Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation (SwissEF)

Establishment

Based in Bern, the Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation was founded in December 2017 under the patronage of Swiss Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann.

Purpose

The aim of the foundation is to support start-ups and entrepreneurship within Switzerland and to promote a Swiss innovation ecosystem with improved basic conditions for the commercialisation of innovative technologies.

The foundation pursues both a public and non-profit approach. It does not seek to make a profit and does not represent commercial interests, with the foundation’s profits and capital used exclusively for the purposes mentioned above.

Federal Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann


«Startups are the fuel of our welfare. The SwissEF is supporting them, so that more innovation and new jobs are created here in Switzerland.»
Former Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann

Structure and Activities

The Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation (SwissEF) is financed by its sponsorship and the donors. The interdisciplinary Board of Trustees is supported by a high profile international Advisory Board.

President of the Foundation Board

Urs Berger Chairman Mobiliar

Urs Berger
President, die Mobiliar

 

Foundation Board

Pascal Vonmont Gebert Rüf Foundation

Pascale Vonmont
Director, Gebert Rüf Stiftung 

 
Sabine Keller-Busse

Sabine Keller-Busse
President Personal & Corporate Banking und President UBS Switzerland

 

André Helfenstein
CEO, Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG

 
Johanna Gapany

Johanna Gapany
Council of States FDP

 
Andri Silberschmidt

Andri Silberschmidt
National Councillor FDP

 
Christoph Aeschlimann

Christoph Aeschlimann
CEO, Swisscom AG

 
Martin Vetterli

Martin Vetterli
President
EPFL

 

 
Christian Wenger Partner, Wenger & Vieli Ltd.

Christian Wenger
Partner, Wenger Vieli Ltd.

 

 

Claudio Cisullo
Founder & Chairman
CC Trust Group AG

 

Secretary

Andrea Rieger
Head of Law and Compliance 
the Mobiliar

 

Advisory Board

Peter Spuhler

Peter Spuhler
Chairman
Stadler Rail AG

Aude Pugin

Aude Pugin
CEO
APCO Technologies SA

Alain Chuard Entrepreneur & Investor, Silicon Valley

Alain Chuard
Entrepreneur & Investor,
Silicon Valley

 

 
Annette Heimlicher CEO Contrinex AG

Annette Heimlicher
CEO
Contrinex AG

 
Bettina Ernst CEO Preclin Biosystem

Bettina Ernst
CEO
Preclin Biosystem

 
Lea von Bidder CEO AVA Science Inc.

Lea von Bidder
CEO
AVA Science Inc.
 

 
Philipp Stauffer Co-Founder and General Partner FYRFLY Venture Partners LLC  Palo Alto, California

Philipp Stauffer
Co-Founder and General Partner
FYRFLY Venture Partners LLC 
Palo Alto, California

 
Daniel Gutenberg Unicorn Hunter, Zurich & Israel

Daniel Gutenberg
Unicorn Hunter,
Zurich & Israel

 

 
Marcel Dobler Entrepreneur & Investor, Member of the Swiss National Council

Marcel Dobler
Entrepreneur & Investor,
Member of the Swiss National Council

 

 
Elgar Fleisch Director, Institut of Technology Management, University of St. Gallen 

Elgar Fleisch
Professor ETH Zurich and
University of St. Gallen 

 

 

Gerd Folkers
Professor ETHZ,
President SWR

 

 
Christian Leumann

Christian Leumann
Rector, University of Bern

 

 
Bernd Pfister Entrepreneur & President SECA

Bernd Pfister
Entrepreneur & President SECA

 
Mathias Ruch

Mathias Ruch
Blockchain Entrepreneur & Investor,
Crypto Valley Zug

 

 

Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch
Former director of SECO

Management Board

Simon Enderli

Simon Enderli
CEO

 
Peter Stähli Managing Director

Peter Stähli
Head of Entrepreneurship