Benefits FOR startups
WHY JOIN
Embark on a transformative journey to scale your startup and accelerate its impact:
- Join a community of pioneering companies and industry experts dedicated to sustainable business and innovation.
- Connect with investors, engage with potential partners and customers, and gain international visibility.
- Receive tailored support to refine your business model, optimize your execution plan, and craft effective industrialization and go-to-market strategies.
- Contribute to a global movement driving the transition to a regenerative economy —by developing and deploying sustainable, circular solutions rooted in collaboration, inclusive prosperity, and environmental justice.
Experts
Dr. Cara Tobin
Dr. Cara Tobin
Innovation Coach, Founder | C Greene Solutions
Cara founded a successful blended climate finance platform in 2015.
In 2018, she was invited to join Clean Energy Ventures (CEV) where she mentors start-ups funded by CEV at seed and Series A levels.
Cara mentors approximately 40 companies annually for Mass Challenge (MC) Switzerland as their climate solutions and sustainable manufacturing coach. She supports MC start-ups to identify KPIs, improve pitches and financial projections and find paid pilots and investment. This year, Cara supported start-ups to quantify their impacts on the SDGs. In 2023, she coached 6 of the top 10 start-ups and has received the highest ratings as a coach for 2 consecutive years. Some of the start-ups that Cara has coached/is coaching include: LiveGrow Bio, Carbonaught, Gaia Technologies, Databaum, Revocircle and Instaheat.
Cara is also an Energy and Environment expert for Innosuisse and accredited Special Coach for Sustainable business strategies and impact measurement (SDGs).
Dr. Eric Favre
Dr. Eric Favre
Startups coach & innovation expert
Passionate, successful, and seasoned engineering and innovation executive, having led multiple R&D teams around the world, benefiting from a sharp and holistic business understanding to shape and optimize processes, tools, and organizations, to timely deliver and produce new products impacting the business, creating value for all stakeholders.
Took benefit from the above to coach and drive technology startups to success, highly appreciated by owners and shareholders, staying close to small SMEs and research organizations to develop collaborations and a proper agile innovation mindset.
MSc (1986) and PHD (1990) from EPFL, then always active in developing business / products (motors &electronics, sensors, fluidic related products) for OEM customers, working first 10 years for a startup (ETEL), then 10 years for a mid-size and global sensors’ company (LEM), then 12 years for a large multinational (IMI) as Global Engineering Director.
Elisabetta Aebischer
Elisabetta Aebischer
Sustainability Manager | EPFL Innovation Park
Elisabetta is a strategy development partner, in a mission to transform innovation into sustainable innovation through knowledge dissemination.
Chemist, with more than twenty years' experience in the industry, her expertise covers business management, business development management, strategy development, complex project management.
She is currently working as Sustainability Manager for the program Tech4Regen at the EPFL Innovation Park.
She is an expert for Innosuisse where she brings scientific, innovation, business acumen and sustainability knowledge.
Ivana Monnard
Ivana Monnard
Sustainability Manager | EPFL Innovation Park
Passionate about sustainability and the positive impact of businesses, Ivana has an academic and professional background in corporate communication, marketing, and project management. She has built strong expertise in product launches, campaign management, and brand strategy development.
Today, Ivana is deepening her expertise in sustainability by integrating responsible practices into corporate strategies. Her approach combines strategic vision and hands-on execution to drive high-impact initiatives.
TRAINING Workshops
The programme offers a comprehensive set of training workshops and seminars covering the most important aspects of the development of regenerative businesses.
Workshops are provided by seasoned professionals and require in-person attendance. The morning workshops will be followed by practical mentoring sessions in the afternoon, where subject matter experts will help startups progress with regard to the thematic of the day.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The workshops below are provided as an indication and may be subject to changes at anytime without notice.
Date & location
📅 Date: March 18, 2025
🕒 Time: 14:00 - 17:30 followed by a cocktail
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
Goal
- Meeting the startups & the program's coaches
- Settling goals & milestones
- Presentation of the startups with the program's partners
Facilitators
- Eric Favre
- Cara Tobin
- Bertrand Klaiber
Date & location
📅 Date: March 27, 2025
🕒 Time: 9am - 12:30, followed by optional mentoring sessions in the afternoon
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
Rationale
To generate scalable and sustainable Net Positive Impact, regenerative technologies need to be combined with appropriate business models and operational strategies.
