Startup Events Switzerland: Conferences for Founders

Best Startup Events in Switzerland: Conferences for Founders

Switzerland punches way above its weight when it comes to startup events. The country that gave us CERN, ETH Zurich, and a banking system that actually works also hosts some of the most impressive startup conferences in Europe. Whether you are a first-time founder, a seasoned investor, or just startup-curious, there is an event for you somewhere between Winterthur and Davos.

Here is our breakdown of the best startup events Switzerland has to offer in 2026 and early 2027.

The Big Three: Largest Startup Events in Switzerland

These are the headline acts. The ones that pull thousands of attendees and put Switzerland on the global startup map.

Startup Nights (Winterthur)

November 5-6, 2026 | Eulachhallen Winterthur | startup-nights.ch

9,500+ attendees make Startup Nights the single largest startup event in Switzerland. The Eulachhallen in Winterthur transform into a massive playground for founders, investors, partners, and volunteers over two full days. Expect pitching stages, workshops, a sprawling expo floor, and more networking than your LinkedIn inbox can handle. If you only go to one startup event in Switzerland per year, this is the safe bet.

START Summit (St. Gallen)

March 2027 (next edition) | St. Gallen | startglobal.org

Entirely organized by students at the University of St. Gallen, START Summit has grown into one of the premier startup conferences in the Alps. 120+ speakers across five tracks, 60-second elevator pitches, and a lineup that includes names like Milda Mitkutė (Co-Founder of Vinted), Gabriel Vasquez (Investment Partner at Andreessen Horowitz), Phillipp Schröder (CEO of 1KOMMA5°), and Samuel Müller (Co-Founder of Scandit). The international reach and academic backbone set this apart from every other startup event in Switzerland.

M01N Startup Camp (Rapperswil-Jona) | MOIN Startup

February 17-18, 2027 | ENTRA Rapperswil | moin.camp

The biggest startup event at Lake Zurich and one of the top 5 startup events Switzerland-wide. >1500 attendees, two days, one venue. What sets M01N apart from the rest is simple: it feels real. No corporate polish, no rehearsed smiles. Just raw founder energy. The speaker list reads like a Swiss startup hall of fame: Petter Made (SumUp), Thierry Kneissler (TWINT), Julian Liniger (Relai), and even ex-Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld. Add a pitch competition with 100+ startups, a 48-hour hackathon with OST University, and the legendary aftershow party with SunIce DJ Mister Alive. If you want to understand what the Swiss startup scene actually feels like, go to M01N.

More Startup Events Worth Your Time

SSA Founders Day (Zurich)

April 9, 2026 | Google Campus Europaallee, Zurich | swissstartupassociation.ch

250+ founders and investors at the Google Campus in Zurich. Keynotes, panels, deep-dive workshops, and quality over quantity. Free admission but exclusively for Swiss Startup Association Premium Members. The format is intentionally small so that real conversations happen. If you want to meet the right people without fighting through crowds of 9,000, this is your event.

Startup Days (Bern)

May 21, 2026 | Kursaal Bern | startupdays.ch

Startup Days positions itself as the "Swiss Deep-Tech Catalyst Event." 40+ sessions, 125+ speakers, and a clear focus on startups with real technical substance. Ophelia Snyder (21Shares), Kilian Wagner (VIU), and Lars Mangelsdorf (Yokoy) are among the speakers. The event connects startups, corporates, investors, and ecosystem enablers in a single day at the Kursaal Bern. Particularly strong for founders in HealthTech, CleanTech, and AI.

Zünder Startup Cruise (Lucerne)

September (annual) | MS Diamant, Lake Lucerne | zuender.ch

Central Switzerland's startup highlight takes place on a boat. The MS Diamant on Lake Lucerne becomes the stage for the Zünder Accelerator finale. Keynotes from successful young entrepreneurs, investor pitches, and an awards ceremony with up to CHF 15,000 in prize money. A genuinely unique format that combines networking and startup energy on the water. If you want to tap into the Central Swiss startup community, do not skip this one.

Business Events with a Startup Angle

Not every event worth attending for founders has "startup" in its name. These broader Swiss business formats also offer valuable connections and exposure.

World Economic Forum (Davos)

Annually in January | Davos | weforum.org

The WEF needs no introduction. It is the annual gathering of global business and political leaders in the Swiss Alps. Direct participation is out of reach for most startups, but the ecosystem of side events around the forum keeps growing every year. Being present in the orbit of WEF gives you access to a network that simply does not exist anywhere else.

Swiss Economic Forum (Interlaken)

2026 | Interlaken | swisseconomic.ch

Running under the 2026 theme "Unbreakable?", the Swiss Economic Forum brings together Switzerland's top business leaders. Speakers include Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and Severin Schwan (Chairman of Roche). Not a pure startup event, but for founders who want face time with corporate decision-makers, it is one of the most important gatherings in Switzerland.

Wirtschaftsforum Obersee (Rapperswil-Jona)

June 23, 2026 | ENTRA, Rapperswil-Jona | wirtschaftsforum-obersee.ch

A regional business forum with strong networking at Lake Zurich. Speakers include Roberto Martullo (Künzli Schuhe), Adrian Steiner (Thermoplan), and Johannes Läderach. Startups get stage time too. Hosted by Bigna Silberschmidt. For founders in Eastern Switzerland, this is the place to build local business relationships and get on the radar of the regional business community.

Which Startup Event in Switzerland Is Right for You?

Our recommendation: attend at least two or three of these startup events Switzerland offers each year. Every single one has its own character, and the combination is what builds your network and keeps your startup visible.

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