| BACKGROUND |
Switzerland is among the leading innovative countries, with her universities, research institutions and engineering schools ranking among the best in the world. This creates a natural breeding ground for start-up activities. However, the lack of a comprehensive program that combines training, mentorship and early stage investment stalls the progress of technology start-up creation. International Create Challenge intends to address this gap by facilitating start-up/ spin-out creation within the framework of the IM2/Idiap domains of research and technologies. |
| APPLIED MODEL |
The International Create Challenge provides the ideal breeding space and resources to drive early stage technology innovation into Minimum Viable Products and start-ups, providing top-notch coaching, seed funding and competitive prizes. The format is a free of charge, 3-week immersive program in which around 10 teams of 2 - 4 people, composed of developers, researchers, entrepreneurs and/or designers, will be engaged. The project selection is focused around the IM2/Idiap domains of research and technologies. |
| AWARDS |
The best three teams will each receive CHF 10’000.- cash of prize money. There is also the possibility to negotiate seed funding in exchange of up to 10-15% of equity of the created company. Should one of the teams decide to create a company locally by integratig the IdeArk Incubator, additional grants will be delivered: an open access to the The Ark Incubator with in-kind support of over CHF 100,000.-, CHF 10’000.- in the form of a The Ark Scholarship and other advantages. |
