Today marks another milestone for Project Switzerland, the national Scale-up initiative initiated by Deep Tech Nation Switzerland. 10 high-growth companies have been selected for the first Project Switzerland cohort starting April 2026. They have already built a strong foundation and are ready for the next inflection point: scaling into the next generation of global market leaders.
While Switzerland consistently ranks as a world champion in innovation, the pipeline for creating new global giants like Nestlé, ABB, or Logitech requires a modern infusion of scaling expertise. Project Switzerland addresses this by pairing the country’s most promising founders with a group of more than 20 of Switzerland’s most successful entrepreneurs – including unicorn founders and serial entrepreneurs – who are committed to giving back.
“From Switzerland to the world! We believe Swiss innovation deserves global reach. Let’s focus on scale, empower our founders with the right support, and turn promising startups into market-leading companies.“
Tobias Rein, Co-Founder of GetYourGuide and Project Switzerland Role Model
The Scale-up 2026 Cohort: A powerhouse of growth
The 10 selected companies were narrowed down from 160 nominations and 60 applications through a rigorous multi-stage process involving deep-dive interviews with veteran entrepreneurs and ecosystem experts.
The final cohort enters the program with a combined CHF 270.2 million in funding, a total of 550 employees and a collective revenue of CHF 56.6 million for 2025, growing at an impressive average year-on-year rate of 133%.
“These 10 companies have built an incredibly strong foundation, both in their technology and their business models. By connecting them with seasoned entrepreneurs who have already successfully navigated the complexities of global expansion, we’re turning personal lessons into a collective strength for the entire Swiss ecosystem.“
Michael Sauter, Head of Scale-Up Booster Deep Tech Nation Switzerland and responsible lead for Project Switzerland
“As part of the selection committee, what stood out to me was the level of ambition in this cohort. They aren’t content with being local champions; they have the drive to build businesses that give Switzerland global leverage. We are here to ensure they have the ‘deep bench’ of expertise to get there.”
Kevin Sartori, entrepreneur and Project Switzerland Role Model
Experience sharing at eye level
The 12-month program provides these founders with direct access to Switzerland’s best Role Models, including the founders of Scandit, Nexthink, and GetYourGuide. The selected founders view the program as a vital catalyst for their international journey.
“At this stage of growth, founders don’t need abstract playbooks; they need trusted fellow founders that provide an honest and candid exchange and who have lived through the same inflection points. This project is about accelerating that learning curve through authentic, eye-level sharing.“
Cristian Grossmann, CEO & Co-Founder of Beekeeper and Project Switzerland Role Model
“I am seeking the candid perspective of Role Models who still vividly remember the complexity of this scaling phase – people who have ‘been there’ but are still close enough to the execution to offer pragmatic guidance rather than abstract theories.“
Cyrill Gyger, CEO of QUMEA and Scale-up in the 2026 cohort Project Switzerland
A shared mission for the Swiss ecosystem
Project Switzerland is a national initiative initiated by the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland. It is supported by a powerful coalition of partners, including HSG START Accelerator, Swiss Startup Association, SICTIC, Startup Days and FONGIT.
“Switzerland is a world champion in innovation, but our biggest challenge remains the growth gap. We initiated Project Switzerland to bridge the scaling expertise of our most successful entrepreneurs with the next generation of founders, securing Switzerland’s technological sovereignty and long-term prosperity.“
Joanne Sieber CEO Deep Tech Nation Switzerland
What Project Switzerland Actually Is
Project Switzerland is not another accelerator program. We already have excellent programs for early-stage companies. This initiative addresses a different gap: the lack of high-level, peer-to-peer experience sharing for companies that have already proven their model and are ready to scale internationally.
The structure is straightforward. We’ve assembled 20+ of Switzerland’s most accomplished role models, founders who’ve built unicorns and serial entrepreneurs who’ve successfully scaled companies globally. Each year, up to 10 high-potential Scale-ups will be selected to join a 12-month program built around direct access to these role models. Participants benefit of the two hours per month that each Role Model provides, five peer sessions tailored to their specific challenges, and two closed community gatherings where real conversations happen in a trusted setting.
The selection criteria are designed to identify companies at the right inflection point. We’re looking for Scale-ups headquartered in Switzerland that meet three out of four criteria: annual recurring revenue between CHF 2-10 million, market potential exceeding CHF 200 million, teams of at least 15 employees, and funding of at least CHF 2 million raised. But beyond the numbers, we’re looking for founders with global ambitions and the willingness to learn from those who’ve traveled this path before.
What makes this work is the commitment to experience sharing at eye level. These are conversations between founders who are scaling and entrepreneurs who have already done it. No theory, no generic coaching frameworks. Just practical insights about what actually works when you’re trying to build a global company from Switzerland.
Project Switzerland is a national initiative connecting Switzerland’s most promising Scale-ups with the country’s best Role Models -Unicorn Founders and Serial Entrepreneurs who have successfully built and scaled global companies.
2. How are the Scale-ups selected?
The companies were narrowed down from 160 nominations and 60 applications through a rigorous multi-stage process involving deep-dive interviews with veteran entrepreneurs and ecosystem experts.
3. What kind of support do participants receive?
Participants benefit from one-to-one experience sharing with Role Models, peer exchange with other Scale-up founders, and practical insights to avoid costly scaling mistakes.
4. Who can participate in the program?
The program is open to high-potential Scale-Ups from all industries, except pharma and biotech. Scale-ups must meet the criteria (see program page) and founders have the ambition to build large companies. Up to 10 Scale-ups are selected each year.
5. What is the timeline?
The nomination and selection process runs from January to March. Curated matchmaking and peer-to-peer starts in April.
6. Who is selecting the Scale-ups?
Final selection is made by a committee of Role Models and ecosystem representatives.
7. Is there any costs for the Scale-ups?
No. There is no financial cost. Scale-ups contribute through commitment, ambition, and effort to build a big, relevant company for Switzerland.
8. Who is behind Project Switzerland?
Project Switzerland is initiated by Deep Tech Nation Foundation Switzerland, supported by partners, powered by Switzerland’s best Role Models, and built for Switzerland.
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