EUROPE’S NEXT WAVE
START Summit 2025
This is your moment! Be part of europe's largest early-stage Startup event!
20. - 21. March, St. Gallen, Switzerland
START Summit 2025
In numbers
Event
150 +
Expert
Speakers
20 +
Unicorns
on Stage
1000 +
Investors
check out our speakers
at start summit 2025
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg
La Famiglia &
General Catalyst
Dr. Jeannette zu Fürstenberg is Managing Director at General Catalyst (GC), leading its European business. She is also Founding Partner of La Famiglia VC, one of Europe’s most distinguished early-stage venture capital platforms. Today, La Famiglia VC is the nucleus of General Catalyst’s Global Seed Investment Program. Jeannette’s early investment wins include Deel, Forto, Groq, Helsing, Mistral, and Personio.
Thomas Wolf
Co-Founder of
Hugging Face
Thomas Wolf is the co-founder and Chief Science Officer (CSO) of Hugging Face, a leading open-source platform in AI and machine learning. He is the creator of widely-used tools like the Transformers and Datasets libraries and a driving force behind open-science initiatives such as the BigScience Workshop, which led to the development of the BLOOM language model. With a Ph.D. in Statistical and Quantum Physics and a background as a Patent Attorney, Thomas brings a multidisciplinary approach to advancing accessibility and innovation in AI.
Matt Cohler
Partner at
Benchmark
Matt is a partner at Benchmark, where for over a decade he led early-stage investments in Internet and software startups. Prior to Benchmark, he was vice president at Facebook as the company’s seventh employee, and vice president at LinkedIn, where he was part of the founding team. He currently serves on the board of directors at public companies like KKR, Asana, and 1stdibs, as well as private companies such as DeepL. He previously held board positions at major companies including Instagram, Tinder, and Uber.
Dr. Klaus Hommels
Founder & Chairman, Lakestar / Chairman, NATO Innovation Fund
A leading force in venture capital and defense tech, Dr. Klaus Hommels has shaped Europe’s innovation landscape through Lakestar, one of the continent’s top VC firms, and as Chairman of the NATO Innovation Fund. Recognized multiple times on the Midas List, he has backed transformative startups while steering critical investments in defense and security technology. With Europe at a turning point, his insights into defense-tech and strategic investments are more relevant than ever.
Fabian Thylmann
Founder of Pornhub
Fabian Thylmann is a German entrepreneur best known as the founder of MindGeek, the parent company of Pornhub and other leading adult platforms. Through strategic acquisitions, he built MindGeek into the industry’s dominant player, pioneering data-driven content distribution. In 2013, he sold his stake and transitioned into angel investing, now running SN Invest to support early-stage startups across Europe.
Laura Modiano
Head of EMEA Startups at OpenAI
Laura leads Startups in EMEA for OpenAI, where she works with VCs and accelerators, startup teams, and the developer community in EMEA. Previously she was at AWS, where she worked with top VCs and their portfolio companies, such as Sequoia, Index Ventures, General Catalyst, Accel, A16z, Lightspeed, and others, led BD and Strategy for Gen AI Startups since 2022, and Healthcare and Lifescience Startups in EMEA since 2020.
Investors Attending
start summit!
















SPEAKER QUOTES at
START SUMMIT




Startups that attended
start summit in their early days






WHY Students are ATTENDING
START SUMMIT 2025!
LAUNCH YOUR CAREER
Meet 1,050+ startups & 200+ partners hiring talent.
LEARN FROM LEADERS
Get insights from top founders & experts.
BUILD YOUR NETWORK
Connect with students, investors & entrepreneurs.
EXPERIENCE THE SUMMIT
Join side events, networking & the legendary afterparty.
formats & events

START Fair
Where Future Innovators Meet

Speed-dating
Your Fast Track to Opportunities

Ask me anything
Your Chance to Connect with Industry Leaders

START Summit Afterparty
The Night You Don’t Want to Miss
WHO ATTENDS
START SUMMIT?
7'000 participants include:
1'000
Investors




