Startups Accelerated
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Follow-on Capital Raised
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Direct & Indirect Jobs Created
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Switzerland
Switzerland
Leading Innovation
Since 2016, MassChallenge Switzerland has been a leader in helping startups across the world grow their businesses by accelerating 1,175 startups across multiple industries that have raised more than $2.9Bn in funding.
We run 2 programs:
Helps early-stage founders connecting them to our corporate partners, mentors & investors so they can validate their approach, and gain traction.
Accepts startups from any industry, in addition of 3 “Sustainability & Impact Tracks” in Agtech & Foodtech, Materials & Industry, and Healthtech. More info here.
Matches later-stage startups & scaleups with corporate partners.
Mostly for Agrifood and Materials startups with MVP and ready to scale up. More info here.
Contact Us
- Do you have any questions regarding our programs, how to partner with us, or join our investors’ network? Contact us at switzerland@masschallenge.org
- Join our Expert Community (Judge or Mentor) by registering here. We will contact you shortly after, for an onboarding.
- Stay up-to-date with MassChallenge Switzerland: LinkedIn | Newsletter
In the News
MassChallenge Switzerland and Louis Dreyfus Company Open Applications for the LDC Impact Prize 2026, Supporting Innovative Solutions in Food and Agriculture Supply Chains
Series "Founder Portraits: Women Leading Change". We’re spotlighting three inspiring women founders and 2025 MassChallenge Winners, who are turning bold ideas into real-world impact.
Discover how MassChallenge alumni are supporting an industry under unprecedented pressure with innovative packaging solutions.
Accelerator 2026
Accelerator 2026
June 29-October 29
By design our program makes businesses sustainable – both financially and for the climate & nature. We only accept startups whose solution will add value to society (for example, Millions of Tones CO2 eq. removed/avoided, lives saved), and all startups in the accelerator will be advised about how to make their business climate responsible and must intend to offset their emissions or actively reduce GHG to be considered.
To maximise their benefit from the program, Startups will need to travel and be present in Switzerland 2 times: for our Bootcamp and Halftime activities. These events generate connections and facilitate collaboration with our partners, mentors and investors. The remainder of the program operates online.
Key Dates
Program Benefits
Unrivaled access to 15+ global corporate partners
Including Bühler, Givaudan, dsm-firmenich, Louis Dreyfus Company, SIG Group, Mars, Novonesis, PMI – totalling over CHF 260 billion in revenue.
Mentoring
World-class mentoring from 400+ experts and tailored programming provided with no equity taken in return.
Curriculum
Comprehensive curriculum of lectures and workshops, featuring 50+ leading entrepreneurs, VCs, and experts.
Tailored Events
2 immersive in-person boot camps featuring mentor-matching sessions, speakers, panels, and an ‘On Tour’ experience across Switzerland, to visit our partners.
Cash Prizes
The opportunity to compete for up to CHF 1M in non-dilutive cash prizes and other in-kind awards.
Market Guidance
Switzerland-specific advice on regulations and tax, easy access to the EU market, and strong trade links.
Proven Model
A proven model that has helped more than 65% of finalists raise funds during or immediately after the program.
Switzerland Industry Tracks
Our accelerator supports startups from all industries. In addition we have 3 tracks where startups receive additional specialized support and resources from our partners, mentors, and VCs.
Startups interested in participating in the tracks can apply via the 2026 MassChallenge Switzerland accelerator application form, which will open from January 14 to March 4, 2026.
Startups can be from any geography and should select the relevant track of interest in the application form. Startups DO NOT need to be in any of these industries to apply to MassChallenge Switzerland.
Sustainability & Impact
In 2026, Switzerland’s tracks include 3 focuses on sustainability and impact:
- Agtech & Foodtech: Brings together the largest multi-national food corporations, world-class mentorship from food experts, and tailored curriculum focused on sustainability, food and packaging to accelerate the impact of startups working in agriculture, food, biotech & animal feed.
- Materials & Industry: Our corporate partners are searching for ways to make their businesses more sustainable and efficient. Combined with our expert specialist mentors they seek to support startups reduce energy and/or water consumption, minimize & treat waste, employ new materials and utilize new technologies/AI to enhance both physical and digital operational efficiency.
- Healthtech: Leverages Switzerland’s strong heritage in med-tech, life sciences, social-care and education to help startups improve their propositions in this sector.
- AI, Autonomy & Cybersecurity: This track will be operated from our UK Hub. More info here.
Eligibility Criteria
Startups should have:
Impactful products, technologies
With the potential to drive substantial economic growth and to transform society.
A concept that is viable
Startups must be able to demonstrate traction amongst those participating in their solution, as well as how their idea is financially sustainable.
A concept that is scalable
Startups must be able to show how their solution scales and that their pricing is market competitive.
Stage
Less than CHF 2M capital raised and CHF 2M sales; you do not need to be incorporated. What’s important is the impact, viability, and scalability of your idea.
Testimonials
We’ve asked our cohort if they would recommend the program to other startups; in 2025, the average score was 9+ out of 10, from 89 responses.
Here are testimonials:
"The whole Apheros team is truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this year’s program. The support from MassChallenge and its partners – from insightful lectures and coaching to valuable introductions – has opened important new doors, and we are excited about the commercial opportunities now taking shape."
