FIRST VENTURES

Youtube Playlist «First Ventures»

«First Ventures» supports entrepreneurial UAS students who want to pursue their innovation projects during their studies or immediately after graduation. With graduated contributions of up to CHF 150,000, the program paves the way for your own spin-off. For the duration of the First Ventures project, the project managers are employed by the University of Applied Sciences and have full budget autonomy.

As the First Ventures case «Luya Foods» illustrates, start-up projects usually go through three funding stages - from the PROOF stage to the VALIDATE stage and finally the EXECUTE stage.

The evaluation and decision phase lasts three months for all applications, regardless of the funding level.

The «First Ventures» program not only provides financial support, but also individually tailored business training and coaching sessions as well as access to a broad start-up network. The curriculum is designed to equip the potential company founders with the tools they need to successfully put their business idea into practice.

• Applications are open to Bachelor’s and Master’s students of all departments and disciplines and to graduates of universities of applied sciences up to six months after graduation.
• Graduates of continuing education master's degree courses are not considered.
• Project leaders and any members of the project team are anchored at the university of applied sciences for the duration of the project. They are explicitly involved in the project. An appropriate letter of support must be enclosed with the application.
• Funding will be used primarily for the salaries of the project managers and project team members employed by the UAS. In addition, there are material costs and other expenses. The deployment of university funds is welcomed.
• As part of and up to a maximum of 10% of the «First Ventures» budget, a voucher can be reserved for infrastructure services, supervision, expertise and coaching. This voucher can be used for services within and outside the university.

We are looking for innovation projects with high impact potential for the economy and society that offer concrete solutions to problems and at the same time meet the quality standards of the respective research and development area. The applicants are distinguished by their professional expertise, willingness to take risks and personal commitment.

​​​​​Before submitting an application, applicants interested in participating are requested to contact the First Ventures program management.

Projects can be submitted to Gebert Rüf Stiftung by one of the quarterly deadlines (1 February, 1 May, 1 September, 1 December) in accordance with the guidelines for submitting a First Ventures application.

Please use our web portal for your first stage application and upload all the required documents there (project application form First Ventures, support letter of UAS and elevator pitch).

Applicants who successfully pass the first round of evaluation are invited to present their project to the Foundation Board via Zoom. The selected candidates can complete a pitch training for the online presentation. The funding decision will be communicated within 1-2 days after the presentation.

• A support agreement will be concluded with the project managers whose applications are approved.
• All copyrights will be retained by the projects.

Approved projects can find more information on the support agreement, reporting and project communications here.

Dr. Marco Vencato, Deputy Director, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, St. Alban-Vorstadt 12, 4052 Basel, marco.notexisting@nodomain.comvencato@grstiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch, tel. +41 61 270 88 20

Postcard
First Ventures-Startup «Circleg»
Youtube Playlist «First Ventures»