With 2100 students, Zurich University of the Arts is relatively small. Nevertheless, it has created a large entrepreneurial ecosystem. The brand new ZHdK Startup Finder lists more than 50 spin-offs, start-ups, and non-profit organisations. And the momentum remains high. Three more projects have just been accepted into the ZHdK's incubation programme.
The ZHdK Startup Finder is a new online database launched under the label of the Zurich Centre for Creative Economies (ZCCE) at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). It offers an overview of the various startups, spin-offs and non-profit organisations that have emerged in the ZHdK ecosystem in recent years. The Startup Finder also showcases the innovative potential and diversity of founders from the arts and design who generate cultural, social, ecological, and economic impact.
Everyone who is interested in certain aspects such as disciplines, legal form or field can set and filter corresponding criteria in the database or enter certain keywords. An overview of the content:
- 54 companies and organisations founded since 2011
- 4.5 incorporations per year
- 46% female (co-)founders (vs. Swiss average of 20%, according to the Female Founders Initiative)
- 44% interdisciplinary founding teams
When assessing the quantitive output one has to take into account the university’s size – while ZHdK is one of the largest arts universities in Europe with around 2,100 Bachelor and Master students, it is one of the smaller players in Zurich’s university landscape.
Next generation of founders ready to start
The next generation of ZHdK founders is already waiting in the wings and will start their journey in ZHdK’s incubation programme What’s next_Project in January:
Strobo by Susanne Barthl, Alexandra Viert, Hanna Hodžić, Flavia Bienz and Jill Böhringer, MA Design - Trends & Identity
Strobo is a trend agency that works at the interface of trend research and design. They research fragments of the present to anticipate potential futures.
The Gaze Gallery by Joshua Amissah, BA Design - Trends & Identity
A global digital platform for print products of contemporary black photographers
hooq by Janick Zumofen (BA Industrial Design), Livia Zumofen and Beat Müller
An individually adaptable climbing shoe for people with unique feet
What's next_Project is an incubation programme by the Z-Kubator, which is part of the Zurich Centre for Creative Economies. It is aimed at ZHdK graduates and research staff who wish to develop projects with an entrepreneurial focus in the arts, education, and design. The programme is supported by the Zürcher Kantonalbank.
(Press release / SK)
Photo: hooq founders L-R: Janick Zumofen, Livia Zumofen and Beat Müller
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