Starting the new year, we take a short look back to the end of 2018 and what is on the horizon for 2019.

Dear Innovators,

We hope you have had a fruitful start to the new year with the seeds that you planted in 2018.

Quick Overview:

Key trends from the 2018 Innovation Monitor

A look back on Energy Startup Day 2018

Climate-KIC Accelerator: €85.000 and more for Cleantech Startups – apply by 27.1.2019

Award: Start Up Energy Transition 2019 – apply by 31.1.19

Survey: Participate in the Startup Ecosystem Report

Do you know the Technology Fund?

Key Trends from the 2018 Innovation Monitor
In the 2018 Innovation Monitor, you will find a visual overview of the trends in the Swiss startup ecosystem, focusing on startups that have developed over the last ten years (421 startups that have been founded since 2008, whereof 352 are still in operation) and where they are today.

Trends include number of foundings per canton, number of spin-offs, trending business areas, and development phase of the energy and environment startups.

Link to infographic: https://www.innovation-monitor.ch/news/article/monitor-2018


A look back on Energy Startup Day 2018
The Energy and Cleantech Startup day occurred for the fourth time on November 29, 2018 at Kraftwerk in Zurich. Sponsored by CKW, Energie 360, Kickstart Accelerator (of Impact Hub Zurich) and supported by the Energy Science Centre ETH Zurich, Energie Cluster and SCCER CREST, we welcomed 170 participants from 33 Swiss energy startups: providing grid services, increasing electric mobility options, development of peer-to-peer electricity trading platforms, improving household and commercial building electricity efficiency, developing new renewable technologies, and energy storage solutions.

The event participants ranged from traditional Swiss electrical utilities to technology companies (e.g Siemens, ABB), public administrations (e.g. Representative of the British Embassy), and private investors.

For those that missed it, don’t worry we are already preparing for an even better event in autumn 2019!


Climate-KIC Accelerator: €85.000 and more for Cleantech Startups – apply by 27.1.2019
Europe’s largest accelerator programme for climate innovations has opened its Call for Applicants. If you have or know of a scalable and technologically promising business idea that could have a high impact on climate change, you can apply online from now until January 27th 2019.

The Climate-KIC accelerator programme has supported more than 1000 green startups like tado, Thermondo, Green City Solutions, Lilium Aviation since 2010. It consists of three distinct stages of six months each, offering an overall package worth up to €85.000 plus benefits (no equity taken). Furthermore, accepted startups receive professional pitch training and business coaching, as well as location-specific support in Berlin, Munich, Zurich or Vienna.

For more details and to apply, visit: http://climate-kic-dach.org.


Award: Start Up Energy Transition (SET) 2019 – apply by 31.1.19
The Start Up Energy Transition (SET) Award is a global competition that identifies the most promising start-ups worldwide working on ideas affecting global energy transition and climate change. The SET Award is accepting applications in 5 categories until 31.01.19! Apply for your chance to pitch in Berlin at the SET Tech Festival on 09.04.19, get featured as a top global start-up with the World Energy Council, win prize money, and more!

The top 100 start-ups of this years‘ SET Award will be offered a free trip and showcase slot during the World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi in September 2019.

Apply now!


Survey: Participate in the Startup Ecosystem Report
Startup Genome aims to drive action in local government organizations to ensure that entrepreneurs who are not located in top startup cities get more support and access to more funding, talent and other resources. They are currently collecting data to make the 2019 Global Startup Ecosystem Report even better by covering new startup hubs.

Your opinion makes policy better! If you have a few minutes, please consider adding your voice to their survey here.


Do you know the Technology Fund?
The Technology Fund offers loan guarantees to Swiss companies whose innovative products contribute to a sustainable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and thus facilitates their access to debt capital. Find out more at www.technologyfund.ch

PS: The next information event will take place as a webinar on Tuesday, 29 January 2019, from 11.00-11.45 am. Click here to register.