Startup Events

Best Startup Events in Switzerland

Switzerland's startup calendar is busiest in November, when Startup Nights, Swiss Robotics Day, FFX Zurich for women founders and the EPFL and SICTIC investor days fall within a few weeks. In 2027 the big dates are AMLD in Lausanne, Swiss Startup Days in Bern and AI for Good in Geneva.
This guide lists startup, tech, investor and women-founder events in Switzerland from November 2026 to the end of 2027, in Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva, Basel, Bern, St. Gallen and Winterthur. We checked every date on the organiser's own website. Where a date isn't published yet, we say so, and we mark each event as Confirmed (date on the official site), Announced (date from a reliable second source) or Expected (based on past editions only). Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF).
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.

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Best Startup Events in Switzerland 2026–2027: Calendar from November 2026 to October 2027

DatesEventWhereTypeStatus
5–6 Nov 2026Startup NightsWinterthurStartup festival with pitch awardsConfirmed
10 Nov 2026Machine Intelligence SummitDübendorf (Zurich)AI summitConfirmed
12 Nov 2026Female Founders & Investors UnpitchedZurichFounder-investor evening (free)Confirmed
13 Nov 2026Swiss Robotics DayZurichRobotics conference with pitchesConfirmed
16 Nov 2026Swiss AI SummitZurichAI conferenceConfirmed
23 Nov 2026FFX ZurichZurichWomen founders' dayConfirmed
25 Nov 2026EPFL Investor DayLausanne (Ecublens)Investor dayConfirmed
26 Nov 2026Open-iZurichInnovation conferenceConfirmed
1 Dec 2026Swiss Fintech & AI Investor Day (SICTIC)ZurichInvestor pitchesConfirmed
1 Dec 2026Prêt? Partez, Pitch! Final (Genilem)Bellevue (Geneva)Pitch finalConfirmed
9–11 Mar 2027AMLD Intelligence SummitLausanneAI conference with startup stageConfirmed
18–19 Mar 2027START SummitSt. GallenFounder summitConfirmed
26–27 Apr 2027Swiss Biotech DayBaselBiotech partneringConfirmed
10–15 May 2027Climate Week ZurichZurichClimate week (mostly free)Confirmed
27 May 2027Swiss Startup DaysBernNational startup dayConfirmed
9 Jun 2027Swiss Medtech DayBernMedtech industry dayConfirmed
21–24 Jun 2027AI for Good Global SummitGenevaUN AI summit with startup pitchesConfirmed
7–8 Oct 2027Startup NightsZurichStartup festivalAnnounced

November 2026

Startup Nights, Winterthur: 5–6 November 2026

📅 Startup Nights 2026Confirmed
Dates5–6 November 2026
WhereEulachhallen, Wartstrasse 73, Winterthur
TypeStartup festival with talks, side events and pitch awards
Who it's forFounders, investors, students and corporates
TicketsTickets on the official site (the founder ticket page still shows 2025 details)
Official sitestartup-nights.ch
The festival had 9,500 visitors in 2025. Finalists of the Impact Tech Award and the Dual Use Tech Award pitch for CHF 10,000 each; applications are closed. This is the last edition in Winterthur. On 6 November the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program hosts a private side event, Women Who Fund and Found (14:30–16:00, host approval needed).

Machine Intelligence Summit, Dübendorf: 10 November 2026

📅 Machine Intelligence SummitConfirmed
Dates10 November 2026, 9:00–20:00
WhereSwitzerland Innovation Park Zurich, Wangenstrasse 68, Dübendorf
TypeAI summit with founder lightning talks
Who it's forAI builders, researchers and startups
TicketsPrice not published
Official siteluma.com
About 300 people from AI labs, ETH research groups and startups, with six founder lightning talks. See our AI events list for more.

Female Founders & Investors Unpitched, Zurich: 12 November 2026

📅 Female Founders & Investors UnpitchedConfirmed
Dates12 November 2026, 17:30–20:00
WhereOAT ETH Zürich, Andreasstrasse 5, Zurich
TypeFounder-investor networking evening
Who it's forEarly-stage female founders, diverse teams, business angels and VCs
TicketsFree, register on Luma
Official siteluma.com
Sandborn Events and ETH Entrepreneurship run this evening twice a year. There are no decks, no stage and no timer, so it is an easy first meeting with Swiss investors.

Swiss Robotics Day, Zurich: 13 November 2026

📅 Swiss Robotics Day 2026Confirmed
Dates13 November 2026
WhereStageOne Event & Convention Center, Elias-Canetti-Strasse 146, Zurich
TypeRobotics conference with startup pitches and booths
Who it's forRobotics founders, industry, VCs and researchers
TicketsCHF 400; start-ups and postdocs CHF 250; students CHF 100 (incl. VAT); start-up booths CHF 500–600
Official siteswissroboticsday.ch
Run by ETH Zurich's RobotX with the Swiss Robotics Association. Thomas Zurbuchen is a keynote speaker, and the afternoon main stage moves to pitches and short talks. More in our robotics events list.