Goal
The workshop aims at exploring innovative business approaches that are needed to finance regeneration at scale.
- Understand the importance and principles of regenerative entrepreneurship.
- Define your impact strategy with the help of well-known analysis tools, methodologies, and reporting standards.
- Turn your purpose into an inspiring vision and mission statement.
- Design a business model combining profitability and purpose in symbiosis, using specific canvases.
- Test and validate your USP and business model with key customers and stakeholders.
- Assess the regenerative impact and learn about the sustainability norms and customers' expectations that can impact your business.
- Find out how to finance your impact venture and manage shareholders expectations.
Trainers
Géraldine Fiol, Strategy and Sustainability Consultant
In 2019, while Director of Strategy Business Planning Europe for the car manufacturer Nissan, she founded besustainaball to engage companies in reinventing themselves and creating innovative business models for a more sustainable and inclusive society.
Trained in sustainable management, circular economy and climate issues, she guides organisations and their teams in structuring and implementing their sustainability strategy, enabling them to combine business performance with positive impact on ecosystems and human communities.
Bertrand Klaiber, Impact entrepreneur & startup coach
Bertand Klaiber has 30 years of experience in Cleantech and Medtech industries, where is hold several positions related to engineering and innovation management, strategic marketing and international business development.
In 2012 he co-created the EssentialTech program at EPFL and developed an impact entrepreneurship approach to harness technology and business to drive sustainable development.
From 2015 to 2022 he founded and led as the CEO the medtech startup Pristem, thus gaining experience in the whole life cycle of a startup, from scientific research to fundraising (CHF 18mio), team building, product industrialization, certification and go-to-market.
In 2023 he launched Tech4Regen program at EPFL Innovation Park.
Date & location
📅 Date: April 8, 2025
🕒 Time: 9:30 - 12:30
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
Goals
- Principles of Fundraising, impact investing, and realities on the ground
- Find out how to finance regeneration, identify investors, and adapt your pitch and strategy.
Topics
- Identify appropriate sources of financing aligned with your values, missions and strategy
- Staged approach: how much to raise, what kind of investors, and what terms to offer at each stage ? Related Term sheets and shareholders agreements
- Fundraising strategies and instruments at different stages of development
- Expectations of investors : financial and impact
- How to present financial information and investment opportunity in the pitch deck and business plan
- Due diligence process and data room requirements
- Impact investing: overload or opportunity for startups ?
Trainers
Aymeric Jung — Impact Investing & Regenerative Economy Advisor
With over 10 years in Regenerative Economy, Aymeric developed innovative financial solutions driving the transformation of our economy toward a new paradigm that is sustainable and a catalyst for systemic change. His expertise covers direct investments and Impact funds such as NourriTerre and Regenero with Quadia in farming and circular economy, and mandates with Terre de Liens, Fondation Lunt, Fondation Carasso and Slow Food. This follows 15 years in investment banking and Fund Structuring, where Aymeric successfully led innovative solutions for institutions across Europe and the Middle East at Lehman Brothers and Nomura as Head of Fund Derivatives Structuring and Product Specialist at Crédit Suisse.
Arthur Garaud — investor at Edmond de Rothschild.
After completing a Master in Management Grandes Ecoles at ESCP Europe, Arthur joined Edmond de Rothschild 7y ago. He worked on the development of the private equity platform, direct investments for family offices, and project development. He's currently part of the team developing a systemic investment platform dedicated to the regenerative economy.
Date & location
📅 Date: April 8, 2025
🕒 Time: 16:00 - 17:30 followed by a cocktail
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
Goal
- Presentation of different instruments and subsidies offered by Canton de Vaud
- Presentation of the Solar Impulse Foundation
Trainers
Iohannès Bry is currently innovation and technological watch manager at Canton de Vaud (SPEI). He was previously Program and Incubator Manager at EPFL Innovation Park, where he supported deep tech startups with mentoring, workshops, events, visibility, community and tools to help them grow.
Katell Bosser is Sustainable Economy Project Manager at Canton de Vaud (SPEI). She is an entrepreneur, author, independent administrator and speaker. She supports businesses in optimising their resources in terms of time and finance, particularly during growth crises and in adapting to change.
