DigitalSwitzerland CEO Nicolas Bürer answered all our qualms on incubators and accelerators within Switzerland.

Questions asked:

2:07 – What’s the difference between an accelerator and an incubator?

3:14 – Are accelerators and incubators worth it?

4:10 – When should you reach out to accelerators and incubators?

5:55 – Do certain business types have more of a chance with investors?

7:48 – What do accelerators and incubators deliver to you as a startup?

11:11 – Do accelerators and incubators even do anything?

13:04 – Which famous Swiss companies have been part of an accelerator or an incubator?

14:19 – Where to find incubators for young Swiss entrepreneurs?

17:00 – Why choose a Swiss incubator or accelerator?

18:43 – Is there a Y combinator equivalent in Switzerland?

25:21 – Do accelerator/incubator programs demand a full-time commitment?

28:00 – How do you know if the program has been successful?

29:23 – How many customers can you except to gain with a program like this?

31:01 – Should you aim for zero equity?

Biography

Nicolas Bürer is the Managing Director of DigitalSwitzerland, an initiative of over 150 Swiss corporate companies to strengthen Switzerland’s position as a leading innovation hub. Nicolas started his entrepreneurial career as Chief Marketing Officer at DeinDeal.ch, which rose to be one of Switzerland’s most successful e-commerce sites within only 5 years. After DeinDeal, he transitioned to become Managing Director at the TV company Joiz, which had to close its doors in 2016. Nicolas is also one of the co-founders of Movu, a platform of moving and cleaning companies, which was acquired by Baloise in 2017. He holds a Masters in physics from the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and was awarded “Business Angel of the Year” in 2018.