2'000
Founders




3'000
Talents






1'000
Attendees




Get your ticket now!
Student
149.-
Perfect for young, aspiring students who want to enhance their knowledge of entrepreneurship, network with like-minded individuals, and have a great time. The package is specifically designed with students in mind, offering an all-access pass to START Summit 2025, ensuring you won't miss out on any of the exciting opportunities and experiences the event has to offer.
Requires proof of Student ID
Matchmaking Tool Speed-Dating Workshop Side Events Access to Afterparty
FAQ
General
Tickets
Students
FAQ
General
START Summit is Europe’s leading student-run conference for entrepreneurship and technology, bringing together over 7000 startups, investors, corporates, and young talents for two days of inspiring stage sessions, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking.
With a strong focus on innovation, fundraising, and ecosystem-building, START Summit provides a unique platform for early-stage startups to connect with investors, for corporates to discover disruptive ideas, and for students to dive into the world of entrepreneurship.
Beyond the main conference, START Summit offers exclusive side events, pitching competitions, and interactive sessions to maximize learning and networking opportunities. Whether you’re looking to build, invest, or connect, START Summit is the place to be
Public transport:
• By bus: From St. Gallen Train Station, take bus lines 3, 4, or 6 to the stop “Olma Messen”.
• By train: The nearest train station is St. Gallen St. Fiden, located just a 4-minute walk from the Olma Halls. However, if you’re arriving at St. Gallen Train Station, you can also reach the venue conveniently by taking bus lines 3, 4, or 6 to the “Olma Messen” stop.
• By plane: The closest airport is Zürich Airport, approximately one hour by train from St. Gallen.
Accommodation:
We’ve pre-selected several hotels for attendees. You can find details about the hotels in St. Gallen here. If you prefer a quieter stay, there are also excellent hotels just outside the city, only about 20 minutes away by public transport.
Yes, workshops have limited seating, so you’ll need to register in advance before spots fill up. Workshop registration is available via our online platform.
For side events, you can browse and apply to participate via our event page. Additional side events will be announced over time, so keep checking back for updates and sign up for our newsletter!
START Summit side events take place before, during, and after the main event, creating unique networking and learning opportunities beyond the conference itself. These events include exclusive investor dinners, startup meetups, industry-specific gatherings, and casual networking sessions across St. Gallen. They allow attendees to connect in a more personal setting, making START Summit a truly immersive experience.
New side events will be announced regularly, so keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates!
Tickets
You can purchase your ticket directly on our ticket page. We accept a wide range of payment methods, including debit and credit cards, PayPal, Twint, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many more.
If none of these options work for you, please contact us at growth@startsummit.ch, and we’ll do our best to assist you.
We offer different ticket categories for Startups, Investors, Students, Corporates, and General Attendees. All tickets provide access to the two-day event and the full START Summit experience, including networking opportunities, stage sessions, and side events.
However, some workshops and side events may be exclusive to specific ticket categories. You can find a detailed overview of what each ticket includes on our ticket page.
After purchasing your ticket, you will receive a confirmation email with your invoice. A few weeks before the event, you’ll also receive an invitation link to register on our event platform and be able to access your ticket trough the event app.
Your QR ticket for check-in will be generated shortly before the event, so don’t worry if you don’t have it yet! Just make sure to sign up on the event platform as soon as you receive the registration link.
Yes, ticket transfers and information changes are possible, but only under special circumstances. If you are unable to attend due to unforeseen events or need to update your registration details, please contact us at growth@startsummit.ch.
To speed up check-in and avoid long lines, we will offer pre-badge pickup at various locations, such as Zürich Airport and St. Gallen Train Station, in the days leading up to the event.
The exact pickup locations and times will be announced before the event. If you don’t pick up your badge in advance, you can still collect it on-site at the venue.
Students
The Student ticket is available to students from all countries and educational backgrounds. This includes:
- University students (Bachelor, Master, PhD)
- Students from higher grades in secondary schools who are eager to explore entrepreneurship and technology.
If you’re a student looking to expand your network, gain industry insights, and connect with startups and investors, the Student ticket gives you full access to START Summit at a special discounted rate.
START Summit is the perfect place for students to immerse themselves in the startup ecosystem, gain industry insights, and kickstart their entrepreneurial journey. As a student, you can:
• Connect with leading startups, investors, and corporate innovators to explore career and internship opportunities.
• Engage in exclusive student networking sessions and meet like-minded peers from across the world.
• Gain insights from top entrepreneurs and industry experts through keynote speeches and panel discussions.
• Participate in interactive workshops and side events to develop hands-on skills.
• Explore internship and job openings at the START Fair and through networking with top companies and startups.
• Compete in innovation challenges and pitching competitions that could help launch your startup idea.
• Enjoy the full START Summit experience at Summit Afterhours and the Afterparty, where attendees come together to connect, unwind, and celebrate.
Whether you’re looking for career inspiration, mentorship, or unforgettable experiences, START Summit provides the perfect platform to learn, connect, and have fun.
If you’re on a tight budget or want to get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Europe’s leading startup conferences, you can apply to be a volunteer at START Summit.
As a volunteer, you’ll get:
- Free access to the full event.
- The chance to work closely with the organizing team.
- Exclusive networking opportunities with startups and investors.
Volunteering is a great way to gain hands-on experience, meet inspiring people, and be part of something exciting. Find out more and apply here.