Swiss startups explore US investment in Silicon Valley: Venture Leaders Technology 2026

Silicon Valley continues to serve as a key reference point for global tech entrepreneurship, where access to venture capital, specialized talent, and fast-moving markets influences how startups scale internationally. In April 2026, the Venture Leaders Technology roadshow brought ten Swiss startups to the Bay Area as part of the Swiss National Startup Team. The goal of the week-long program was straightforward: help founders test their approach in the US market, engage directly with investors, and refine their international expansion plans. Venturelab organizes the roadshow in collaboration with partners DPD, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Kellerhals Carrard, Rothschild & Co, and the Canton of Vaud.

The Venture Leaders Technology program offers a week-long entry into Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem. Over the years, Venturelab has run international roadshows across hubs such as Boston, London, Munich, Barcelona, and various Asian tech centers, connecting Swiss founders with investors and customers in each region. Alumni include startups such as Lemoptix and Composyt Light Labs (acquired by Intel), Faceshift (acquired by Apple), Kooaba (acquired by Qualcomm), Dacuda (acquired by Magic Leap), and Sevensense Robotics (acquired by ABB), as well as scale-ups such as GetYourGuide and Scandit.

The 2026 cohort entered a market where artificial intelligence plays a central role in investor and founder discussions. From AI collaboration systems, such as Agent2Agent approaches to voice-enabled tools and workflow automation, investors and founders are focused on how these technologies translate into scalable business models. Throughout the week, the Swiss entrepreneurs participated in pitch sessions, investor meetings, and industry workshops designed to improve how they present and develop their market entry strategies.



The ten selected startups, chosen from more than 200 applications, met with investors including Boost VC, Intel Capital, Playground Global, Plug and Play Tech Center, DCVC, NGP Capital, Swisscom Outpost Silicon Valley, FYRFLY Venture Partners, Partech, Creandum, Cota Capital, and Tenacity Venture Capital. The direct exchanges provided feedback on product direction, fundraising approaches, and US expansion priorities.

Beyond investor interactions, the cohort took part in a scale-up workshop led by Gabor Cselle and a legal session hosted by Silicon Legal Strategy. The program also emphasized peer exchange among founders, strengthening ties within the group as they worked through similar international growth challenges together.

Networking continued across the Bay Area, including the Swiss Business Reception with Jonas Brunschwig, Swiss Consul in San Francisco, and a pitch-and-dinner event hosted by Swisscom Outpost. The roadshow reflects Venturelab’s ongoing effort to connect Swiss startups with global innovation hubs while increasing exposure to US investors and market dynamics.



Venturelab organizes Venture Leaders Technology in cooperation with our partners DPD, EPFL, ETH, Kellerhals Carrard, Rothschild & Co, and Canton of Vaud.


The Venture Leaders Technology 2026 that traveled to San Francisco: