START Fellowship

Home Why Apply Partners How it Works History FAQ

Why Apply?

START Fellowship is a powerful incubator and accelerator program designed to offer unique opportunities and connect ecosystems.

START Fellowship is a program of learning and personal development that will last a lifetime. It’s an exciting accelerator for students under 25, combining online and offline sessions with experienced investors, classes at the University of St. Gallen, mentoring, and coaching with experts, alongside funding opportunities.

You’ll have a chance to develop your startup, learn from experienced entrepreneurs through input sessions, and start building to see your vision come to life while being connected to the European startup ecosystem.

At the end, you’ll have a new network of like-minded entrepreneurs forming a tight-knit community, and potential investments to help get your startup off the ground.

Partners of START Fellowship

Learn more about the incredible network of partners we work with to deliver mentorship, professional coaching, and insight sessions as part of the START Fellowship program.

Looking to invest in the entrepreneurs of tomorrow? Discover how you can help provide development opportunities for entrepreneurs from low and middle income countries by becoming one of our valued partners.

INCUBATOR

The start of your entrepreneurial journey begins with an eight-weeks online program, launching in September. During these initial eight weeks, you’ll participate in a series of workshops, founder stories and community activities designed to get you thinking. By the end of the incubator, you'll have designed and created your MVP which you can use in your application for our accelerator program in Switzerland..

PRE-ACCELERATOR

In stage two, the final 35 founders are selected to take part in our onboarding program for Switzerland. If you’re one of the chosen ones, you’ll have exclusive access to input sessions and events to ensure you’re well-prepared for your time in Europe.

ACCELERATOR

In the final stage, which takes place in Switzerland, we take things offline and deliver professional mentorship, coaching, and workshop sessions so you can see your startup really begin to take shape. By the end of your journey with us, you’ll return home with your business (all kinks ironed out), a host of knowledge, learnings and expert industry insights, and even some potential investments to get your startup off the ground. Not to mention we’ll also give away up to USD 30’000.

Expert Input

Workshops

Hosted by external partners from a range of industries, our interactive workshops dive deep into key topics from the startup space, including fundraising, finances, sales and customer acquisition, customer feedback, business models, and marketing and branding.

4-month founder scholarship

If you make it to the final stage, we’ll offer you a founder scholarship to come to Switzerland for 4 months — we’ll even cover your expenses, such as travel, living costs, insurance and more. We want you to be able to fully focus on your startup during your time in Switzerland while leveraging all of the formats we offer to you.

Deep dives

Get reliable, pragmatic advice and top tips on how to build a successful business during input sessions delivered by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts. The deep dives are our individual program with small groups that offer the chance to ask startup specific questions.

Investment Committee & Office Hours

Pitch your ideas directly to professional VCs as part of your prep and receive valuable, actionable feedback on your startup and business model.

Courses at the University of St. Gallen

Attend classes at one of the leading business universities in Europe to expand your knowledge and broaden your understanding of the international business landscape.

Founder Q&As

Get to know some of the most inspiring founders in exclusive formats where they share their stories and answer all the questions you’re interested in.

The accelerator, the heart of the mission

BUILDING

Occupying the majority of your time throughout the accelerator, the building is where you’re given the opportunity to think deeply about your startup and get hands-on with your product development, business development, and sales process.

If you’re selected for our accelerator in Switzerland, you’ll have access to a range of resources, materials, and contemporary office space to help you produce your best work.

Regular coaching sessions, workshops, and meetings will be a part of your calendar, so you can keep track of your progress and we can make sure you’re always receiving the support you need.

PROFESSIONAL MENTORING & COACHING

At the start of the accelerator, we’ll hand-pick two mentors for you to team up with, aligning your goals with their experience and knowledge.

Your mentor will be your guide throughout the accelerator — your dedicated advisor, there to provide you with all the support you need to see your startup succeed.

You’ll meet bi-weekly and draw upon your mentor’s experience as a successful founder, absorbing tips, insights, and whatever lessons they have to share so you can take your entrepreneurial skills to the next level.

A GLOBAL NETWORK

Leverage START Fellowship’s exclusive networking opportunities and link up with industry-leading partners, venture capitalists, business angels and other potential investors from Switzerland, Europe, and across the globe.

With access to a host of networking events (including START Summit) and a dedicated mentoring program featuring workshops and coaching sessions with successful entrepreneurs, START Fellowship lays the groundwork for your professional network to grow.

ALUMNI SUPPORT

START Global may be the launchpad for your rocket, but that doesn’t mean our work is done after you’ve initiated the countdown sequence and felt the jets kick in.