Swiss AI Summit, Zurich: 16 November 2026

📅 Swiss AI Summit 2026Confirmed
Dates16 November 2026
WhereKunsthaus Zürich
TypeAI conference
Who it's forAI decision-makers and B2B AI startups
TicketsPrice not published
Official siteswissaisummit.com
More than 500 attendees and 70 speakers, many from companies buying AI. Useful if you sell AI products to Swiss corporates.
Global Entrepreneurship Week runs from 16 to 22 November (genglobal.org), but no Swiss host or 2026 programme is published yet. The same weekend, EPFL students meet at the LauzHack hackathon (21–22 November, lauzhack.com); hacker applications are closed. Techstars Startup Weekend lists a Zurich edition in November 2026 without days yet (startupweekend.ch).

FFX Zurich: 23 November 2026

📅 FFX Zurich 2026Confirmed
Dates23 November 2026, 9:00–19:30
WhereZurich (the address is sent after approval)
TypeApplication-only day for women founders
Who it's forFemale founders, investors and senior leaders
TicketsCHF 199 + VAT; apply first; the early-bird price has ended
Official sitefemale-founders.org
Female Founders brings about 120 women together for a day of sessions and introductions, including one on politics, economy and philanthropy with Carolina Müller-Möhl. Apply early: places are limited.

EPFL Investor Day, Lausanne: 25 November 2026

📅 EPFL Investor Day 2026Confirmed
Dates25 November 2026, 8:45–19:00
WhereSwissTech Convention Center, Route Louis-Favre 2, Ecublens
TypeInvestor day
Who it's forDeep-tech founders and investors
TicketsMorning by invitation only; afternoon conference open to all
Official siteepfl.ch
Selected Western Swiss deep-tech startups pitch to investors in the morning (applications closed on 31 August). The afternoon conference is open to all, so you can attend without being selected.

Open-i, Zurich: 26 November 2026

📅 Open-i 2026Confirmed
Dates26 November 2026, 8:00–19:00
WhereKongresshaus Zürich, Claridenstrasse 5, Zurich
TypeInnovation conference
Who it's forStart-ups, SMEs, corporates and investors
TicketsStart-up ticket CHF 250; conference CHF 890; student CHF 99
Official siteopen-i.swiss
NZZ Connect's conference replaced the Swiss Innovation Forum in Basel. The Swiss Technology Award belongs to it; this year's finalists are already chosen.

December 2026

Swiss Fintech & AI Investor Day, Zurich: 1 December 2026

📅 Swiss Fintech & AI Investor Day 2026Confirmed
Dates1 December 2026, from 17:00
WhereErgon Informatik AG, Merkurstrasse 43, Zurich, and online
TypeInvestor pitches (hybrid)
Who it's forFintech and AI startups, business angels and VCs
TicketsPrice not published; startups apply by 5 November 2026
Official sitesictic.ch
SICTIC, the Swiss angel network, runs 90-second elevator pitches and then 5-minute pitches. Its next regular investor days are on 17 November (with the Green Fintech Network) and 10 December (NEST Empa, Dübendorf). See our fintech events list.

Prêt? Partez, Pitch! Final, Bellevue (Geneva): 1 December 2026

📅 Prêt? Partez, Pitch! 2026 FinalConfirmed
Dates1 December 2026, from 18:00
WhereBanque Lombard Odier, Parc Messidor 3, Bellevue
TypePitch competition final
Who it's forEarly-stage founders in French-speaking Switzerland
TicketsTake a ticket on the official page
Official sitepitch.genilem.ch
Genilem's competition ends with 10 finalists and a live audience vote. A good evening to meet the Geneva and Vaud early-stage scene.

2027

AMLD Intelligence Summit, Lausanne: 9–11 March 2027

📅 AMLD Intelligence Summit 2027Confirmed
Dates9–11 March 2027
WhereSwissTech Convention Center, EPFL, Lausanne
TypeApplied AI conference with a startup stage
Who it's forAI founders, researchers and companies
TicketsRegistration opens in early November 2026; early bird until 14 January 2027
Official siteappliedmldays.org
EPFL's AI Center runs one of Europe's big applied AI conferences. Its Open Stage has startup pitches, and reduced tickets may be available for startups.

START Summit, St. Gallen: 18–19 March 2027

📅 START Summit 2027Confirmed
Dates18–19 March 2027
WhereSt. Gallen (venue not published yet)
TypeFounder summit with pitch competitions
Who it's forFounders, students and investors
TicketsPrice not published; early-access waitlist
Official sitestartglobal.org
Run by students from the University of St. Gallen, with 60-second elevator pitches, pitch competitions and investor side events.

