First, your application will be formally reviewed. Then, it will be assessed by an independent expert according to defined criteria. The expert will get in touch with you to arrange a short meeting. If your start-up meets the coaching criteria, you will be invited to a Core Coaching Acceptance meeting to pitch to a committee of experts and a representative of the Innosuisse Innovation Council. At the end of the meeting you will be informed whether your application is accepted or declined. This process usually takes about two months.
Criteria for evaluating your application
Applications are assessed based on the initial application requirements.
Formal criteria:
- Has all required information been submitted and is it correct?
- Has the Initial Coaching programme from Innosuisse been successfully completed?
- Have the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Scientific Integrity been met?
- Does the start-up have a Swiss address?
- Is there an intention to incorporate a company in Switzerland?
OR
- Has the start-up been incorporated in Switzerland within the last five years or the last ten years in justified cases (e.g. time-intensive life science start-ups)?
Assessment criteria:
- Is the business model innovative and science-based?
The developed solution and/or business model has to be considered a novelty on the market and can be associated with a scientific discipline. - Is the product/service defendable?
For a start-up to be successful, it is crucial that it has a competitive advantage. This can be a valuable IP (patent, trademark), specific expertise or particular speed to market, etc. - Does the product/service have high market potential?
Is there a demand for the developed solution with a sufficiently high, realistic market size? - Is the business model scalable?
A company can achieve strong and profitable growth in a short period of time if it has a repeatable, scalable business model.
- Is the team ambitious and fully committed to building the business and open to input?
Building a start-up is very dynamic and requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore the start-up team must be committed and agile in terms of execution. - Is the business idea sustainable?
The business idea must not have any negative impact on the sustainable development of society, the economy or the environment; ideally, it should actively contribute to sustainable development.
Decision
The Innosuisse Innovation Council decides on your application based on the information provided and assessments:
- Your application is approved
Innosuisse informs you by e-mail that your application has been approved. You will also receive an official letter by IncaMail within the following few weeks. Coaching will begin as soon as the coaching voucher has been activated in the system.
- Your application is rejected
Innosuisse informs you by e-mail that your application has been rejected. An official letter setting out the reasons for the rejection will be sent to you by IncaMail within the following few weeks.
A rejected application can be revised at any time and submitted to Innosuisse as a new application, provided that the criteria that were not met have been changed. The newly submitted application will be re-evaluated according to the usual evaluation process.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Core Coaching
Can I apply for money to be paid out instead of receiving the voucher?
My start-up is at an advanced stage. Do I still have to apply for the Initial Coaching?
Can I submit additional documents once the application is in progress?
Can I interview coaches before selecting a lead coach?
What are the legal relationships between me, a coach and Innosuisse?
Can I change the lead coach in the process?
How do I pay the coaches using my voucher?
How can I keep an eye on things like the budget, the coaches I am working with and the milestones I need to achieve?
Can I use the Innosuisse coaching voucher with external coaches not on the Innosuisse list?
In which format do I report my milestones?
How will the Innosuisse Certificate benefit my start-up?
Can I get the unused portion of the coaching budget paid out?
Can a start-up company apply for a Start-up Coaching voucher as an organisation?
The Innosuisse coaching vouchers are limited for use with the coaching options offered and cannot be paid out.
Yes. Successful completion of the Initial Coaching by Innosuisse is a prerequisite for application to the Core Coaching programme.
The application cannot be edited once it is submitted. However, it is possible to send an updated pitch deck by email to startup@innosuisse.ch at the latest three days before the presentation at the Core Coaching Acceptance meeting. Additional documents will not be considered for the evaluation after submission.
All Innosuisse coaches have a proven track record of their expertise. Further information on the individual coaches is provided in the Innosuisse online tool. Extensive interviewing is therefore not expedient. However, it is recommended you contact and briefly discuss the match with a specific coach. Innosuisse can support you with the selection if you are unsure.
The relationship between you and Innosuisse is a funding relationship. The associated rights and obligations are set out in the “decision” you will receive when your application has been approved. A “decision” is a legal term for the paper document that Innosuisse sends to the applicants. This document contains the decision as to whether an application for coaching was approved or rejected.
Your partnership with a coach is governed by a standardised contract, which is implemented in the IT tool and automatically becomes effective as soon as that coach decides to accept your invitation to work together. You will need to specify a portion of your budget to be assigned to each coach for their services. The budget amount is to be agreed between you and the relevant coach directly. If necessary, the budget can be amended at any time in the Innosuisse online tool by mutual agreement.
Under certain circumstances it is possible to change the lead coach. This matter should first be discussed with the lead coach and subsequently requested with Innosuisse by email (startup@innosuisse.ch).
Coaches are paid for their flexible coaching services on an hourly basis at a standard rate (lead coach) or by a lump sum per workshop (special coach). The whole payments process is managed directly and electronically in the Innosuisse online tool.
The voucher is managed solely via the Innosuisse online tool provided by Innosuisse. There you can see which coach(es) you are working with and how much of your budget you have left.
The Innosuisse coaching voucher is only valid for Innosuisse-accredited coaches and cannot be used for coaches outside of the programme.
You will be provided with an official template by Innosuisse that can then be uploaded in the Innosuisse online tool.
The certificate reflects remarkable progress achieved during the Innosuisse Core Coaching programme and it confirms that your start-up is ready for sustainable growth considering various criteria.
Companies with this award get increased publicity, are more attractive to potential investors and improve their access to additional events, initiatives and programmes.
No, the portion of the budget that has not be used cannot be paid out.
Last modification 05.01.2023