Our comprehensive alumni support means you won’t be left to float around aimlessly in space. We’ll keep you tethered to your goals and professional development plans with access to valuable resources, including the Fellowship Alumni Network. And, thanks to our ever-growing partner network, you’ll also have quicker and easier access to other accelerator and incubator programs, too.

FAQ

General

Definitions

Incubator Program

Accelerator Program

Contact

FAQ

General

IS THE PROGRAM FREE?

Yes, we don't charge anything for the 8-week incubator program. During the four-month accelerator program, we’ll cover all the basic costs of the stay here in Switzerland. Additionally, participants of the accelerator program get access to small funds needed for a prototype, for example. Together with the support of our partners, we will cover your costs throughout your participation in the program. This includes travel, accommodation, living and support for startup-related expenses.

CAN I PARTICIPATE IN JUST ONE OF THE TWO PROGRAMS?

Yes, you can participate in just one of the two programs.

AT WHAT STAGE DOES MY STARTUP NEED TO BE FOR ME TO BE ELIGIBLE?

You must have a working MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to be eligible for the START Fellowship accelerator program in Switzerland. From a MVP, we expect that it fulfills the basic functions of your solution and can be shown to and used by customers. You can find a precise definiton below.

If you have no startup at the MVP stage running yet, you can apply with your startup idea for the incubator program.

CAN I JOIN THE PROGRAM IF I DON’T ALREADY HAVE AN IDEA FOR MY STARTUP?

Unfortunately not – we expect every applicant to have a startup idea. You can apply with just an idea for the incubator program, but you should then be able to see this realized into a working MVP.

CAN I JOIN THE PROGRAM WITHOUT A TEAM?

Yes, you can join the incubator program as a “Solo Founder”, but we encourage you to find a co-founder during the incubator program. Only startups with at least two team members will be considered for the accelerator program in Switzerland.

WHO’S RUNNING THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM?

The Fellowship program is run by START Global and its partners. Working in close collaboration with our main partners, such as the University of St. Gallen, we aim to make the Fellowship program a truly amazing and valuable experience for you.

WHO IS THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM BACKED AND SUPPORTED BY?

You can find out more about our incredible partners and supports on our partners page. Note that the list is constantly being updated due to new partners being onboarded, so it may not be fully up-to-date for the current iteration of the program.

WHY DOES THE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM TAKE PLACE IN SWITZERLAND?

The program is run by students and professionals from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The accelerator program will allow you to network with our partners on a much more personal level, which will enable you to better emerge yourself in the European entrepreneurial ecosystem.

CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE ACCELERATOR EVEN IF I’M NOT STUDYING AT A PARTNER UNIVERSITY?

Unfortunately, for legal and visa purposes, you have to be enrolled at one of our partner universities in order to participate. However, we are open-minded for new partnerships and we are currently working on a potential solution for 2024.

WHAT IS AN INCUBATOR?

An incubator combines the most relevant elements of an incubator and accelerator program, operating as a comprehensive support system that nurtures and accelerates the growth of startups, while running both programs.

Definitions

WHAT IS A MVP?

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is an early version of a product that includes only the core features necessary to meet customer needs and gather feedback.

WHAT IS A PROTOTYPE?

A prototype is a preliminary version or model of a product, system, or concept that is created to test and validate its design, functionality, and feasibility among first customers, family, friends and fools.

WHAT IS A STARTUP?

A startup is a young company, venture or project that is in its early stages of development and that is scalable and innovative.

WHAT IS A CO-FOUNDER?

Co-Founder: A co-founder refers to one of the individuals who, along with others, initiates and establishes a company or venture. In this sense, a co-founder must own at least 10% of an incorporated startup company.

WHAT ARE OUR PARTNER UNIVERSITIES ?

The universities are listed exhaustively in this list:

List of Universities - LatAm

List of Universities - Africa

Incubator Program

HOW DO I APPLY?

The application is open from August 14th - August 25th.

CAN I CONTINUE WITH MY STUDIES ALONGSIDE THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM?

Yes, it is possible to continue your studies during the incubator. If you are selected to participate in the incubator program, you’ll need to invest a certain amount of time to achieve the level expected. However, the program will demand at least eight hours per week of active participation in September and October.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH HAVING PARTICIPANTS IN DIFFERENT TIME ZONES?

Participants join us from all over the world, and we often have to navigate the various time zones of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Switzerland. The program sessions will mainly take place in the morning for our participants in Latin America.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE INCUBATOR?

