Professional jumpstarts for start-ups and SMEs

The Greater Zurich Area offers a good infrastructure for establishing, building and financing start-ups and SMEs. In addition to numerous information platforms, there is a vast selection of business incubators and technology parks where aspiring entrepreneurs can avail themselves of professional help in getting started.

Setting up a Business

Drawing up a business plan is the first important step toward setting up one’s own business. The business plan is primarily an instrument showing the means with which a business idea is to be put into practice.

A person, who works on his/her own account and risk, by implication sets up a one-man company or sole proprietorship upon taking up work. In such a case, the individual is liable with his personal assets. If the business generates annual revenues exceeding CHF 100'000, the sole proprietorship must be entered in the commercial registry.

Different legal forms for start-ups

Legal Structures of Companies – Overview
Checklist – Formation of a Sole Enterprise, L.L.C, plc./corp.

Start-up platforms

National SME Portal
Start-up Platform of Canton Zürich
Start-up Platform Canton Aargau
SME Portal of UBS
Start-up Platform Zug

Support from technology, innovation and start-up incubators

Technology, innovation and start-up incubators in the Greater Zurich Area offer numerous services for Swiss and foreign start-ups, e.g. initial free consulting session, training workshops and inexpensive business premises.

TECHNOPARK-Allianz (Aargau, Luzern, Winterthur and Zürich)
grow – Life Science Incubator and Start-up Center in Wädenswil/ZH
E-Tower – Start-up Center in Chur/GR
INNOZET – Center for Innovation in Grüsch/GR
Start-up Center Canton Solothurn
ITS – Industry and Technology Center Schaffhausen
ITZ – Innovation Transfer Central Switzerland
SME Center in Chur/GR
RhyTech Materials World in Neuhausen/SH
Startzentrum – Competence Center for Start-ups in Zürich
Technology and Start-up Center in Bad Zurzach/AG
TZL – Business Incubator in Linth/GL
TZS – Business Incubator in Steinen/SZ
Institut für Jungunternehmen – Start-up Center
Venturekick – Start-up Initiative
Venturelab – Coaching Initiative
Verein glaTec – Technology Center and  Business Incubator of the Empa

Technology transfer

The Greater Zurich Area is home to various technology transfer agencies invested in establishing academic innovation in the marketplace and take it to commercial success. Their job is to facilitate knowledge sharing, science-to-market, and networking between universities, R&D institutes, spin-offs, start-ups, and investors and private companies.

OPET – Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology
CTI – The Innovation Promotion Agency
ETH transfer – Technology Transfer Agency of ETH Zürich
Unitectra – Technology Transfer Agency of University Bern and Zürich
TECTEM – Technology Transfer Agency of University St. Gallen
TECHNOPARK-Allianz (Aargau, Luzern, Winterthur and Zürich)
TEK – Technology Transfer Agency ETH - SME
Technology Transfer Paul Scherrer Institute
TZL – Business Incubator in Linth/GL
TZS – Business Incubator in Steinen/SZ
TFZ – Technology Forum Zug
ITZ – Innovation Transfer Central Switzerland
MCCS - Micro Center Central Switzerland

Life Science Start-Ups

Companies in the Life Sciences will find numerous special technology transfer agencies, incubators and biotech centers in the area.

Life Science Zurich – Initiative of University Zürich and ETH Zürich
grow – Life Science Incubator and Start-up Center in Wädenswil/ZH
Biotech Center Zürich
Biotop Life Science Incubator in Schlieren/ZH
TZW – Technology Center in Witterswil

Financing

Realizing innovative business ideas may require significant investments of venture capital. While start-up companies normally rely on private equity for initial financing, Swiss banks do participate in financing of promising business projects. Equally, an array of venture capital firms, business angels and other investors of the Greater Zurich Area stand ready to support promising projects providing not only extra capital, but also valuable entrepreneurial know-how.

ZKB Financing for Start-ups
UBS Business Finance
Credit Suisse Financing
SECA – Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association
EVCA – European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
Business Angels Switzerland
Venture Partners – Swiss Private Equity Manager
Swiss Cantonal Banks
Schwyz Cantonal Bank Innovation Foundation
Schwyz Cantonal Bank Start-up Bank Account
Verein GO! – Microcredits