Core Coaching grants you a voucher worth of up to CHF 50 000 for coaching sessions with Innosuisse accredited coaches over a maximum period of 36 months.
Even the best business ideas fail if they are not executed properly. Implementing a focused yet agile strategy and building up a well-structured organisation are critical to success. In the Core Coaching programme, you will put the action plan defined during Initial Coaching to work. Supported by the lead coach and special coaches, you will establish and develop your start-up in all relevant aspects.
Core Coaching is a follow-up to the Initial Coaching. The programme is limited to a maximum of 36 months and gives you the opportunity to refine your strategy, structure your organisation, enter the market and get expert advice on relevant topics like IP, financial planning, legal aspects or fund raising.
If you successfully complete the Core Coaching, you can also request the Innosuisse Certificate.
2024
Check out the list of all start-ups certified over the years
Core Coaching grants you a voucher worth of up to CHF 50 000 for coaching sessions with Innosuisse accredited coaches over a maximum period of 36 months.
In order to be eligible for Core Coaching, your start-up must meet the following requirements:
Innovative and science-based business idea
Start-up has already set up a business in Switzerland within the last five years or the last ten years in justified cases (e.g. time-intensive life science start-ups) or about to incorporate a company in Switzerland (existing Swiss address required)
Business idea has high market potential and is defendable (IP, know-how, speed to market, etc.)
Business model is scalable and executed by an ambitious team with the potential to achieve the goals
The application is to be submitted online in the Innosuisse online tool and should include:
Description of the innovative business idea
Value proposition of offered product/service and explanation of competitive advantage
Business model including description of target customers, market potential and competition
Business plan including general company status, details on operations, financial projections and funding status
Description of the team and their commitment and company growth plans including board members and potential partnerships
SWOT Analysis and milestone proposals for the next 12 months and for 2-3 years
Any relevant company documents (e.g. investor pitch deck, company presentation, etc.)
Do you meet the requirements? Then submit your application via the Innosuisse online tool.
2. Evaluation and decision
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.
Applications are assessed based on the initial application requirements.
Has all required information been submitted and is it correct?
Has the Initial Coaching programme from Innosuisse been successfully completed?
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)?
Applications are assessed based on the initial application requirements.
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.
The Innosuisse Innovation Council decides on your application based on the information provided and assessments. 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.
The Innosuisse Innovation Council decides on your application based on the information provided and assessments. 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.
3. Coaching process
If your application is approved, you will receive a voucher that can be used for the services provided by Innosuisse’s coaches. The total voucher budget for the coaching will be released on a staggered basis as each specific milestone set by Innosuisse is reached. The overall coaching process and voucher management is tracked and managed in the Innosuisse online tool.
In the Core Coaching programme, you have up to 36 months to execute the business plan, build an efficient organisation and create traction as a basis for further growth and potential fundraising. Ideally, this will be based on an action plan developed during the Initial Coaching programme. With the help of the lead coach and special coaches, you will work on establishing and developing your start-up in a variety of relevant aspects. In addition, start-ups in the coaching programme have the opportunity to take part in internationalisation camps and global trade fairs.
If you successfully complete the Core Coaching, you can request the Innosuisse Certificate confirming that your start-up is ready for sustainable growth.
The Innosuisse coaches supporting you in the Core Coaching have a proven track record in founding, managing and developing companies, are well versed in innovation and have excellent connections.
At the start of your Core Coaching, you will invite one Innosuisse coach to be your lead coach using the Innosuisse online tool. Innosuisse can support in your selection. The lead coach is your main contact person, who will guide you through the entire programme and work with you on the development of your business. Where necessary, the lead coach can suggest that you consult additional coaches.
You have the opportunity to receive advice from specialist coaches on matters such as intellectual property and financial planning in the form of individual workshops. You can book special coaches using the Innosuisse online tool and your lead coach will support you in your selection.
To structure and support the coaching process the start-up has to commit to milestones set by Innosuisse and report on their progress at Milestone Review within a given time-frame. Milestones are specific to each business case and in the interest of the development of the start-up.
