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Kickstart Innovation
Kickstart Innovation is a Zurich-based zero-equity accelerator that has driven over CHF 250M in corporate-startup commercial deals since 2015.
Kickstart Innovation
Kickstart Innovation was founded in 2015 by Impact Hub Zurich, a social enterprise collaborative, with backing from Swiss corporations seeking a structured pathway to engage with early-stage European ventures. The firm operates not as a traditional venture capital fund but as an open innovation platform — startups selected for its annual acceleration program receive no cash investment directly from Kickstart, yet gain contracted proof-of-concept projects and commercial deals with a coalition of more than 30 corporate anchor partners including Coop, Swisscom, Credit Suisse, AXA, and Migros. The program runs across six verticals: EdTech & New Work, FinTech & InsurTech, Food & Retail Tech, HealthTech, Smart Cities, and Technology. Over its first nine cohorts, Kickstart facilitated more than 310 partnerships between startups and corporate incumbents. Startups enter in the late-seed stage; the program does not take equity or impose fees, relying instead on corporate sponsorship. Notable alumni include Planted Foods, a Swiss alternative-protein company that subsequently raised over CHF 100 million in Series B funding, and Yokoy, an AI-driven expense management platform that secured $80 million in a Series B round. Geographic focus centers on Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, with cohort participants commonly drawn from across continental Europe. Kickstart's annual budget for program operations is estimated in the low eight-figure Swiss franc range, funded by a consortium of corporate partners, with additional support from foundations such as Gebert Rüf Stiftung and the City of Zurich. The program has grown to support more than 60 startups per annual cohort. In November 2024, Kickstart opened applications for its 10th cohort, expanding its scope of thematic verticals and emphasizing deep-tech and climate-relevant innovation for the 2025 program cycle. Structurally, Kickstart distinguishes itself from incubators and accelerators by refusing equity entirely — rare among European innovation platforms of comparable scale. This posture aligns corporate innovation imperatives with startup growth without the signaling and dilution effects that attend traditional venture capital. Governance rests with an advisory board drawn from partner institutions, while day-to-day execution is managed by a core team of roughly 20 full-time staff in Zurich, led by a managing director who reports to the coalition.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Switzerland
City
Zurich
Corporate office
Zurich, Switzerland
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Kickstart Innovation fund the startups in its program?
Kickstart does not provide direct funding or take equity in participating startups. Instead, the platform facilitates paid proof-of-concept projects and commercial contracts with its coalition of corporate partners. Financial benefits accrue through revenue from these corporate agreements rather than from program capital deployment.
Who are Kickstart Innovation's primary corporate partners, and what role do they play?
The coalition includes Swiss multinationals such as Swisscom, Coop, Credit Suisse, AXA, Migros, and the City of Zurich. Partners fund the program's operating costs and commit to evaluating pilot deployments with cohort startups. Partnership terms are negotiated annually, with each partner typically engaging in multiple proof-of-concept projects per cohort.
How does Kickstart Innovation differ from a traditional venture capital fund or accelerator?
Kickstart takes no equity and charges no fees to startups, functioning as an open innovation intermediary rather than an investment vehicle. Unlike accelerators that provide seed capital in exchange for ownership, Kickstart generates deal flow for its corporate sponsors, who gain structured access to vetted European startups without the signaling effects of direct corporate venture capital.
What investment stages does Kickstart Innovation typically target?
Kickstart targets late-seed and early-stage startups that have a minimum viable product and initial market traction, positioning them for enterprise pilot engagements. Companies typically have fewer than 25 employees and have raised some initial capital, though Kickstart itself does not invest or impose funding prerequisites.
Which sectors does Kickstart Innovation explicitly focus on?
The program currently operates across EdTech & New Work, FinTech & InsurTech, Food & Retail Tech, HealthTech, Smart Cities, and Technology. In its 10th cohort, Kickstart has expanded to emphasize deep-tech and climate-relevant innovation.
What notable companies have graduated from Kickstart Innovation's program?
Alumni include Planted Foods, a plant-based protein company that raised over CHF 100 million in a Series B round, and Yokoy, an AI expense management platform that secured $80 million in Series B funding. Both companies established initial commercial relationships through the Kickstart program before raising substantial institutional capital.
How is Kickstart Innovation governed, and who makes operational decisions?
Governance rests with an advisory board composed of representatives from key corporate partners and founding institutions. Day-to-day operations are run by a managing director and a core team in Zurich. The coalition structure means strategic priorities—such as sector additions or geographic expansion—are typically ratified by partner consensus.
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