Dear Partners,
We hope you are enjoying your summer and some signs of a return to normalcy to the fullest.
As it is our tradition on the Swiss National Day, we would like to share with you an update about Impact Hub in Switzerland. We have some wonderful initiatives coming up and one might deserve your special attention:
From 4th to 8th October, we will host the Global Impact Hub Gathering in Switzerland for the first time. This is your opportunity to meet the leaders of 100 Impact Hubs driving entrepreneurship and sustainable development in cities like Accra, Berlin, Bogota, Johannesburg, London, Kigali, Madrid, Manila, Moscow, New York, São Paulo, Tokyo and many more. Thanks to our friends from Stiftung Mercator Schweiz for supporting the Global Impact Hub Gathering in Switzerland.
Let us know in case you’d like to get involved in this week of inspiration and new relationships and save the date for the final party at Kraftwerk Zürich on Friday, 8th Oct, also marking the 10th anniversary of Impact Hub in Switzerland.
Below, please find more information about our activities in the last couple of months as well as what we have in store for you until the end of the year.
Let’s leave this crisis behind and re-build a more sustainable Switzerland!
Yours
Amanda (Geneva / Lausanne), Christoph (Zurich), Connie (Basel), Noora (Bern) and Tommaso (Ticino)
Impact Hub Switzerland Board
PS: This update comes 2x per year.
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Please find the following info below:
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Top Stories: Recent highlights within Impact Hub Switzerland
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Coming Up Next: Exciting events and initiatives in the near future
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Impact Hub in the News: Links to latest news articles
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Impact Hub in Numbers: Current key metrics of Impact Hub
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Impact Hub Switzerland: Board Members and Impact Hubs.
1. TOP STORIES
#Impact Hub Switzerland: “Getting through the Crises” – supporting freelancers, social entrepreneurs and micro enterprises in Switzerland
In our last stakeholder email in January, we announced the partnership with UBS to support 150 freelancers, social entrepreneurs and micro enterprises tackling the challenges caused by the (economic) crisis. So far, more than 60 individuals across Switzerland have benefitted through help with business goal setting and project development, brainstorming marketing ideas, pitching to corporate executives, scouting B2B partners and fundraising for a Series A round, amongst many others. Thanks to UBS for partnering on this important initiative around all of Switzerland. Reach out to any of our Community Builders in the six Impact Hubs to learn more.
#Impact Hub Switzerland: Women Empowerment Day
500 forward-thinking women from across the country attended Impact Hub Switzerland’s second Women Empowerment Day on June 17, 2021 – this year online. Twelve inspirational speakers from politics, science, sports and business gave talks and had panel discussions about Climate Action, Empowering young women and menstruation. Among them were former Federal Council Doris Leuthard and Olympic gold medal winner Dominique Gisin. The participants could mingle in virtual groups and reported to feel very empowered by the vibes of the event. Rewatch the sessions here and get in touch with us to collaborate on similar events in the future!
#Impact Hub Switzerland: Upskilling 100’000 people in EMEA
We collaborate with Google, Canton of Zurich (RAV) and others to upskill 100’000 people in data analytics, project management, UX design and IT in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Through this initiative, Impact Hub Switzerland, together with our partners like PowerCoders and AOZ, distributes 180 free licenses for Google Career Certificates to participants who benefit from these high-quality courses. Thanks to Google Zurich and all the partners. This is a super valuable initiative especially as people are looking for new opportunities and skills in these challenging times.
#Impact Hub Zürich: Female Founder Map & Community building
Only about 20% of all Swiss Startups are founded by women. To fight this imbalance, Impact Hub Zürich and the ZHAW have created the Female Founder Map: Through portraits of Swiss female founders from various fields, the map inspires and encourages women to also take the step into self-employment. In addition, the map creates transparency about the Swiss landscape of female founders. It portrays over 290 female founders and thus also serves as an ideal research tool to find female speakers, board members, presenters and so on. The excuse “I can only find men for this job/event/etc.” is simply not valid. Check out the website, submit founders, connect with the ecosystem, and get in touch to collaborate in this!
