Venture Leaders
20 Years of Venture Leaders

Two Decades of Growing Global Deeptech Champions

Since 2006, Venturelab has brought Switzerland’s most promising startups onto the global stage through the Venture Leaders program and the Swiss National Startup Team. Explore founder stories, personal journeys, and insights from international roadshows that reveal what it takes to build companies across borders and grow globally.

The Venture Leaders Journey: Taking Swiss Innovation to the World

From Boston and New York to Silicon Valley, China, Hong Kong, Barcelona, London, and Munich, the Swiss National Startup Team has connected Swiss founders with the world’s leading innovation hubs for nearly two decades.

Through international investor and business development roadshows, Venture Leaders gives deeptech founders direct access to top investors, industry leaders, and global startup ecosystems that help turn Swiss innovation into international success stories.

The Swiss National Startup Team


Discover the story behind the Swiss National Startup Team and how Venture Leaders helped Swiss startups compete on the global stage.

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Meet the Founders Behind Switzerland’s Global Success Stories

Explore founder stories, international roadshow experiences, and insights into global markets, investors, and the journey behind the Swiss National Startup Team.

20 Years of Venture Leaders: Celebrating two decades of the Swiss National Startup Team

Venture Leaders celebrates its 20th anniversary, looking back on two decades of connecting Swiss startup founders with leading innovation hubs worldwi...

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Lonely Yet Impactful: How the Swiss National Startup Team Helped Volumina Medical Gain Access and Shape Society

Volumina Medical develops injectable biomaterials to restore soft tissue volume lost after disease, trauma, or surgery. Their biomaterials enable the...

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From a Business Idea That Did Not Work Out to Unicorn Status: Venture Leaders alumnus GetYourGuide Looks Back

When Johannes Reck, Co-Founder and CEO of GetYourGuide, joined Venture Leaders Boston in 2010, GetYourGuide was still an early startup trying to find ...

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Not Every Plan Leads To Success: How the Swiss National Startup Team Shaped Enerdrape's Growth Strategy

When Margaux Peltier, Co-Founder and CEO of Enerdrape, joined Venture Leaders Cleantech in 2022, her company was barely a year old. Yet despite its ea...

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When Local Funding Is Not the Right Fit: How Venture Leaders Took the University Spinout ONWARD Medical Global

When Vincent Delattre joined Venture Leaders in 2014, ONWARD Medical was still an early EPFL spinout with a bold mission: developing neurostimulation ...

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20 Years of Venture Leaders: The Impact Behind Switzerland's Global Startup Success

For 20 years, Venture Leaders has helped Swiss startups think beyond borders. What began as an international roadshow to Boston has evolved into the S...

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Why Going Global Early Matters: How the Swiss National Startup Team Shaped greenteg’s Global Mindset

When Wulf Glatz joined Venture Leaders China in 2014, greenteg was already looking beyond Switzerland’s borders. As part of the Swiss National Startup...

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Global Investors Won’t Wait: Carlos Ciller of RetinAI Shares How to Build a Company Investors Actually Want to Invest

Jordi Montserrat, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Venturelab, spoke with Carlos Ciller, Co-Founder and CEO of RetinAI, about building an AI healthc...

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What Our Alumni Say

See how Venture Leaders helps Swiss founders grow globally.

Johannes Reck

“Venture Leaders is a once in a lifetime experience that every Swiss entrepreneur should go through. Looking back, I can say it was just essential to build my awareness to make GetYourGuide a global business and deal with international investors.”

Johannes Reck Co-Founder & CEO, GetYourGuide
Amélie Béduer

“Through Venture Leaders, I gained essential knowledge on how to approach investors and prepare for international growth. Beyond the content, the exchange with experienced founders and investors helped me sharpen my perspective and accelerate my development as a CEO.”

Amélie Béduer CEO, Volumina Medical
Madiha Derouazi

“It is the greatest experience I have had as a young entrepreneur, an amazing program that brings you to the next level!”

Madiha Derouazi Co-Founder & CEO, Amal Therapeutics
Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual

“Venture Leaders was a fantastic program that allowed me to expand my professional network within the Boston-based venture capital ecosystem.”

Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual Co-Founder & CEO, TOLREMO Therapeutics
Jan Lichtenberg

“Venture Leaders has been a unique program to put my business development on the front burner. I returned with a ton of great contacts and a much clearer vision on how to run my company and understanding of the US market. A must have if your ambition is to build a winning business.”

Jan Lichtenberg Co-Founder & CEO, InSphero
Marc Gitzinger

“Venture Leaders is possibly the best startup program to participate in. One week of full-time entrepreneurial experiences along with a phenomenal group of people had a crucial impact on the success of funding our venture.”

Marc Gitzinger CEO, BioVersys AG

Download the 20 Years Venture Leaders Magazine


Explore two decades of Venture Leaders, the evolution of the Swiss National Startup Team, and how Swiss startups built global ambition through international roadshows, investor access, and global ecosystems.

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20 Years of Venture Leaders on Social Media

Explore highlights, founder stories, anniversary moments, and global impressions shared across the Venture Leaders community throughout the 20 Years celebration.

Venture Leaders Video Stories

Explore selected videos from the Venture Leaders community and discover the startups, founders, and international roadshows shaping the future of Swiss innovation.

Success Stories

Meet the Venture Leaders alumni who turned international exposure into global growth, funding rounds, partnerships, and exits.

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Founder Highlights

Watch more videos from Swiss founders, Venture Leaders roadshows, and the global startup community.

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Get in Touch

Do you have questions about Venture Leaders or want to learn more about the programand its global impact? Contact us.

Stefan Steiner Co-Managing Director stefan.steiner@venturelab.swiss Stefan Steiner on LinkedIn