Fostering startup inclusivity: FF+ Accelerator program to launch a second edition

Organized by the Female Founders Initiative Switzerland, an initiative by STARTUP CAMPUS and Impact Hub Zurich, the FF+ Acceleration Program aims to create a more inclusive, equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Switzerland where female founders are not just only increasing their participation but also thrive. The program provides tailored support and access to a network of mentors and investors, and empowers them with tools to make them investment ready.

The program offers tailored mentorship, investor connections, and investment readiness tools to eight startups with at least 50% women in their founding teams. Eligible startups must be Switzerland based, incorporated, have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or proof of concept, and be less than three years old. The program is free but implements a 2% success fee on capital raised within 18 months post-program, starting at CHF 150,000 and capped at CHF 15,000.

A successful first edition
The inaugural edition of the six-week FF+ Acceleration Program took place from 04 April until 13 May 2024 with eight startups that participated in group sessions, individual coaching and events to expand their network. The acceleration journey culminated with a demo-day where participants presented their startups to potential investors and partners, paving the way for future funding opportunities.

“An accelerator program dedicated to female founders is crucial in addressing the gender disparity in entrepreneurship and venture funding. Female entrepreneurs face unique challenges, including limited access to capital, mentorship, and networks that are often more readily available to their male counterparts. By focusing on making female founders’ investment-ready, such programs not only empower women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to attract investors but also work towards levelling the playing field in the startup ecosystem. This targeted support helps unlock the potential of female-led businesses, fostering innovation, economic growth, and diversity in the marketplace”, says Marcela Durand, Program Manager Entrepreneurship & Diversity at Impact Hub Zurich.

These are the startups in the FF+ Accelerator edition 1

Cat N Clever | Co-Founders: Olga Ruf-Fiedler & Sebastian Haehnel – AI-powered educational app designed for children aged 3-6. It combines interactive and adaptive learning with child-friendly aesthetics to provide children with an introduction to the digital world while ensuring their safety and educational growth.

Circle Toys | Co-Founders: Fatma Belbahi & Antoine Maindiaux – A circular economy e-commerce platform to resell and buy used toys.

Gaia Children | Founder: Laura Lussi-Hilber – GAIA is a sustainable e-commerce platform that rents out baby and toddler products on a monthly basis, allowing parents to access high-quality, high-value products for their children without the need to purchase everything outright.

Moonchy | Founder: Alex Plaza – produces chocolate bars designed to support women’s menstrual cycle through a practice called seed cycling.

Neur.on | Co-Founders: Paula Reichenberg, Orane Laeri & Yann-Ivain Beffa – AI translation platform providing industry-customized solutions to legal professionals, corporations, and governments worldwide that is not only simple and efficient but also unparalleled in accuracy and reliability.

Rayne Care | Founder: Ramona Schwarz – Wellness company providing products for period care, such as its flagship ‘OH-SO comfortable’ reusable menstrual disc.

Red Drop Lab | Founder: Amélie Bon – Red Drop Lab offers a non-invasive menstrual blood collection kit for digital health diagnosis and SaaS applications built on genomic profiling (NGS) and AI to enable early disease detection, detailed diagnosis, and personalized treatment options.

Vetli | Co-Founders: Kirra Balmanno & Emilio Tagua – Digital telemedicine platform providing pet owners with on-demand video consultations from qualified vets.

Next edition starts Q1 2025
Building on the success of the first edition, the next Acceleration Program will launch in the first quarter of 2025 and will continue to focus on investment readiness and strategic growth for female (co)founded startups, with an additional focus on impact and sustainability. The application window will open in Q4 2024. Interested founders in participating can join the waiting list here.

(RAN)