#Impact Hub Basel: Introducing EmpowHER
Impact Hub Basel and Thrive With Mentoring have partnered to assist early-stage female entrepreneurs who support the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their business idea. At EmpowHER, they will get access to mentorship with experienced female founders, meet like-minded women and access an innovative cohort to catalyze personal development growth and entrepreneurship competences. The 12 sessions (6 workshops and 6 group mentoring) and 1:1 coaching complemented by the access to a network of empowering women will start this fall. Learn more about the program and deadlines and secure your place on the program as a founder, mentor or expert!
#Impact Hub Basel: TeenPreneurs Innovation Bootcamp together with Creative Kids
Young people between the ages of 15 and 19 who wanted to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of start-ups and young companies, solve a real-life problem on a sustainability issue and pitch a business idea to a jury joined Impact Hub Basel’s first TeenPreneurs Innovation Bootcamp, organised together with Creative Kids Basel as a summer offer. The participants had one week to identify problems, develop innovative business ideas and turn them into real prototypes. Some of our Impact Hub startups like Help’nTrade and SHAREaLOOK inspired and supported the participants.
#Impact Hub Basel: Humans of Impact Hub Basel
Check our YouTube playlist to get inspiring videos about the startups that participate in the Impact Hub Basel Incubator and the Zero Waste Innovation Lab Accelerator programs.
#Impact Hub Zürich: Kraftwerk awarded at Swiss Location Awards 2021
Impact Hub Zurich’s innovation space & restaurant Kraftwerk was awarded 9.3/10 points and the “Outstanding” seal of approval at the Swiss Location Awards 2021. Together with last year’s Best of Swiss Gastro Awards, this is the second major award for the former Kraftwerk since we opened it together with ewz, Migros-Pionierfonds and digitalswitzerland in fall 2017. Got curious? Visit the former power station the next time you are in Zürich (walking distance to Zurich HB)!
#Impact Hub Zürich: Community Co-Budgeting
From the community, for the community: For the third time, the Impact Hub Zürich community selected 4 project ideas that will receive CHF 2’500 each for implementation: “Empower Women in Tech World”, “Kung Fu for the Community”, “Capitano Talent Journey” and “Climate Collage”.
#Impact Hub Zürich – Startup Media House gives startups more visibility
Together with STARTUP CAMPUS Switzerland, the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences and startupticker, Impact Hub Zürich launched the Startup Media House initiative in February. It aims to make startups more visible to the general public by building a network of journalists who report on the Swiss startup scene. Interested startups can submit their story and Startup Media House then selects up to four startups each month to be featured in articles.
#Impact Hub Zürich – New event format: Circular City Tours
Discovering Zürich in a playful way and while learning about original circular and Zurich-based concepts together – this is what “Circular Safari” events are about.
The visited entrepreneurs and shops get the visibility they deserve and show you how easy it is to integrate the concept of circular economy into our everyday lives. See some impressions here, and get in touch if you want to learn more about this event format.
#Impact Hub Switzerland: Launch of Kickstart Innovation with Circular Economy
Kickstart, the innovation platform that brings together startups and organizations to create meaningful partnerships, introduced its circular economy cross-vertical in collaboration with Impact Hub Switzerland in 2020. We are very happy to continue the initiative this year and engage a growing number of partners in the transition towards a circular economy, such as Service Industriel de Genève, Canton de Vaud, Swisscom, EPFL, Coop, Migros, Axa, Mobiliar and many more.
#Impact Hub Bern: Impact Academy
In August 2021, Impact Hub Bern is launching the Impact Academy. This new offer targets everyone who wants to strengthen their knowledge in the areas of innovation, sustainability, new work, technology and trends. The focus lies on knowledge transfer, best practices and valuable exchange between the participants. Check out their half day workshops and events here.
#Impact Hub Bern: Girls Getting Started!
Impact Hub Bern has successfully launched a programme to empower young women until the age of 30 and boost their interest in entrepreneurial thinking. Why is that necessary? Women often don’t trust their capabilities and are far less likely to engage in entrepreneurial activities. We know: If you can see it, you can be it! That’s why Girls Getting Started introduces them to inspiring female entrepreneurs, they’ll meet other like-minded people and immediately apply their new knowledge with innovation methods. Join us for the opening event on August 19!
