Startup funding: Venture Kick increases its budget for 2022

Venture Kick, a leading startup funding program, is increasing its budget by 10 percent to CHF 6.1 million. This budget increase will allow it to further increase its impact, the organization says. Over the past 15 years, juries of successful entrepreneurs and investors have selected 841 startup projects from nearly 5,400 applications. Since its inception in 2007, the competitive program has already invested CHF 39.71 million. "Being able to increase support further in 2022 is a tribute to the impressive achievements of the entrepreneurs we have supported so far: it shows how impactful our support has been and gives us confidence that we can continue to create even more value in the future," said Pascale Vonmont, President of Venture Kick's Strategy Committee. In addition, the support program will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2022.

The path to CHF 1'000'000+ in seed funding

For 2022, Venture Kick plans 51 jury sessions - one per week. The jury will select 89 new projects to enter the Venture Kick process in 2022, joining previous 2021 winners for the next phases. This year, 173 "kicks" will support the financial and business acceleration of spin-offs. By participating in Venture Kick, the selected startups will have access to more than CHF 1,000,000 in potential funding, consisting of CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick, CHF 150,000 from the Gebert Rüf Foundation's InnoBooster program for candidates that passed Venture Kick Stage 1, and up to CHF 850,000 from the Kick Fund for startups selected in Venture Kick Stage 3.

Startup funding that goes beyond money

Over the years, entrepreneurs who have benefited from Venture Kick have consistently emphasized that the "kicking" goes beyond the money. "The Venture Kick process has been a transformative experience. Throughout the year, the challenging panel of judges and the Kickers camps helped us tremendously in developing the company and our entrepreneurial skills," said Denys Sutter, co-founder and CEO of Venture Kick winner condenZero. The credibility offered by the selection and the direct and structured feedback are important contributions to the startups' development. "Venture Kick has provided us with extensive visibility and support to grow our network and find a path in the value chain. The kicks at Kickers Camp were memorable and very helpful! Venture Kick laid the foundation for our future market entry with a solid pipeline of relevant partners and customers," said Margaux Peltier, co-founder and CEO of Venture Kick winner Enerdrape.

Venture Kick is on a mission

"What started as a small initiative 15 years ago has become a reference in early-stage support, and thanks to the feedback from the startups we support, we find the motivation to keep improving," explains Jordi Montserrat, co-managing director of Venture Kick. "We are ready to implement the ambitious 2022 goal and have our 'Mission 2027' in sight: To create 1,000 high-tech startups in Switzerland that create 15,000 active jobs.

Source and further information: www.venturekick.ch