8 Support Programs for Vaud Entrepreneurs: Which Are Actually Worth Your Time?

Is VentureKick Worth It?

✅ Pros:

• Best startup network in Switzerland (closest thing to Y Combinator we have)
• First CHF 10K requires no equity
• Opens doors to serious follow-on funding
• Strong signal to future investors

❌ Cons:

• Extremely time-consuming application
• Later stages require convertible loans
• Mandatory workshops eat into building time
• Can create false sense of progress

Verdict: Worth it if you're building a scalable tech company and haven't incorporated yet. The network alone justifies the effort. But don't let "preparing for VentureKick" become your full-time job.

Is Innosuisse Worth It?

✅ Pros:

• Zero equity cost
• Low time investment to apply
• Flexible coach selection
• Substantial total value (up to CHF 135K)

❌ Cons:

• Coach quality varies dramatically
• Many coaches have corporate backgrounds, not startup experience
• Value depends entirely on your coach match

Verdict: Worth it only if you identify a specific coach who matches your needs. Browse the Innosuisse coach directory before applying. Ask other founders for recommendations. Without the right coach, this becomes box-ticking.

Is GENILEM Worth It?

✅ Pros:

• Three years of support (longest program in the region)
• No equity, no repayment
• Focus on sustainable businesses, not just tech unicorns
• Strong local network in Vaud and Geneva

❌ Cons:

• Highly selective
• Better suited for PME-style businesses than pure tech startups
• Less prestigious for investor signaling

Verdict: Excellent for founders building sustainable local businesses. If you're not chasing unicorn status but want to build something solid, GENILEM offers unmatched long-term support.

Is PERL Worth It?

✅ Pros:

• Significant media coverage
• No equity requirement
• Validates your business locally
• Strong survival rate among winners

❌ Cons:

• Must be established in Lausanne region
• Competitive (many applicants)
• Better for established companies than early-stage startups

Verdict: Worth applying if you have a functioning business in the Lausanne region. The visibility alone can drive customer acquisition. Less relevant for pre-revenue startups.

Is EPFL Blaze Worth It?

✅ Pros:

• Respects your time (simple application)
• No mandatory workshop attendance
• Real value for students with limited capital
• Growing Y Combinator track record
• Small cohorts mean personalized support

❌ Cons:

• Limited to EPFL/UNIL/EHL affiliates
• Intense program alongside studies
• CHF 10K is modest compared to other programs

Verdict: The only support program I recommend without reservations. They focus on one thing: helping you build. No bureaucracy, no pointless workshops. If you're a student with a real project, apply.

Sustainable Economy Fund

The canton has allocated CHF 105 million across funds for innovation, oncological immunotherapy, and sustainable economy.

Is SPEI Worth It?

✅ Pros:

• Direct cash support
• No equity
• Specific, predictable funding criteria
• Lower competition than prize programs

❌ Cons:

• Project-specific (not general operating funds)
• Bureaucratic process
• Requires matched funding

Verdict: Excellent for specific expenses. Planning to attend a major trade fair? Need IP protection? Apply here rather than paying out of pocket. But don't build your business plan around SPEI grants.

The Bottom Line

These programs exist to accelerate businesses, not replace the work of building them.

The best entrepreneurs I know treat support programs as supplements, not strategies. They apply when it makes sense, take what's useful, and never let "preparing for the next pitch" become their main activity.

Choose wisely. Build relentlessly.