#Impact Hub Geneva: Launch of the 4th Edition of Accelerate2030
In March 2021, Accelerate2030 announced the global launch of its 4th edition at the SDG Global Festival of Action. The program, initiated by Impact Hub Geneva and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2016, has grown to become one of the world’s largest programs for entrepreneurial solutions working towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, the program received over 1300 applications from entrepreneurs across 20+ countries. While being open to all themes covered in the SDGs, the program has a global focus on Good Health & Wellbeing and Circular Economy. Learn more in the program’s Impact Report and connect with the team if you are interested to partner.
#Impact Hub Geneva: Live Conversation with Paul Polman on Changing the System from Within
On May 31st, Impact Hub Geneva hosted Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and current chair of IMAGINE, for a live streamed conversation on changing the system from within through collective action and leadership. This marked the launch of the Intrapreneurship Academy’s second edition and contributed to elevating the corporate social responsibility narrative to one centered on corporate social innovation, where intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs join forces to lead purposeful change.
#Impact Hub Ticino: Official Doors Opening!
Save the date on September 25, 2021 for the official opening event of Impact Hub Ticino! Due to the pandemic we couldn’t make it sooner, but finally the time has come and we can’t wait to welcome you all in our beautiful coworking space with a garden in Via Ciseri 3, in Lugano. Details on the program and times will follow. Stay tuned!
#Impact Hub Ticino: ERSL supports Impact Hub Ticino
The Agency for Regional Development (ERSL – Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo del Luganese) supported Impact Hub Ticino thanks to its Regional Promotional Fund (FPRL – Fondo di Promozione Regionale del Luganese). Established in 2011, the FPRL aims to stimulate new initiatives and to finance local and regional projects that contribute to the socio-economic development of the territory. “We appreciate Impact Hub Ticino’s commitment to encourage the exchange of ideas and experiences, the spaces for sharing and the willingness to support companies in achieving sustainable development goals, addressing issues such as impact, circular economy and sustainability” says Roberta Angotti Pellegatta, Director, Regional Development Agency of Lugano. We are grateful for ERSL’s support for the Impact Hub Ticino and are eager to actively contribute to the territory with our activities.
#Impact Hub Ticino: The Swiss Triple Impact program successfully lands in Ticino
Impact Hub Ticino partners with B Lab Switzerland and becomes the only regional platform of the Swiss Triple Impact (STI) program in Ticino. There are over 140 Swiss companies that are actively participating in the program and recognize the importance of building a more resilient and sustainable economy, creating value for all stakeholders. Six of these are in Ticino and 35 expressed interest during the introductory workshops. A great result for Impact Hub Ticino and a beautiful signal for the region! Thanks to Aziende Industriali di Lugano (AIL) SA, O3ZY SA, Dimitto Certification Services, Albergo Diffuso – Fondazione Corippo, FEMTOprint SA, and Parthenogen for being part of the transformation. Interested? Attend the program’s introductory workshops or reach out for more information!
#Impact Hub Ticino: Celebrating failure as a gateway to success with FuckUp Nights
Impact Hub Ticino partnered with the FuckUp Nights Movement to host the FuckUp Nights Lugano at the beautiful coworking space located in Via Ciseri 3 in Lugano. The Fuckup Nights (FUN) movement, born in Mexico in 2012 and present in over 300 cities, aims to debunk the negative connotation regarding failure, which is instead considered a learning tool, through the telling of first-person stories. This was the first in-person event and open to the public for the newly born Impact Hub Ticino! We are happy about this new partnership and are pleased about the lively participation, enthusiasm and appreciation. The next one is scheduled for September 16. Get in touch to reserve your spot and for more information!
#Impact Hub Ticino: a committed community of over 40 active members!
The Impact Hub Ticino community is growing fast despite the pandemic and lockdowns. The first semester of activities closes with over 40 active community members! Social entrepreneurs, startuppers, consultants, freelancers in the field of sustainable fashion, technological innovation, robotics, cultural events, marketing and PR, sustainable finance are just some of the members of a diverse community of change-makers who want to contribute to the development of a resilient economy in Ticino. Get your free day pass and try it out!