Places in the incubator program are limited to a certain number of startups. You must apply and be selected to have access.

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK WILL THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM TAKE UP?

During the incubator program taking place in September and October, you should expect to spend around eight hours each week working through Fellowship content. You’ll need to dedicate time to advance the creation of your MVP within eight weeks to then be able to apply for the accelerator program taking place in Switzerland. We ensure that you will arrive at this stage in time.

WHAT IS THE INCUBATOR?

The incubator is a special program that will support you with creating your MVP, which you can then use to apply for the accelerator. You’ll have the eight weeks to create and develop a solid MVP. This part of the program is what enables us to consider providing opportunities to startups that might not be as far ahead in their development as others. The number of spots available in the incubator program are limited, and a vigorous selection process will determine whether or not you will progress further with the Fellowship.

WHAT’S REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

For your application, please fill in the following form and upload a short motivation letter (max. one page)

Accelerator Program

HOW DO I APPLY?

The application is open from August 7h - October 13th.

HOW MANY APPLICANTS ARE SELECTED FOR THE ACCELERATOR?

We’ll select 35 applicants from the most promising startups to take part in the accelerator program.

WILL I STAY IN SWITZERLAND FOR THE FULL FOUR MONTHS ACCELERATOR PROGAM?

Yes, you’ll live in Switzerland for the duration of the accelerator program.

DO I NEED A VISA?

Depending on your nationality, a visa may be required to enter Switzerland from abroad. We’re in contact with the local authorities and the University of St. Gallen to help make the visa application process as smooth as possible for you.

WHEN WILL I ARRIVE IN AND DEPART FROM SWITZERLAND FOR THE PROGRAM?

You’ll arrive in St. Gallen towards the beginning of February, a few days prior to the start of the program. The program will end in May 2024, and you’ll fly back home shortly after.

WHERE WILL I STAY?

As a START Fellowship fellow, you’ll be offered common accommodation in the city of St. Gallen, close to our facilities and other fellows.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

We’ll send you a list of must-haves once you have been accepted to the program and before you travel to Switzerland.

DO LOCALS SPEAK ENGLISH?

While German is prominent in the city of St. Gallen, English is commonly spoken by locals. Students and program-related members all work and communicate in English.

HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?

While START Fellowship and its partners will cover all living costs, such as dining expenses, you’ll need to have some pocket money to cover any additional expenses you might have. Anything outside the program, for example if you want to go shopping, will be at your own expense. You can find more information about average prices in St. Gallen here.

CAN I CHOOSE MY MENTOR?

START Fellowship will offer a pool of mentors with a range of professional backgrounds and expertise in various industries, allowing you to benefit from a wide-range, high-quality input. We’ll give you the chance to speak to multiple mentors, after which we’ll try to pair you with your perfect match. You’ll remain in close contact with your mentor throughout the program and you’ll meet with them at regular intervals. You won’t be restricted to one mentor alone through the duration of the program and will instead have the opportunity to gather training and insight from a number of professionals.

WHAT IF I DON’T GET ALONG WITH MY MENTOR?

Updates on the effectiveness of your collaboration with a mentor and your compatibility will be taken into consideration and adjustments will be made if necessary. We want to make sure you have access to a mentor who you can achieve the best possible results with.

CAN I CONTINUE WITH MY UNIVERSITY STUDIES WHILE I’M IN SWITZERLAND?

You’ll be able to do eight ECTs in total – four are mandatory, and then you’ll have the option to choose your remaining four ECTs. However, you should know that the program is designed for you to be a full-time founder and not for you to go to university. The program takes priority over the university.

Contact

I have more questions...

If you're unable to find the information you need in our FAQ section, please feel free to reach out directly to Samuel Kehl from our Startup Scouting team at START Fellowship.

Samuel Kehl
Startup Scouting | START Fellowship
startup@startglobal.ch
+41 78 255 35 76

START Summit

Strike up the conversations that will kick-start your success at START Summit — the annual student-run conference for entrepreneurship and technological innovation.

Uncover employment opportunities, meet founders, investors and industry experts, and attend exciting keynotes and workshops to grow your professional network and expand your knowledge.

START Hack

Create, collaborate, code and compete at our annual hackathon.

Run by students, for students, START HACK bridges the gap between the worlds of business and technology to create exciting opportunities for talented young developers, including the chance to win life-changing and project-launching prize money.

Applications open until 13/10/23

Start
Fellowship

Creating equal
opportunities for
entrepreneurs from
all backgrounds.