Step Into the Spotlight: Startup Nights for Founders
Meet investors, pitch your ideas, network with corporates, and gain hands-on insights to power your startup growth.
what to expect
Benefits for you as a Founder
Full access for you & your team
Full 2-day access, co-working, talks, networking, food & drinks.
Startup Booth
Showcase your Startup
Showcase your startup to 8,500+ visitors with a branded booth in the exhibition area. Meet potential customers, investors, and partners.
Pitching competitions
Present your vision to leading investors
Take the stage and pitch your startup to a live audience and expert jury. This year, we are hosting three verticals: Impact Tech, Deep Tech, and Health Tech.
Compete for visibility, valuable feedback and exclusive prizes!
Applications will open in summer 2026. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know!
network
Connect with the right people
Launch Control presents
Co-Founder Matchmaking
Successful startups need strong teams. At our Co-Founder Matchmaking, we connect innovative founders with committed individuals!
Do you have a startup idea but lack a co-founder who completes your team? Or would you like to be part of an innovative project but don’t know where to start?
Then you’ve come to the right place: After quick 1-minute pitches, we move straight into speed networking. This allows you to quickly find out which startup suits you best. And maybe your next big adventure as a co-founder begins here!
- Friday 7 November
- 14:30 - 16:00
- Startup Nights
workshops
Learn from the best
Take part in founder-focused workshops delivered by experts in law, sales, marketing, and funding. Learn how to set up shareholder agreements, avoid legal pitfalls, build killer funnels, master storytelling, and sharpen your digital marketing. This is practical learning made for doers.
Keynotes & Panels
Get inspired by leaders
Our Main Stage features unicorn founders, serial entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. It’s your front-row seat to authentic stories, bold insights, and practical advice from people who’ve actually built the future.
Success Stories
Hear from our inspiring founders
A few years ago, Nicholas and Arshya met by chance in the bathroom at Startup Nights.
A short conversation led to a strong connection and eventually to founding their own company together.
Today, they are building a successful business and show how meaningful encounters can start in the most unexpected moments.
Ticket Pricing
Founder Ticket
- If you're participating in the Pitching Competition or showcasing your startup with a booth, you still need to purchase a Founder Ticket.
Founder
CHF 75
Excl. VAT
Includes:
- Ticket for both days
- Free drinks & food
- Access to matchmaking platform
- Access to workshops
- Separate application for Booth and Pitching Competition
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FAQs
Your most common questions, answered.
Do I have access to high-quality internet during the event?
Yes, free high-speed internet will be provided by our partner CISCO.
Where and until when can I apply for the pitching competition?
You can find more information about the Pitching Competition here.
Who is eligible to participate in the pitching competition?
Only Swiss-based startups are eligible to participate. You can find more information about the application criteria and the pitch deck requirements here.
Where and until when can I apply for a startup booth?
You can find more information about startup booths here.
I need a visa to travel to Switzerland. Can Startup Nights provide an invitation letter?
Yes, we can provide a visa invitation letter once your tickets have been purchased.
To issue the letter, we kindly ask you to provide the following information to hello@startup-nights.ch:
Country of residency
Passport number
Full name (as in passport)
Date of birth
Company name
Your role
Once we have received this information and confirmed your ticket purchase, we will prepare and send you the invitation letter.
Where can I buy tickets for the event?
You can get your ticket here.
How can I make the most of Startup Nights and its networking opportunities?
We highly recommend using our AI-powered matchmaking to connect with the right people before the event.
Matchmaking is included with every Founder & Builder Ticket and is available through our event app, which will launch around 3 weeks before the event.
Simply complete your profile, discover your best matches with the help of AI, start networking before Startup Nights begins, and schedule meetings in advance to make the most of your time at the event.