“We joined MassChallenge Switzerland with the hopes of building new partnerships and gaining access to an internationally recognized accelerator. What we received has exceeded all expectations. The feedback from the judges and now the support from the partners to further scale our impact. With their support, we will continue to transform more lives in Namibia to achieve SDG 6 and always welcome them to visit us. Thank you!"
"The MC program has been a truly transformative experience, helping us accelerate our growth in the right direction. Over just a few intense months, we had the privilege of engaging with an incredible network of high-calibre mentors who supported us across every key area from regulatory strategy to go-to-market planning, fundraising, and beyond."
"The program challenged our assumptions and connected us with an extraordinary community whose dedication reminded us that real impact grows through collaboration. We’re sincerely grateful to the entire MassChallenge team for their commitment, their expertise, and the many meaningful encounters that accelerated our journey in ways we hadn’t imagined."
"MassChallenge fundamentally helped us sharpen our business model and translate deeptech innovation into a scalable, investor-ready company. The mentors and founders we met there became a true community, the people who challenged our assumptions, opened doors, and accelerated our fundraising readiness. Their support was a game changer in shaping Porelio into the impact-driven company we are today."
Accelerator FAQs
Check all criteria here: Eligibility Criteria.
This program has been designed for all sectors, then there is additional content designed for the 3 Tracks. Winners from previous editions were not necessarily part of the 3 Tracks.
No. Your company doesn’t even have to be incorporated. We can help you enter the Swiss and European markets, but only if it’s part of your objectives.
Yes, between 2 and 3 weeks for our Bootcamp and Halftime events, to meet corporate partners, mentors, investors, etc. We’ve gathered as many in-person events as possible so you don’t have to travel back and forth.
Yes. there are no application fees, and we don’t take equity from your company. But you’ll have to pay for your travel and accommodation.
From 2 to 10 hours depending on the lectures and workshops’ topics, according to your objectives.
Challenges 2026
We run 2 challenges:
MassChallenge believes startups and corporations can help.
Startups can play a unique role in bringing new disruptive ideas to the table. Corporations can play a critical role in scaling these ideas and bringing benefits to society quickly.
Matches later-stage startups & scaleups from Materials Science with corporate partners.
Applications open in September 2026. Click on the image for more info.
Matches later-stage startups & scaleups from Agtech and Foodtech with corporate partners.
Applications open in September 2026. Click on the image for more info.
We have been running a challenge around sustainable food for 6 years with 2,800 startups applying to take part, and over 500 of these being connected to our partners. Of these, over half were involved in a detailed follow-up discussion. We have now added a new challenge around sustainable materials.
"MassChallenge Switzerland exists to help startups grow their businesses and add value to society. Over 10 years we’ve helped 1,175 startups raise CHF 2.9Bn to support their projects. This achievement would not have been possible without the vision from our founders, the support of our corporate partners, and the action taken by our community of judges and mentors. My sincere thanks goes out to this group for helping this year’s cohort and all of our alumni. Together we have made a big difference to a lot of startups, who in turn are able to bring their innovations to market faster and make more impact on society. Bring on the next 10 years."
MassChallenge Switzerland Experts
Our Network of Swiss Experts is made up of over 1,000 committed experts each year, closely working on evaluating and mentoring startups.
MassChallenge Judge:
- Round 1 – Online forms: evaluate from 1 to as many application forms as desired;
- Round 2 – Online pitches: be part of a judging panel of 5-9 judges. 3h sessions of 6 pitches.
MassChallenge Mentor:
- 3 mentor-matching events in Renens (VD), Switzerland;
- Startup recommendations on our platform;
- MC Hub app with a directory and chat;
- Cohort Airtable with pain points.
In 2025:
- 577 judges provided 10,961 feedbacks over 3 rounds
- 603 mentors contributed 2,110 hours of support
- Each startup worked with 5 mentors on average
👉 To join our Community of Experts, register here. We will onboard you shortly after.
Our Commitment To Diversity
MassChallenge Switzerland is committed to building an inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystem.
We strive to create an environment that is fair, safe, and supportive for all founders. We know that progress doesn’t happen by chance — it comes from intentionally creating the right conditions.
Three years ago, we launched our diversity program, introducing initiatives such as:
- Targeted communication;
- Gender-balanced judging panels;
- Dedicated curriculum content addressing gender bias;
- A safe and supportive space where every voice is heard.
Over the past years, this commitment to equity and inclusion has made a tangible impact:
- Between 45% and 55% of applying startups had mixed teams;
- Around 50% of our speakers were women;
- 48% of our judging panels were gender-balanced.
Featured Experts
Elena Suciu
Venture Partner & Co-Founder at Investor Ready Lab
Mentor of the Year 2025
Panos Kakambouras
Senior VP Marketing at Fyffes
Mentor of the Year 2025
Isabelle Gundel
Senior Patent Counsel at Haleon
Mentor of the Year 2024
Biland Sadek
SDA Bocconi
Mentor of the Year 2024
Zhanar Baishakova
Design for Sustainability Consulting
Mentor of the Year 2023
Cara Tobin
Clean Energy Venture
Entrepreneur in Residence
Marco Iotti
Bioloopers Inc
Entrepreneur in Residence
Patrick Pestalozzi
CEO, Abionic
Entrepreneur in Residence
Diamond Partners
Gold Partners
In-Kind Partners