Florine Jacques is also Sustainable Economy Project Manager at Canton de Vaud (SPEI). She has taken on roles of increasing responsibility in marketing, communications and fundraising, and helped to develop new activities, working with different hierarchical levels and functions in changing contexts. She now aims to contribute to impact projects run by players committed to the Social and Solidarity Economy, Sustainable Development, the Environment and Transition.
Enzo Stauffner is Program Manager Partners & Ecosystem Relations at Solar Impulse Foundation. He has a background in finance at F-SCOTT as well as in Ernst & Young.
Date & location
📅 Date: May 5, 2025
🕒 Time: 14:00 - 17:30
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
Rationale
Regenerative ventures need to build appropriate company’s governance, structure, and culture.
This workshop explores how to root impact in the company’s DNA through legal and organizational means.
Goal
Get an insight and some advice on several aspects related to the company's structure and legal aspects:
- Legal form of the business, articles of association, protection of the mission, ...
- Role and Duties of the Shareholders, the Board of Directors and the Executive management
- Better redistribution of benefits (within the company and all along the supply chain)
- Integration of impact & sustainability requirements or ethical rules in various contracts (procurement, partnership, distribution, licensing, etc.)
- Protecting David from Goliath, and cases of force majeure
- Human rights & Nature rights, possible impact on your business
- etc.
Trainer
Michel Jaccard is the founder of id est avocats — a certified B Corp, with a CSR certification by EcoVadis, member of the UN Global Compact, and awarded an impact label by the myclimate foundation.
For the past 25 years, Michel Jaccard has been involved in corporate finance and M&A deals in Switzerland and abroad, acting for entrepreneurs and owners, venture capital and private equity firms, industrial buyers and financial sponsors. He also advises purpose driven, hybrid companies and impact investors on governance and sustainability issues.
He is co-creator of the Impact Term Sheet, member of the working group for introduction of a new legal status of Sustainable Enterprise in Switzerland, and also Lecturer at E4S Enterprise for Society Center (UNIL, IMD, EPFL)
Michel Jaccard holds a Ph.D. in Law from University of Lausanne and a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School (LLM’97). He is CEDR Accredited Mediator and also admitted to the New York Bar.
Date & location
📅 Date: June 4-5 2025
🕒 Time: 9:30 - 12:30 followed by practical mentoring sessions in the afternoon
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
Rationale
To lead for a Regenerative future, brands need to deeply rethink their positioning, from a consumer centric approach towards a new communication including society and environment as key stakeholders.
Goal
This workshop takes you on a journey of how to create a sustainable brand and business from scratch, from brand concept to business strategy and its communication.
You will learn:
- Why building an efficient & adequate ecosystem is key to success
- What are the regenerative drivers of an impactful go-to-market strategy
- How to boost visibility with a sustainable communication — insight & pitfalls
Trainers
- Chantal Baer & Marine Gruaz-Rébuffat, co-founders and partners of Swiss House of Brands, born from the merger of a brand & business strategy consultancy and a communication agency to support multinational, SME and start-ups on a strategic and implementation level.
Chantal Baer — The art of strategically combining her expertise as a linguist, marketing expert and sustainability consultant to build successful brands. Chantal is co-founder of Swiss House of Brand and founder of Admarka, co-author of the book “les leviers de croissance à l’ère de l’économie numérique", member of the “Cercle Suisse des administratrices “, member of different Boards, speaker & moderator.
Marine Gruaz-Rébuffat — A seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the fields of branding, communication strategy and digital. Throughout her professional journey, Marine has founded 2 communication agencies and co-founded Swiss House of Brands, where she honed her skills in creating impactful and innovative communication strategies for various clients & industries. She furthered her commitment to sustainability by undertaking a sustainable business management program at the University of Cambridge. Marine passion lies in blending her entrepreneurial spirit with a sustainable mindset and strong communication skills, and she's always eager to explore new opportunities and collaborations that align with these values.
Innosuisse Instruments Introduction, with Pascale van Landuyt and Cara Tobin
📅 Date: June 25, 2025
🕒 Time: 9h-11h
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park
IP for Greentech startups, with Joël Nithardt
📅 Date: June 25, 2025
🕒 Time: 11h-12h
📍 Location: EPFL Innovation Park