#Impact Hub Ticino: A cross-border collaboration on Theory U
Ulabhub Ticino, a program of Impact Hub Ticino, activated a cross-border collaboration in Italy with Ulab hub Roma, Manageritalia and Benefit Innovation SB. As part of the U.Lab 2x 2021 global program, promoted by the Presencing Institute, this partnership generated a Theory U Prototyping Lab to define a new and regenerative way of creating mutual and more resilient partnership agreement templates among entities in line with the SDGs. More than 40 social innovators participated in the 4.5-month workshop. Check here for more information
2. COMING UP NEXT
AUGUST
#Impact Hub Switzerland: The 6 Swiss Impact Hubs join forces for a 3rd edition of the Swiss-wide Circular Economy Incubator
As part of the Swiss-wide Circular Economy Transition Initiative, Impact Hub Switzerland is facilitating an incubation program for early-stage circular economy startups in Switzerland in fall/winter 2021/22. Based on our experience with last year’s hybrid edition of the incubation program (and other virtual formats such as the VersusVirus virtual incubator), we decided to once again put together a hybrid incubation program consisting of both physical and virtual elements. Follow the program on linkedin, or contact us directly if you are curious to learn more!
SEPTEMBER
#Impact Hub Geneva: 2nd edition of Intrapreneurship Academy
After last year’s initial success, this second edition of the Intrapreneurship Academy will accompany a cohort of young professionals from business and International Organizations on their leadership development journey by means of acceleration support on their existing intrapreneurship projects. Young professionals and their employers can apply until 5 September. An early bird fee will be granted for all applications confirmed before 8 August!
#Impact Hub Geneva and Lausanne: 6th edition of Kickstart Innovation
Debuting in Romandie this year, Kickstart is one of the largest European Innovation Platforms, bridging the gap between startups, corporations, cities, foundations and universities to accelerate partnerships and deep tech innovation. Since its inception in 2015, Kickstart has supported over 200 startups and facilitated over 170 deals in the form of collaborations in over 40 countries, raising more than CHF 850 million in investments so far. In total, 51 high growth startups and intrapreneurship teams, out of which 16 have a specific focus on circular economy, have been selected for the 2021 cohort. The opening ceremony of the program will be held on 7 September and the closing ceremony on 10 November.
#Impact Hub Zürich: Cultural Heritage Session at ZHDK’s Creative Economies Forum
Impact Hub Zürich will be part of the Creative Economies Forum of ZHDK on 8 and 9 September. Together with students, creatives and researchers, we will explore how Limmathaus Zürich can become an example of cultural heritage in Zurich’s Industriequartier. More info and registrations here.
#Impact Hub Ticino: Nascono gli Impact Bar con SI FA!
Impact Hub Ticino organizes Impact Bars, every first Thursday of the month as of September. These monthly informal events are addressed to people who have ideas or embryonic projects, who have or are working on a business model and would like to take the first or next step but do not know how to do it. In front of a good coffee the team and the coaches of IHT and our partner SI FA! support the aspiring entrepreneurs to develop the idea, connections or simply to get inspired. Get in touch for more information!
#Impact Hub Bern: 2nd Call for Project for the Lean Innovation Award
Impact Hub Bern will organize the Lean Innovation Award for the second time, with prices worth 25’000 CHF. The LIA is targeted to people or teams with ideas who are at the beginning of their project, have or are working on a business model and would like to take the first or next step. The award favors aspiring and young startups that align their business mission with the Sustainable Development Goals. Projects can apply until 24 September.
OCTOBER
#Impact Hub Switzerland: Global Impact Hub Gathering in Switzerland
From 4th to 8th October, we will host the Global Impact Hub Gathering in Switzerland. Let’s represent Switzerland as a leading country for innovation and entrepreneurship for sustainable development. During this week, we plan to organize several events for our Swiss community to connect with and learn from Impact Hub directors from all over the world. Please get in touch in case you’d like to be involved.
#Impact Hub Zürich: Anniversary event “Next 10 Years”
On the 8th of October, we will celebrate 10 years of Impact Hub Zürich as well as look ahead at what we need to do to rebuild the world after the crisis. There is an “invite-only” afternoon event followed by an open party at Kraftwerk in the evening. We hope to see many of you celebrating the “Next 10 Years” together with us. Save the date!