Swiss Biotech Day, Basel: 26–27 April 2027

📅 Swiss Biotech Day 2027Confirmed
Dates26–27 April 2027
WhereCongress Center Basel
TypeBiotech conference with partnering
Who it's forBiotech founders, investors and pharma
TicketsCHF 750 + 8.1% VAT; reduced CHF 500 + VAT (two-day pass)
Official siteswissbiotechday.ch
Run by the Swiss Biotech Association in Basel's pharma cluster. For more, see our biotech events and healthtech events lists.

Climate Week Zurich: 10–15 May 2027

📅 Climate Week Zurich 2027Confirmed
Dates10–15 May 2027
WhereVenues across Zurich
TypeBusiness-led climate week
Who it's forClimate-tech founders, corporates and investors
TicketsMost events are free, but you need a ticket
Official siteclimateweekzurich.org
The first edition in 2026 had more than 270 events. See our climate tech events list.

Swiss Startup Days, Bern: 27 May 2027

📅 Swiss Startup Days 2027Confirmed
Dates27 May 2027
WhereKursaal Bern, Kornhausstrasse 3, Bern
TypeNational deep-tech startup day
Who it's forFounders, investors and corporates
TicketsStartups CHF 350; investors and attendees CHF 740; students CHF 250
Official sitestartupdays.ch
The country's main startup day has 1:1 investor meetings and a Newcomers pitch for deep-tech startups, and it offers free childcare, which helps founder parents. See our deep tech events list.

Swiss Medtech Day, Bern: 9 June 2027

📅 Swiss Medtech Day 2027Confirmed
Dates9 June 2027
WhereKursaal Bern, Kornhausstrasse 3, Bern
TypeMedtech industry day
Who it's forMedtech founders and companies
TicketsPrice not published
Official siteswiss-medtech.ch
The yearly meeting of the Swiss medtech industry association. Go if you look for partners or first customers in medtech.

AI for Good Global Summit, Geneva: 21–24 June 2027

📅 AI for Good Global Summit 2027Confirmed
Dates21–24 June 2027
WherePalexpo, Geneva
TypeUN AI summit with a startup pitch competition
Who it's forAI founders, UN agencies, governments and investors
TicketsPrice not published yet
Official siteaiforgood.itu.int
Run by the UN's ITU, with the Innovation Factory pitch competition. The government-led Geneva AI Summit takes place on 21–22 June, back to back.

Startup Nights, Zurich: 7–8 October 2027

📅 Startup Nights 2027Announced
Dates7–8 October 2027
WhereMesse Zürich
TypeStartup festival
Who it's forFounders, investors, students and corporates
TicketsNot published yet
Official sitestartup-nights.ch
Startup Nights moves to Messe Zürich in 2027 on a three-year deal with MCH Group, with about 14,000 visitors expected (cash.ch). The official site doesn't show the 2027 dates yet.

Dates not announced yet

  • A3F 2027, Zurich: an events listing gives 12 May 2027 at Kaufleuten, but Alan Frei's own page has no date yet. alanfrei.com
  • Swiss Economic Forum, Interlaken: a trade-fair listing gives 3–4 June 2027; the official page shows no date yet. It is a business-leader forum, not a startup event. swisseconomic.ch
  • Crypto Valley Conference, Rotkreuz (Zug): June 2027, days not published. See our web3 events list. cryptovalley.swiss
  • CV Summit, Zurich (last 29–30 September 2026), Point Zero Forum, Zurich (last 23–25 June 2026) and Plan ₿ Forum, Lugano (last 23–24 October 2026): no 2027 dates yet. cvsummit.ch, pointzeroforum.com, planb.lugano.ch
  • TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award and the Startup Champions Seed Night at EPFL (last 7 May 2026): expected again in 2027. top100startups.swiss
  • Paused: HackZurich and Digital Festival Zurich both say they are on hiatus. hackzurich.com

Past events

  • SECA Evening Event: Swiss VCs on Stage: 28 October 2026 at Europaallee 36, Zurich, an evening where new Swiss venture funds present themselves on stage.
  • MassChallenge Switzerland 2026 Awards: 29 October 2026 at Beaulieu, Lausanne, the awards night that closes the accelerator's 2026 Swiss programme.

Recurring meetups and communities

  • SICTIC: monthly investor days where startups pitch to angels, in Zurich and other cities, plus masterclasses. sictic.ch
  • SECA: venture and private equity events, including Young SECA and Romandie evenings. seca.ch
  • Venturelab: Innosuisse-backed trainings, pitch training and co-founder matchmaking (next in Lausanne on 3 December 2026). venturelab.swiss
  • Startup Grind Zurich: chapter events through 2026 (May to August), with more than 3,300 members. startupgrind.com
  • A3F Startup Breakfast, Zurich: a Christmas pitch edition on 4 December 2026; pitch applications until 20 November. alanfrei.com
  • Founder Institute Switzerland: next cohort in spring 2027. fi.co
  • Inactive: Startup Grind Geneva (no recent events) and GDG DevFest Switzerland (last held in 2018).

