START SUMMIT 

Europe‘s next Wave

Thank you for making START Summit 2025 unforgettable. It was a pleasure to have you with us in St. Gallen!
See you again in 2026?

Start Summit 2025
in numbers

5

stages

  150 +

Speakers

  7000 +

participants

10 +

side events

you don't want to miss
START SUMMIT 2025

Students

Startups

Attendees

Investors

Corporates

Volunteers

our 2025 speakers

Eric Schmidt

Former CEO & Chairman
of Google, KBE

Carsten Maschmeyer

Founder of Maschmeyer Group

Jeannette zu Fürstenberg

MD General Catalyst / Founding Partner La Famiglia VC

Matt Cohler

Partner at Benchmark

Dr. Klaus Hommels

Founder & Chairman, Lakestar / Chairman, NATO Innovation Fund

Check out our
2024 formats

Pitching
competion



free summit
booth
for startups


Speeddating



co-founder
matchmaking



startup
school


Workshops


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7000+ high level particants
attending start summit

Discover our
2025 activities

Start
Fair

Explore our immersive side-events to maximize your START Summit experience. Join us for exclusive workshops, deep-dive sessions, and vibrant networking opportunities that spark fresh ideas and lasting partnerships.

Pitching Competitions

We offer early-stage startups the opportunity to present their venture in front of industry leaders, serial founders and Europe’s most renowned VCs.

Formats

From sessions with top investors to hands-on workshops, tailored matchmaking and networking opportunities, our formats are designed to spark innovation.

Side
Events

Make your experience unforgetable and dive into the vibrant events happing during and around START Summit 2025!

START
fair

At START Fair, attendees can discover a vibrant ecosystem of emerging innovations from early-stage startups shaping tomorrow. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs can apply for a booth to showcase bold ideas, gather feedback, and forge valuable partnerships.

Pitching
Competitions

Whether you’re shaping the future of SaaS, pushing boundaries in DeepTech, or championing Swiss sustainability, we have a pitching competition for you. Secure real-world feedback from top investors, gain global exposure, and join the ranks of tomorrow’s game-changers!

Formats

From adrenaline-fueled bullriding and interactive workshops to intimate AMA sessions and co-founder matchmaking, there’s a format for everyone to learn, connect, and have fun. Wrap up your day by forging valuable partnerships in our bustling meeting areas.

Side
Events

Explore our immersive side-events to maximize your START Summit experience. Join us for exclusive workshops, deep-dive sessions, and vibrant networking opportunities that spark fresh ideas and lasting partnerships.

 


1'000+

Investors

 



2'000

Founders

 

 


3'000

Talents

 



Venture capitalists at
start summit


NooooInvestor

START Hack

Create, collaborate, code and compete at our annual hackathon.

Run by students, for students, START Hack bridges the gap between the worlds of business and technology to create exciting opportunities for talented young developers, including the chance to win life-changing and project-launching prize money.

START Fellowship

START Fellowship is a philanthropic incubator and accelerator program empowering young founders from low- and middle-income countries to put their ideas into reality through an interdisciplinary program. We strive for a world of equal opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Together with our network and community, we bring a value-add to entrepreneurial ecosystems by strengthening relations globally as a bridge-maker. Our goal is to support a diverse range of young entrepreneurs to have a positive impact on their communities and to lay the groundwork for a more equitable future for all of the world.

Sneak peek into
this year's fun!

Partners of
START SUMMIT

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