Venture Kick
Venture Kick is a philanthropic Swiss seed-funding initiative, founded in 2007, for startups coming out of Swiss universities and research institutions. Teams pitch to a jury of investors and industry experts in three stages over about nine months, winning CHF 10,000, CHF 40,000 and CHF 100,000, alongside entrepreneurship training. Funding can start before the company is incorporated.
At a glance
Venture Kick key facts
- Investment
- $187K
- Equity
- No equity
- Deal terms
- Up to CHF 150,000 (about $187K) in staged, equity-free funding: CHF 10,000 (stage 1), CHF 40,000 (stage 2) and CHF 100,000 (stage 3), with roughly a 50% selection rate at each jury stage. Stage 2 winners can apply for a CHF 150,000 InnoBooster grant (Gebert Rüf Stiftung), and stage 3 winners can reach up to CHF 850,000 more from Kickfund. In 2026 Venture Kick has CHF 9.58M to fund 283 kicks. The no-equity status comes from its philanthropic model and third-party profiles; the official site was behind a cookie wall when checked.
- Duration
- 3 stages within about 9 months
- Format
- Hybrid
- Headquarters
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Cohort locations
- Switzerland
- Stage
- idea, pre-seed
- Sectors
- general, deep tech
- Application cycle
- Rolling; jury sessions run throughout the year
Verified November 4, 2026 against the sources below. Terms change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Timing
Applications are rolling, with stage juries held throughout 2026. No fixed deadline is published. Applicants need a link to a Swiss university or research institution.
See all upcoming accelerator deadlines
Notable alumni
- Climeworks
- Scandit
- Flyability
- Distalmotion
- InSphero
FAQ
Applying to Venture Kick
- How much does Venture Kick invest?
- Venture Kick's standard deal: Up to CHF 150,000 (about $187K) in staged, equity-free funding: CHF 10,000 (stage 1), CHF 40,000 (stage 2) and CHF 100,000 (stage 3), with roughly a 50% selection rate at each jury stage. Stage 2 winners can apply for a CHF 150,000 InnoBooster grant (Gebert Rüf Stiftung), and stage 3 winners can reach up to CHF 850,000 more from Kickfund. In 2026 Venture Kick has CHF 9.58M to fund 283 kicks. The no-equity status comes from its philanthropic model and third-party profiles; the official site was behind a cookie wall when checked.
- How much equity does Venture Kick take?
- Venture Kick takes no equity.
- When is the Venture Kick application deadline?
- Application cycle: Rolling; jury sessions run throughout the year. Applications are rolling, with stage juries held throughout 2026. No fixed deadline is published. Applicants need a link to a Swiss university or research institution.
- Where is Venture Kick based?
- Venture Kick is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The program runs hybrid.
Preparing answers? Our accelerator application tips cover what reviewers look for.
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