With this call type, the innovation program supports market-, society- or culture-related entrepreneurial projects in the context of digital transformation. The Founder Call is intended to contribute to the creation of spin-offs and start-ups in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors by employees and students of the partner universities.

The basic idea of the Founder Call is to provide low-threshold and early-stage start-up financing in order to advance the start-up process. This is to be done by financing the step from the pure start-up idea to the “proof of concept” of this idea. The aim is to demonstrate that a conceptually developed project can also be implemented in practice. Successful implementation of the project should convince participants, partners and investors that pursuing the start-up idea is promising.

Projects for the 1st Founder Call can claim up to a maximum of CHF 75,000 in funding from the DIZH Special Credit and may last a maximum of 12 months after the start of the project.