START Global

START Global serves as a cultivating environment for emerging entrepreneurial talent, operating as a non-profit initiative founded by students at the University of St. Gallen in 1996. Over the past decades, it has evolved into a vibrant network connecting founders and entrepreneurially-driven individuals throughout Europe's startup landscape. This organization has positioned itself as a central hub within the continental ecosystem, fostering connections that transcend traditional boundaries between established businesses and emerging ventures.

The organization's flagship events include the annual START Summit x Hack, which has grown into one of Europe's leading student-run startup conferences, attracting thousands of attendees, prominent speakers, and innovative companies each year. Additionally, START Global manages the prestigious START Fellowship program, which identifies and nurtures exceptional entrepreneurial talent through mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. These initiatives collectively work toward the organization's core mission of catalyzing innovation within entrepreneurial ecosystems across Europe.

Since 2016, START Global has operated with the strategic backing of the START Foundation, which provides governance structure and long-term sustainability to the organization's initiatives. The foundation's advisory board comprises ten distinguished Swiss business leaders and investors who bring decades of experience and industry connections. Notable board members include Daniel Gutenberg, a renowned venture capitalist with numerous successful exits, Urs Wietlisbach, co-founder of Partners Group, and Florian Schweitzer, a prominent figure in European venture capital.

What distinguishes START Global in the investment landscape is its unique position at the intersection of academia, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. By identifying talent at the university level and providing structured pathways toward entrepreneurial success, the organization has created a pipeline of innovation that benefits the broader European startup ecosystem. Their focus on early identification of promising founders and ideas has established START Global as an important first touchpoint for many ventures that later secure significant funding and achieve market success, making them an influential player in the European early-stage investment community.