#Impact Hub Switzerland: We organize local Climathons in Geneva, Zürich, and Ticino
The Climathon is a 24-hour hackathon dedicated to creating climate action in the form of tangible projects, supporting climate positive projects, startups and businesses in Switzerland, and addressing local policy changes. As in previous years, Impact Hubs in Switzerland are bringing the global climate action movement to Switzerland, with (so far confirmed) three local Climathons taking place across Switzerland (in Geneva, Zürich, and Mendrisiotto – together with other implementing partners). Get in touch with us if you want to contribute as a partner in any region!
#Impact Hub Lausanne: Partnership for circular economy jobs and skills
Together with Mentor Energy, Démarche and Atelier Eveil, Impact Hub Lausanne is planning to open a one-of-a-kind cross-sector collaboration and experimentation space for circular economy in Lausanne. The space is built in partnership with the city of Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud, and it will be located in the heart of Lausanne and focus on innovative green jobs market reintegration measures. The soft launch is planned in Q4 this year.
Additionally, Impact Hub Lausanne deepens its collaboration with the Crea Inseec on a new Bachelor’s degree program on “ethical marketing” and announces a new partnership with Ricardo.ch on various topics within the circular economy.
#Impact Hub Ticino: Boosting awareness on SDGs and Climate Change with TED Circles and Countdown events
Impact Hub Ticino is planning to host a TED Circle and Countdown event series in fall 2021. TED Circles is a global community of small groups who discuss big ideas together. TED provides monthly themes, recommended talks, and specific conversation starters while the participants can focus on engaging in the discussion. Want to participate in a Circle? Contact us!
NOVEMBER
#Impact Hub Geneva: Accelerate2030 participates in Geneva’s “Building Bridges Week”
Impact Hubs Geneva’s Accelerate2030 platform will contribute two events to the Building Bridges Week, that takes place from November 29 until December 3: “Tomorrow’s Economy is Circular: Opportunities and challenges for financing the transition to a circular economy” in collaboration with Kickstart Innovation, and “Access to Health Care for All: Scaling SDG3 innovations from the Global South” in partnership with UNAids.
3. IMPACT HUB IN THE NEWS
Corriere del Ticino (1.6.2021)
Radicati sul territorio, connessi con il mondo
Tutto Green (7.2021)
Tecnologia verde: tra innovazione e sostenibilità
Tutto Green (3.2021)
Cosa sono le aziende BCorp?
RSI (1.6.2021)
Un’economia… da far circolare
Corriere del Ticino Online (27.7.2021)
Ecco come sono fallito prima di avere successo
Swissfederalism (1.7.2021)
Accordo di partnership tra BAK Economics e Impact Hub Ticino
Corriere del ticino (26.3.2021)
BCorp, le aziende che pensano alla società e alla natura
Tagesanzeiger (7.7.2021)
Aussergewöhnliche Stadtführungen: So entdecken Sie Zürich neu
NZZ (3.2.2021)
Frauen und Finanzen: Starthilfe von Frauen für Frauen
Netzwoche (9.6.2021)
Mehr Chancen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt: Google verschenkt Stipendien für seine eigenen IT-Kurse
Swissinfo.ch (8.3.2021)
Gründerinnen haben es schwer
L’écosystème des start-up peine à s’ouvrir aux femmes
Wirtschaftsraum Zürich (11.2.2021)
Startup Media House lanciert
Matt Ward (19.4.2021)
A Comprehensive Guide to Zurich’s Startup and Venture Capital Tech Ecosystem
4. IMPACT HUB IN NUMBERS
Active Members: 1’300 in Switzerland // 16’000 globally
Number of Hubs: 6 in Switzerland // 105 globally
Number of spaces: 8 in Switzerland // 130 globally
Square meters: 6’000 m2 in Switzerland // 84’800 m2 globally
Team size: 100 team members (74 FTEs) in Switzerland
New jobs (p.a.): 1’628 new FTEs created in the Swiss Impact Hub community in 2020
5. IH SWITZERLAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Amanda Byrde, Impact Hub Geneva & Impact Hub Lausanne
Christoph Birkholz, Impact Hub Zürich
Connie Low, Impact Hub Basel
Noora Buser, Impact Hub Bern
Tommaso Tabet, Impact Hub Ticino
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