Newcomers – first seen at SUD
Experience a transformative journey with our refreshing pitching format: Newcomers. It is designed to discover Switzerland’s hidden startup gems who are on a promising track and ready to be shown to the world! Ventures in the pre- or seed phase will showcase their innovation on our national stage to approach investors and receive consultation from experts and valuable market insights.
Unlock hidden treasures to boost innovation in Switzerland!
Calling Newcomers to the spotlight
We’re on the lookout for Swiss startups who fulfill the following facts:
- Promising tech startup: Your startup has a evident scaling potential in the tech sector.
- Stage: Your startup is in the pre-seed or seed phase and has been recently founded or is about to be founded.
- Track record: Your startup must have either a pre-MVP or an MVP that demonstrates a clear problem-solution fit.
- Swiss location: Your startup must be based in Switzerland or intend to found in Switzerland.
- Full commitment: Your founders must be fully dedicated and passionate about their startup.
Register now
Newcomers journey
Application window ends
Jury evaluates applications
Announcement: who will be the Newcomers 2025?
startup days: Newcomers live on stage in Bern
Announcement: “Catch of the jury”
Effort rewarded
Required efforts
All applicants
- Fill in the application form.
All selected Newcomers
- Participate in the pitch briefing.
- Prepare yourself for the pitch on our national stage.
- Promote your participation at #SUD and publicise the session.
- Make time to join #SUD25 on 14 May 2025.
Expected reward
All selected Newcomers
- Visibility boost: Be featured with your logo on our websites, newsletter and social media.
- Pre-event connections: Access all participants via our app and schedule 1:1 meetings in advance.
- Full-day access to #SUD25: Attend startup days on 14 May 2025 in Bern with two guest tickets.
- Pitch your startups: Showcase your innovation to the Swiss startup ecosystem.
- Exclusive networking: Join the private networking sessions with jury members, the Newcomers partners and the Swiss Startup Supporters.
- Poster presentation: Highlight your startup with a poster in our networking zone.
- Learn and grow: Gain insights from 40+ insightful sessions.
Catch of the Jury
- Alumni access: Join the exclusive alumni group for continued support and connections.
- Podcast feature: Get featured in a Swisspreneur podcast episode.
- VIP experience: Be our guest at the Secret Launch the following year – an exclusive pre-event for key players only.
- Mentoring opportunity: Match with a pre-jury member for personalized mentoring.
The jury
Dr. iur. Thomas Bähler
Partner, Kellerhals Carrard; President Youngsters Jury
Helene Budliger Arieda
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO
Franco Chicherio
CEO, TECHNOPARK® Luzern
Olivier Chuard
Founder and Chairman Of The Board at Nau Media AG (Ltd.), Member of the Board of Livesystems AG (Ltd.)
Dr. Manuel Fankhauser
CEO, Seerave Foundation
Dr. Dominik Isler
Co-Organizer, startup days
Angus Muirhead
CFA, Managing Director, Head of Equities Credit Suisse Asset Management, Member of the Evaluation Board at the Wyss Foundation Switzerland
Dr. Siew-Veena Sahi
CEO & Founder, Testmate Health
Cédric Schlosser
Co-founder & CEO, MYI AG
Roland Siegwart
Professor & Startupper, ETH Zurich
Andrea Silberschmidt-Buhofer
Managing Partner, @EquityPitcher Ventures
Martin Stadler
Family Office & Start-Up Advisor, ATENER
Dr. Heiko Visarius
Owner and CEO, VISARTIS Healthcare GmbH
Prof. Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen
Professor and Director, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich
Newcomers FAQs
When does the next application window open for startup days 2025?
We’ll open the application window for the next pitching opportunity on 2 December 2024. Stay tuned – we’ll announce it in our newsletter and social media. Get an application altert here.
Who is eligible to apply for Newcomers?
- Promising tech startup: Your startup has an evident scaling potential in the tech sector.
- Tech sector refers to startups based on scientific and technological innovations that aim to solve fundamental challenges through breakthrough discoveries (Deep-Tech) or create practical applications for everyday use (Applied Tech).
- Stage: Your startup is in the pre-seed or seed phase and has been recently or is about to be founded. The founding date will be requested and used as a reference.
- Track record: Your startup must have either a pre-MVP or an MVP that demonstrates a clear problem-solution fit.
- Swiss location: Your startup must be based in Switzerland or intend to establish a base in Switzerland.
- Full commitment: Your founders must be fully dedicated and passionate about their startup.
What does tech startup mean?
A promising tech startup refers to startups based on scientific and technological innovations that aim to solve fundamental challenges through breakthrough discoveries (DeepTech) or create practical applications for everyday use (AppliedTech):
- DeepTech: solutions and products based on very expensive basic or applied research
- AppliedTech: general software or technology-based solutions
Can startups outside of Switzerland apply?
Newcomers is dedicated to startups within Switzerland. That means your startup is founded in Switzerland, your headquarter is in Switzerland or you intent to found your startup in Switzerland.
What’s the benefit for investors?
For investors, the “Newcomers” format offers a unique opportunity to discover and engage with early-stage, high-potential tech startups before they scale. Investors gain direct access to innovative founders, exclusive networking sessions, and a curated group of startups with breakthrough solutions. It’s a chance to connect with emerging talent and be part of the next big success in the Swiss startup ecosystem.
What makes Newcomers different from other pitching events?
What makes “Newcomers” stand out from other pitching events is its exclusive focus on early-stage startups in the pre-seed to seed phase, particularly those from the DeepTech / AppliedTech sector with proven, innovative concepts. Unlike traditional pitching events, Newcomers targets startups that have already demonstrated early traction with a prototype or MVP, offering them their first national stage to showcase their ideas. The platform is designed for newly founded or soon-to-be-founded startups in Switzerland, with a clear emphasis on market-ready potential, excluding more established scale-ups.
What criteria will the jury use to select the startups?
The jury will use the following criteria to select the startups for the “Newcomers” pitching format:
- Eligibility: Startups must meet the defined participation criteria.
- Document review: Submitted documents will be checked for completeness.
- Exclusion of last year’s “Youngsters”: The 18 pitching startups from the previous year are not eligible.
- Comparative status: The startup’s progress and potential will be assessed relative to other applicants.
What’s the “Catch of the Jury”?
Among the few startups selected to present their innovation on stage at the startup days, there are a handful of “catches” that particularly impressed the main jury during the pitches. We call this group “Catch of the Jury” and they are chosen after the live pitches and receive an extra portion of support, e.g. mentoring, coaching, alumni group, featuring in podcast, guest at the Secret Launch 2026.
Is there a fee to apply or participate?
No, there is no application or participation fee. We believe in providing equal opportunities for all qualifying startups.
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