. Already in 2026, the number of supported projects is expected to increase by 15 percent, enabling more teams to bring their innovations to market.
> Find the key figures in the Venture Kick Magazine 2025.
About Venture Kick
The Venture Kick philanthropic initiative provides more than 1 million in seed funding to Swiss startups and offers a well-structured entrepreneurial path toward building a winning business. Startups pitch to Venture Kick juries in three stages to obtain CHF 150,000, gain direct feedback, and access a network of 250 international investors. Winners of Venture Kick are eligible for an InnoBooster grant of CHF 150,000 and an additional CHF 850,000 investment from the Kickfund.
Since its launch in 2007, Venture Kick has supported 1,286 Swiss startup projects with CHF 103 million from private donors. Thanks to financial support, coaching, and networking with investors, this initiative has led to the emergence of 1,000+ thriving startup companies and the creation of 16,100+ jobs. Venture Kick alumni companies have attracted investments of CHF 10.2 billion and represent 66 companies ranked among the Top100 Swiss Startups in 2025.
Venture Kick is an initiative by the Kick Foundation, supported by a private consortium and operated by Venturelab. The supporting foundations and private philanthropic partners include Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, Hauser-Stiftung, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation ProTechno, ESA BIC Switzerland, Swisscom, Lichtsteiner Foundation, and Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation.
Find more information on venturekick.ch, with all startup projects supported by Venture Kick, and follow the success stories of our startups on LinkedIn.
These figures highlight the strong leverage effect of early-stage funding. With comparatively limited resources, substantial economic value is generated. At the same time, the portfolio demonstrates high stability. With a survival rate of 84 percent, Venture Kick underscores the sustainable development of its supported companies.
“Who would have thought that a vision launched in 2007 to foster new company creation would lead to 1,000 companies,” says Beat Schillig, Co-Managing Director of Venture Kick. “Each of these companies shows how research can be translated into economic value by creating jobs, attracting international investment, and contributing in tangible ways to Switzerland’s economy and society.”
Over the long term, these startup companies make a significant contribution to employment in Switzerland. They employ 19 people on average today. Companies that have been on the market for more than 10 years employ, on average, more than 37 people today and continue to show strong growth. This development is also reflected in increasing diversity. 42 percent of supported projects have at least one woman in the founding team. This highlights the growing role of women in science-based entrepreneurship in Switzerland.
Looking ahead, Venture Kick aims to support a total of 3,000 startups by 2035, generating up to CHF 50 billion in follow-on investments. Already in 2026, the number of supported projects is expected to increase by 15 percent, enabling more teams to bring their innovations to market.
> Find the key figures in the Venture Kick Magazine 2025.
About Venture Kick
The Venture Kick philanthropic initiative provides more than 1 million in seed funding to Swiss startups and offers a well-structured entrepreneurial path toward building a winning business. Startups pitch to Venture Kick juries in three stages to obtain CHF 150,000, gain direct feedback, and access a network of 250 international investors. Winners of Venture Kick are eligible for an InnoBooster grant of CHF 150,000 and an additional CHF 850,000 investment from the Kickfund.
Since its launch in 2007, Venture Kick has supported 1,286 Swiss startup projects with CHF 103 million from private donors. Thanks to financial support, coaching, and networking with investors, this initiative has led to the emergence of 1,000+ thriving startup companies and the creation of 16,100+ jobs. Venture Kick alumni companies have attracted investments of CHF 10.2 billion and represent 66 companies ranked among the Top100 Swiss Startups in 2025.
Venture Kick is an initiative by the Kick Foundation, supported by a private consortium and operated by Venturelab. The supporting foundations and private philanthropic partners include Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, Hauser-Stiftung, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation ProTechno, ESA BIC Switzerland, Swisscom, Lichtsteiner Foundation, and Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation.
Find more information on venturekick.ch, with all startup projects supported by Venture Kick, and follow the success stories of our startups on LinkedIn.