Upon completing the Core Coaching programme, start-ups can request the Innosuisse Certificate. The certificate reflects remarkable progress achieved during the programme and it confirms that your start-up is ready for sustainable growth.
4. Milestone Review
The Core Coaching voucher is split into multiple checkpoints to support the process and ensure progress. The checkpoints are defined by milestones set by Innosuisse, and start-ups have to report their progress at milestone reviews within a given time frame. Milestones are specific to each business case and are defined in the interests of the successful development of the start-up.
You will be invited to a Milestone Review meeting to present the progress of your start-up.
The start-up is set specific milestones in achieving the evaluation criteria, and the meeting is held to discuss the progress made in meeting the criteria under certain conditions.
Positive evaluation Innosuisse will inform you of the outcome of the review at the meeting and by email. An additional voucher budget will be released (if required) and the next steps and new milestones defined.
Negative evaluation Innosuisse will inform you of the negative decision by e-mail and by IncaMail. The communication will explain why the review resulted in approval being declined. A negative decision closes the coaching voucher.
This process usually takes about two to three weeks.
Start-ups may apply for the Innosuisse Certificate upon completing the Core Coaching programme.
The certificate confirms that all of the development objectives set as part of the Core Coaching programme have been achieved or even exceeded and that your start-up has now reached a level of commercial maturity that gives it the status of a company «with high potential», making it more likely to attract customers, investors and partners.
This certificate does not mean that your activities are not subject to the risks associated with any start-up, but it shows that your company has the skills, organisational structure and assets that it needs in order to face up to and overcome challenges.
Exclusive benefits of the Innosuisse Certificate
Opportunity to take part in Start-up Camps and receive Innosuisse Trade Fair Support for up to three years after being awarded the certificate;
Special mention on the Innosuisse investor mailing list and access to a list of more than 100 investors in Switzerland;
Regular promotion on various media and social networks;
Special access to our certification ceremony and our alumni network;
Priority access to tickets available to Innosuisse for free entry to certain events;
Special discount on annual subscription to the Swiss Start-up Association.
First, your request will be formally reviewed. Then, you will be invited to a Certification Review meeting to present the progress of your start-up to a committee of experts. The committee will decide on your request. If the decision is positive, you will receive the Innosuisse Certificate. This process usually takes about two months.
All required documents are to be uploaded using the Innosuisse online tool and the certification request is to be sent to Innosuisse by email (startup@innosuisse.ch). Submitted documents have to be valid and up to date (e.g. current business plan, IP assessment not older than one year, etc.).
The following criteria must be met to qualify for the Innosuisse Certificate:
Solid base and can handle growth in the future
Prepared to receive external funding if it is needed
Professional management team that has the required skills or has access to these skills
Has demonstrated it can access the market and is established within the industry
Founded in accordance with Swiss law
The Innosuisse Innovation Council decides on your application based on the given information and assessment. Innosuisse will inform you of the approval by email and you will receive the official Innosuisse Certificate.
The Innosuisse Innovation Council decides on your application based on the given information and assessment. Innosuisse will inform you of the negative decision by email.
6. Abschluss des Coachings
Core Coaching is completed when the voucher expires or the Innosuisse Certificate is received. This has to be done within 36 months of initiating the programme.
The coaching voucher is ready for closure once the voucher is expired or a request for the Innosuisse Certificate is approved. To close the voucher, you will need to:
Approve the last payments for completed coaching session
Give feedback to Innosuisse on the coaching programme
The Core Coaching is considered closed once all open tasks are finalised.
Innosuisse recently held a webinar showcasing the various support offers for start-ups at each stage of their development, featuring a testimonial from Agrosustain. If you were unable to attend or would like to watch it again, the recording is available here. Password: Inno4Suisse
More information
The Innosuisse coaches
As part of Start-up Coaching, Innosuisse coaches support entrepreneurs to help them set up and develop their start-ups.
