🚀 Last chance: Apply until June 30th!
🚀 Applications are open now until June 30th.
HSG START Accelerator
WE MAKE EUROPEAN TECH START-UPS INVESTOR-READY
You get access to our ecosystem, experts and capital - and together we build your market strategy for ambitious growth and funding success. Rooted in St.Gallens entrepreneurial spirit, academic excellence and the European startup ecosystem.
Get funded and focus on accelerated growth
Secure a 15k batch scholarship and up to 200k in funding to fuel your expansion
Co-create with world-class experts and mentors
Receive individual coaching from leading experts from the St.Gallen ecosystem
Be investor-ready to secure your next round
Build your market strategy for ambitious growth and funding success
WHAT YOU WILL GET
EXPERTS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE
To accelerate your individual path to success we match you with world-class experts and mentors like successful founders, business leaders, investors and renown experts from various fields.
Ursula Oesterle
VP Innovation at EPFL
Cornelia Gut-Villa
CEO of Startfeld Foundation
Alex Illic
Co-Founder of ETH AI Centre
Dietmar Grichnik
Vice-President of University of St. Gallen
Melanie Gabriel
Co-Founder of Yokoy
Andreas Göldi
Partner at b2venture
EXPERTS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE
To accelerate your individual path to success we match you with world-class experts and mentors like successful founders, business leaders, investors and renown experts from various fields.
EXPERTS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE
To accelerate your individual path to success we match you with world-class experts and mentors like successful founders, business leaders, investors and renown experts from various fields.
Melanie Gabriel
Co-Founder of Yokoy
Dietmar Grichnik
President of HSG START Accelerator, Vice-President at University of St. Gallen, ITEM-HSG
Cornelia Gut-Villa
Board Member at HSG START Accelerator, CEO of Startfeld Foundation
Andreas Göldi
Board Member at HSG START Accelerator, President of START Foundation, Partner at b2venture
Alex Illic
Co-Founder of ETH AI Center
Ursula Oesterle
VP Innovation at EPFL
EXPERTS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE
To accelerate your individual path to success we match you with world-class experts and mentors like successful founders, business leaders, investors and renown experts from various fields.
YOUR HSG START ACCELERATOR ADVANTAGE
Leading Business School
The University of St.Gallen bridges your tech brilliance to scalable business strategies and funding
Investors and Capital
Direct access to investors who seek and understand promising tech potential
Tailored Acceleration
1:1 coaching and focused mentoring to build your investor-ready business strategy
Strong Startup Community
Unique entrepreneurial spirit for peer learning and networking. One of Europe's most active seeding grounds
Backed by Key Partners
University of St. Gallen, START Foundation, Switzerland Innovation Park, Canton St.Gallen and many more
Proven Founder Success
Alumni founders and university spin-offs like Yokoy, Carvolution, Planted, N26 or Rivr
University Ecosystems
Your direct connection to expertise and talent networks at universities across the alpine region
Top-Tier Business Talent
Unique START Global community for peer learning, networking, and talent connections
Impressions from St.Gallen ecosystem
You’ve got the deep tech; HSG START Accelerator helps you turn it into a viable business. They equip you with the necessary tools, insights, and connections to get investor-ready and cut through the noise.
Melanie Gabriel
Co-founder Yokoy & Follow the Gradient, HSG Founder of the Year 2023
Access to the St.Gallen ecosystem is invaluable. Through the accelerator, we were able to establish valuable connections with mentors, industry experts, and potential partners who helped refine our business model and significantly influenced our development.
Felix Carl Wiegandt
Founder & CEO Inhale+, HSG START Accelerator Alumni
Initiatives like HSG START Accelerator are crucial, as they strengthen the connection between business and technology, ultimately benefiting the innovation landscape. Supporting tech entrepreneurs in their journey toward securing institutional investment is a vital contribution to the country's economic growth and competitiveness.
Andri Silberschmidt-Buhofer
Member of Swiss Parliament, Entrepreneur
During the HSG START Accelerator, we made significant progress with our go-to-market strategy and were also able to acquire our first customers from the St. Gallen region. As a startup, we matured considerably thanks to the intense roasting sessions with other participants and experts.
Kordian Caplazi
Founder & CEO, Rimon Technologies, HSG START Accelerator Alumni
OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS
OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS
The HSG START Accelerator quickly explained
Based in St. Gallen, this program accelerates European Tech startups. It delivers the tailored business acumen needed to complement technical brilliance and achieve investor readiness. Startups connect directly with an unparalleled network of investors, universities, and industry leaders. The non-profit organization is founded by the University of St.Gallen (HSG), the START Foundation, and the Switzerland Innovation Park East (SIP Ost).
FAQ
Every startup participating in the accelerator receives a scholarship of CHF 15,000, payed out in tranches across the run time of the program. Additionally, the HSG START Accelerator invests up to CHF 200,000 into selected startups.
We focus on tech product startups in all areas, where founders integrate science and groundbreaking engineering at the heart of their ventures, which we can help to accelerate with the enterpreneurial expertise of the St.Gallen ecosystem. Please note that consultancies and pure service companies are not eligible for the accelerator.
The HSG START Accelerator is a leading European program based in St. Gallen specifically designed for Tech startups. It delivers tailored business acceleration, essential connections, and vital resources to help these startups achieve investor readiness and funding success.
If you meet our criteria to enter the program, we strongly encourage you to apply, you could potentially accelerate your traction through the accelerator.