Side Events
Side Events are ideal for deeper conversations and targeted relationship building outside the main program.
Beyond the main stage, START Summit 2026 side events unlock exclusive opportunities for deeper connections, curated learning experiences, and intimate access to Europe's most influential startup ecosystem. From invite-only dinners with leading investors to immersive workshops and local ecosystem exploration, these carefully designed formats transform networking into meaningful relationships and insights into actionable strategies.
Deeper connections
Smaller groups, higher signal, real conversations
Curated formats
Dinners, workshops, office hours, invite-only sessions
Access to decision-makers
Investors, founders, partners in non-stage settings
Local ecosystem immersion
Across St. Gallen, beyond the main venue
Side Events Catalogue
Explore all side events and exclusive experiences. More events to be announced.
Partnering with
LP/GP-Dinner
Begin START Summit one step ahead with our flagship LP/GP Dinner. The exclusive experience at our primier side event brings together leading LPs and senior GPs from top-tier funds.
Investor Day Zero
The day before the summit investors and venture capital leaders gather for a focused half-day of practical insights into venture capital and dialogue between LPs and VC managers.
Founder Day Zero
Get ready for Founder Day Zero! A day full of hands-on workshops for startups, plus the START Summiteer Deeptech Quarterfinals.
Corporate Day Zero
The day before START Summit, innovation leaders and corporate decision makers gather in Zurich to connect with top Venture Client Units.
Talent Day Zero
Join Talent Day Zero to meet ambitious technical and business talent from across Europe and find your future co-founder.
GTM Breakfast
What actually works in 2026? Scale revenue, not costs: Real talk from Workist's VP Growth on building efficient GTM in the age of AI.
Investor Night
Connect in a relaxed setting before the Summit rush begins. The Investor Night, hosted by Swisscom Ventures, will foster an exclusive environment for visionary and innovative personalities.
Young Talent in the Tech Sector as a Transnational Location Factor
A discussion on the role of young tech talent as a strategic driver for Germany and Switzerland as digital hubs.
Fund F x Female Founders Brunch
The Fund F x Female Founders Brunch is an invite-only gathering designed for female founders across industries who are building ambitious, technology-driven companies.
AWS Founders Lunch
This gathering is designed for founders at various stages, VCs actively investing in Europe, and AWS startup specialists to connect over shared challenges - from navigating early growth to understanding the evolving European startup landscape.
EWOR St. Gallen Investor Lunch
Meet the EWOR Grand Pitch Fellows.
ClickHouse & AWS Builders Run
Join a community run hosted by ClickHouse and AWS alongside START Summit in St. Gallen. Connect with founders, talent and investors over a relaxed social run followed by breakfast and networking.
swisstech Investor Circle
The swisstech Investor Circle is an invite-only lunch connecting a carefully curated group of Swiss Deep Tech startups with international investors seeking high-quality deal flow and meaningful connections.
Bolts and Bytes Breakfast
Join a breakfast session exploring how industrial and deep tech startups move from pilot projects to real-world deployment, bringing together founders, corporates, and investors for practical insights and meaningful connections.
Get-together Apèro
Join us for a relaxed apéro during the event. A small get-together to meet, exchange ideas and enjoy a drink and some snacks together.
Small country, big opportunities - meet Liechtenstein's investors
This meet up flips the script (or more accurately it flips the pitch) - while investors pitch, startups and founders listen and get insights into how investors think, decide and invest.
Visionaries Lunch
An invite-only lunch hosted by Visionaries Club, bringing together 30 selected founders for focused conversations and high-quality networking.
AI Monetisation
Join an intimate fireside chat with leaders from high-growth AI companies on what truly works in AI monetization. Gain practical insights on turning adoption into scalable revenue, followed by networking with founders and Stripe experts.
The Thinkers Dinner: Gupf Edition
Join this discussion series by Redalpine and Fly Ventures, bringing together a small circle of founders and investors to explore long-term questions shaping the future.
Northzone x Cherry Summit Sundown
Bringing together top founders, operators, and innovators for an afternoon of great conversations and meaningful connections in a classic St. Gallen brewery.
Anker Capital Investor Brunch
A private investor brunch focused on capital allocation and emerging opportunities.
Capital & Croissants
Gather for an invite-only, intimate investor breakfast in the heart of St. Gallen. Set in a relaxed morning atmosphere over coffee and croissants, the breakfast is designed to foster meaningful, off-the-record conversations among leading European investors.
Building & Backing AI
Explore how AI is reshaping the funding landscape and what it takes to go from researcher to funding-ready founder during a breakfast session with Balderton and the ETH AI Center
Network party
The Network Party brings together the START Network community for an evening dedicated to connection, entertainment, and shared momentum at ØYA Bar.
https://events.startglobal.org/public/47d92899-fbd9-40cb-8f76-714bec6e9954
https://events.startglobal.org/public/558f3984-60c9-4766-a065-18208835f15e
https://events.startglobal.org/partner/650bb5ee-c63b-432b-9781-101a720bc012
Frequently Asked Questions
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