FAQ
General
Definitions
Incubator
Accelerator
Contact
FAQ
General
IS THE PROGRAM FREE?
Yes, we don't charge anything for the 8-week incubator. During the four-month accelerator, we’ll cover all the basic costs of the stay here in Switzerland. Additionally, participants of the accelerator 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 accelerator 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.
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, 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. Only Startups with at least two team members will be considered for the accelerator in Switzerland.
WHO’S RUNNING START FELLOWSHIP?
START Fellowship 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 START Fellowship a truly amazing and valuable experience for you.
WHO IS START FELLOWSHIP 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.
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:
Incubator
HOW DO I APPLY?
The application is open from August 14th - August 25th.
CAN I CONTINUE WITH MY STUDIES ALONGSIDE THE INCUBATOR?
Yes, it is possible to continue your studies during the incubator. If you are selected to participate in the incubator, 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 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 TAKE UP?
During the incubator 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 taking place in Switzerland. We ensure that you will arrive at this stage in time.
WHAT IS THE INCUBATOR?
The incubator 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 are limited, and a vigorous selection process will determine whether or not you will progress further with START 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
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.
WHY DOES THE ACCELERATOR TAKE PLACE IN SWITZERLAND?
The program is run by students and professionals from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The accelerator 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.
WILL I STAY IN SWITZERLAND FOR THE FULL FOUR MONTHS ACCELERATOR?
Yes, you’ll live in Switzerland for the duration of the accelerator.
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 ACCELERATOR?
You’ll arrive in St. Gallen towards the beginning of February, a few days prior to the start of the program. The accelerator 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 accelerator 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 accelerator, 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 accelerator 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.
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.
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@fellowship.ch
+41 78 255 35 76
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