Events for women founders in Switzerland

Two events in the calendar are built for women: Female Founders & Investors Unpitched (12 November, free) and FFX Zurich (23 November). Also coming up:
  • Women Investing in Startups, Geneva: SICTIC's workshop for women who want to become business angels, 10 November 2026, 17:30. sictic.ch
  • Women Who Fund and Found, Winterthur: Startup Nights side event, 6 November 2026, private (host approval). luma.com
  • Women in Entrepreneurship: a Venturelab talk on diverse founding teams at EPFL Innovation Park, 16 November 2026, 12:00–14:00.
  • SEF.WomenAward: the Swiss Economic Forum's award for women entrepreneurs, last held on 13 March 2026 in Zurich; no 2027 date yet. swisseconomic.ch
  • #wetechtogether, Zurich: the women-in-tech conference with the Hidden Figures Awards, last held on 25–26 September 2026; 2027 not dated. techface.ch
Swiss Startup Days (27 May 2027) offers free childcare on site. For money, read our guide to funding for female entrepreneurs and the female entrepreneurship events list. If you organise an event for women founders in Switzerland, send it to us and we'll add it.

Funding and support to know before you go

  • Permits for non-EU founders: you can work in Switzerland as self-employed, but only after a review of labour-market conditions (Art. 19 FNIA). You must show a lasting positive effect on the Swiss labour market and apply through the canton. State Secretariat for Migration
  • Innosuisse Start-up Coaching: coaching paid by vouchers, up to CHF 10,000 (Initial, 12 months), CHF 50,000 (Core, 36 months) and CHF 75,000 (Scale-up, 24 months). Innosuisse
  • Venture Kick: for startups from Swiss universities, a first kick of CHF 10,000 and up to CHF 150,000 in total, with more from Kickfund and an InnoBooster grant, up to CHF 1.15 million. venturekick.ch
  • Starting a company: a GmbH needs CHF 20,000 in capital, paid in full; an AG needs CHF 100,000, with at least CHF 50,000 paid in. EasyGov. The standard VAT rate is 8.1% (Federal Tax Administration).
  • Compare other countries in our guide to startup visas in Europe.

How to get the most out of Switzerland startup events

  1. Plan around November. Startup Nights, Swiss Robotics Day, FFX Zurich and three investor days fall between 5 November and 1 December.
  2. Use the investor networks. SICTIC and SECA run events every month, and the SICTIC Fintech & AI day takes applications until 5 November.
  3. Buy the start-up tickets. Swiss Robotics Day, Open-i and Swiss Startup Days all have cheaper start-up rates; check whether prices include VAT.
  4. Cover both language regions. Lausanne and Geneva (EPFL, Genilem, AI for Good) have a different investor crowd from Zurich. Enter pitch competitions in both.
  5. Combine it with a trip nearby. Munich and Milan are a few hours away by train. See our guides to startup events in Germany, France and Italy, the Munich city guide and our guide to startup events in Europe.

List your event in this guide

Do you run a startup, tech or investor event in Switzerland? Send us the name, dates, venue and official link, and we'll check whether it fits this guide. We list events for founders, with a real date and an official page.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.

🔗 Add an awesome event

Startup events in other countries

FAQ

What is the biggest startup event in Switzerland?

Startup Nights, with 9,500 visitors in 2025. The 2026 edition is on 5–6 November in Winterthur, and it moves to Messe Zürich on 7–8 October 2027.

When are Swiss Startup Days 2027?

27 May 2027 at the Kursaal in Bern. Startup tickets cost CHF 350, and there is free childcare on site.

Are there free startup events in Switzerland?

Yes. Female Founders & Investors Unpitched (12 November 2026) is free, and most Climate Week Zurich events (10–15 May 2027) are free with a ticket.

Are there events for women founders in Switzerland?

Yes: Female Founders & Investors Unpitched at ETH Zurich (12 November 2026), FFX Zurich (23 November 2026) and SICTIC's Women Investing in Startups workshop in Geneva (10 November 2026).

Where can I meet investors in Switzerland?

At SICTIC's monthly investor days, SECA events, the EPFL Investor Day (25 November 2026), the Swiss Fintech & AI Investor Day (1 December 2026) and Swiss Startup Days.

Can foreign founders start a company in Switzerland?

Yes, but non-EU founders need a self-employment permit, granted after a labour-market review. A GmbH needs CHF 20,000 in capital. Read more in our guide to startup visas in Europe.

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
2026-10-26 10:40 By country