How it works
Calling all entrepreneurs!
If you’re ready to launch, or have recently launched, an innovative social & environmental impact startup or nonprofit, you can register for the 2025 edition of >>venture>>.
Register & submit your startup plan
From October 2024
First, check out our guidelines, then register here from October 1, 2024 to February 27, 2025 (23:59 CET).
We will send you invitations to helpful workshops where you can make connections and polish up your application.
Applications reviewed by our team of experts
March 2025
Once the applications are in, our team of experts pores over the startup plans in search of the ten most compelling startup ideas in each of the verticals. All applicants will receive personalized feedback.
Top 10 – Access to Mentorship
April to June 2025
Make it to the top 10 of your vertical and you’ll get your own mentors and the chance to be selected for participation in the Audience Award.
Pitch Training
April 2025
All finalists can take advantage of our pitch training sessions with investors and McKinsey & Company experts. Learn more about the pitch trainers who helped our entrepreneurs in the last edition.
Top 10 – Pitch to our jury
April/May 2025
The 60 finalists (10 from each vertical) will have the chance to pitch their idea to an industry-specific jury consisting of seasoned investors and entrepreneurs. Jurors then select 18 winners– three teams per vertical – to advance into the final round and compete for the grand prize of CHF 100’000.
Top 3 - Final pitch and Award Ceremony
June 23, 2025
It’s a day of high stakes and suspense: both the final pitch and the Award Ceremony take place on the same day. First there’s the ranking round: six industry-specific juries consisting of members of the >>venture>> Advisory Board meet and rank the winners in each of the six verticals. The first, second and third place winners take home prizes of CHF 50’000, CHF 20’000 and CHF 10’000, respectively. The first-place winners then go head-to-head and pitch to the entire Advisory Board for a chance to win an additional CHF 100’000.
