Kickstart Innovation
Funding platformZurich · Pre-Seed–Seed · 3 people tracked
Investment thesis
Kickstart Innovation operates as an open innovation platform focused on facilitating collaboration between large organizations and established startups. Founded in 2015, it helps corporates and public institutions become more sustainable and inventive by matching them with startups ready to scale through commercial partnerships and proof-of-concept projects. Rather than a traditional capital-first investor, it positions itself as one of Europe's largest and most successful innovation platforms, having facilitated hundreds of commercial partnerships and supported hundreds of startups whose alumni have collectively raised billions in funding.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from the firm's websiteWhat they invest in
from 223 of 318 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×89SaaS ×64Enterprise Software ×60Healthtech ×32Data & Infrastructure ×26Digital Health ×25Fintech ×24Cleantech ×21
HQs:Switzerland×55Germany×18United States×8France×7Austria×4United Kingdom×3
Investments · 318 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2023 · 12022 · 12020 · 12019 · 14 dated
Acodis provides document automation software for pharmaceutical and life sciences companies to extract data from batch records, stability reports, SOPs, and regulatory documents, supporting quality management, operational excellence, regulatory affairs, and compliance functions.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechEnterprise Software
AIDONIC provides a digital platform for delivering humanitarian aid and cash assistance to beneficiaries in fragile, low-connectivity regions, using blockchain and AI to enable real-time traceability, duplicate detection, secure payments, and voucher distribution.
Digital HealthGovTechImpact & Social Good
Nexera Chain provides modular blockchain infrastructure for compliance, tokenization, and standardization across multiple networks.
Crypto & Web3
AllyTime is a mental health platform that connects users with licensed psychologists via voice messages and written communication, supported by AI tools that help psychologists work more efficiently.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechMental HealthBerlin, DE
Zug, CH
Creates whole-muscle cut seafood alternatives including calamari, shrimp, scallops, and tuna.
Chicago, US
Anne Palermo(Executive Officer, Director)Brittany Chibe(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJohnny Ream(Director)
Area9 Lyceum builds an adaptive learning platform that personalizes content and training to each learner's skill level, along with tools for authoring, publishing, and student analytics.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
AssetFloow develops operational AI agents that combine predictive models with large language models to optimize delivery, inventory management, and demand forecasting across logistics, retail, and finance sectors.
AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Atlas Metrics provides an AI-powered platform that combines non-financial data from multiple sources to help financial institutions manage ESG, climate, and financial risks while automating regulatory reporting and compliance.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechFintech
Alpengummi produces natural chewing gum made from tree resins instead of synthetic polymers, marketed to health-conscious consumers concerned about microplastics and sustainability.
Circular EconomyConsumer
BOOKR Kids develops interactive e-books and a mobile app designed to improve literacy, social-emotional, and cognitive skills for school children.
EdTech
Boomerang Ideas provides market research and consumer intelligence through a platform combining AI and social media sampling.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMarketing Tech
Advanced ManufacturingAgTechBrisbane, US
Jamie Bacher(Founder)inAdam Paul Arkin(Founder)in
BoardErkki Aaltonen(Director)
Braindate is event technology that lets conference participants post discussion topics and book 1:1 or group conversations, with dashboards and analytics for organizers to track engagement and connections.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaSSocial
Braive provides a digital health platform for mental health treatment combining screening, triage, clinical decision support, and guided therapy delivery.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental Health
Build38, now part of OneSpan, provides mobile in-app protection and app shielding technology that defends banking apps against tampering, hooking, repackaging, data theft, and API abuse.
CybersecurityFintechSaaS
Cambridge Spark provides data and AI skills training programmes for corporate teams through blended learning (instructor-led and self-paced) and their proprietary EDUKATE.AI platform.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechEnterprise Software
Circly provides automated ordering recommendations for procurement teams in food and beverage retail and wholesale companies using machine learning to forecast demand and optimize inventory planning.
AI & Machine LearningSaaS
CityFALCON aggregates global financial news, filings, investor relations documents, price data, and insider transactions into one platform, applying NLP for sentiment scoring, relevance ranking, and summarisation.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureFintech
Ruzbeh Bacha(Founder and CEO)
Clara is a data visualization platform that turns datasets into interactive maps and visual apps, offering out-of-the-box and custom views without requiring technical expertise.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Clever.Care builds the Clever.Care Coordinator, a messenger-style communication and coordination platform for home care providers, their clients, relatives, and third-party providers such as pharmacies and physicians.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaSBasel, CH
Andres Rapp(Co-Founder)
Go1 is an e-learning aggregation platform that provides digital learning content and integrates with existing learning management systems and HR tools for corporate training needs.
EdTechEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Browse all 318 investments with full details →
▶118 more tracked companies
Perfect MemoryPerxPIPRA AGPlant JammerPlanted FoodsPlasticFriPlaynVoicePlexigridPlumeryPosidoniaPotentialPrefletPremiumPriceHubblePro AidantsProject RosieProSeedPurcellPURESPACEQuandifyQuantActionsQuSecureRaized.AI (Swisscom)RasaratyngREBEL MEATRegimenRementeReportixriskineRiskwolfroofSecRUNWITHIT SyntheticsSavvi HRScholéScooditSelfapySeppoShare.PSharing AcademyShaypShowzoneSilathaSkyHiveSolar GapsSolskinSoobrSpark HorizonSpearfish CorporationSpixiiState of PlaceStaticeSunDataSUPASOSuperLikersSureifySurflySwissDeCodeSympowerTaskbaseTaste of KenyaTaxDoneTEACHYTealeThe Backyard of Algae SciencesThe Climate ChoiceThermosphrThryveTickeyTide OceanTigerLabtilbago AGTime is Ltd.TIMIFYTOM Medicationstooyoo (la Mobilière)TOTEMITraktiTraverse HealthTrustRelayTypewiseuHooUMushroom AGUniqueUnivrsesUnsupervisedUpgrainUPTO (AXA)UrbanisticUrbio +MoreUzuflyVayVeezoo AGVer proyectoVianova SASvibooVirtuosisViscopicViva la FabaVivoSensMedical GmbHVlotWattAnyWhereWeProovWequityWeShop AIweThinkWorkwolfWriteReaderWyrdXM CyberXUND SolutionYarok MicrobioYDataYoordiYUKKA LabZephrZick LearnZOA
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesFini · newmarketpitch.com · Jul 13, 2026
Legora · techfundingnews.com · Jul 8, 2026
QuSecure · nasdaqprivatemarket.com · Apr 3, 2026
Rasa · rasa-legal.com · Mar 10, 2026
Labster · labster.com · May 8, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Kickstart Innovation invest at?
- Kickstart Innovation invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does Kickstart Innovation focus on?
- Kickstart Innovation focuses on Cybersecurity, EdTech, Fintech, FoodTech, Future of Work, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, InsurTech, PropTech, Retail Tech, Sector Agnostic, Wellness & Fitness.
- Where is Kickstart Innovation located?
- Kickstart Innovation is headquartered in Zurich, CH.
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