Initial Coaching grants you a voucher worth up to CHF 10 000 for coaching sessions with Innosuisse accredited coaches over a period of up to twelve months.
It is crucial that you understand the feasibility and commercial potential of your idea. You need to critically examine your business model and refine your business plan at each stage of your start-up’s progress. For more experienced start-ups, Initial Coaching allows them to review the business strategy they have implemented, uncover any flaws, identify possible levers to accelerate growth and develop an action plan to meet future challenges. In the Initial Coaching programme, you will be accompanied by an experienced coach to help you ask the right questions and define key milestones for the development of your start-up.
Initial Coaching is the entry point to the Innosuisse Start-up Coaching. The programme is limited to a maximum of twelve months and is a prerequisite for possible admission to Innosuisse's Core Coaching programme.
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
1. Submit application
Initial Coaching grants you a voucher worth up to CHF 10 000 for coaching sessions with Innosuisse accredited coaches over a period of up to twelve months.
In order to be eligible for Initial 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
Any relevant company documents (e.g. investor pitch deck, company presentation, etc.)
Do you meet the requirements? Then enter your application in the Innosuisse application platform. If you are already registered, you can go directly to the Initial Coaching application form after logging in. After the application has been submitted, Innosuisse will start the evaluation process.
2. Evaluation and decision
First, your application will be formally reviewed. Then, it will be assessed by an independent expert and according to defined criteria. The expert will get in touch with you to arrange a short meeting. Finally, the Innosuisse Innovation Council will decide whether to accept or decline your application and you will be notified accordingly. This process usually takes three to four weeks.
Your application will be assessed based on the initial application requirements.
Has all the required information been submitted, and is it correct?
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)?
OR
Does the start-up have a Swiss address and is there an intention to incorporate a company in Switzerland?
Your application will be 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, 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 fully 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 overall coaching process and voucher management is tracked and managed on the Innosuisse platform.
In the Initial Coaching programme you have up to twelve months to challenge and review your entire business. Guided by an Innosuisse coach, you will work out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks of your start-up. In addition, you will determine the next critical steps and receive recommendations on key milestones that are important to the successful development of your business.
The Innosuisse coaches supporting you in the Initial 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 Initial Coaching, you will invite one Innosuisse coach to be your lead coach using the Innosuisse platform. Innosuisse can support you 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.
4. Conclude coaching
Initial Coaching is completed by submitting an evaluation report including milestones for further development of the start-up. This has to be done within twelve months of starting the programme and at the latest by the end date of the specific coaching voucher.
In order to complete the coaching programme, you have to submit a specific evaluation report for review within twelve months of starting the coaching. The report covers all relevant aspects of your business and includes milestones for further development.
The evaluation report is to be completed on the Innosuisse platform and Innosuisse must be notified by email (startup@innosuisse.ch) once the report is submitted.
The coaching voucher is ready for closure once the submitted evaluation report is approved by Innosuisse. To close the voucher, you will need to:
Approve the last payments for completed coaching sessions
Give feedback to Innosuisse on the coaching programme
Initiate an application for Core Coaching (if you are interested in this coaching). The follow-up application will be based on progress made in the Initial Coaching programme and the previously prepared evaluation report.
The Initial Coaching is considered closed once all open tasks are finalized.
