"Helping entrepreneurs succeed by providing them with innovative and effective solutions."

A 1-year pre-incubation program designed to empower academic researchers and early-stage entrepreneurs in life sciences and health by providing them with real-world knowledge and skills, global network, and expertise to successfully navigate the journey from early discovery to the development of viable solutions.

Schedule 2025-2026

Phase 1 (April-June)

Thursday 10th of April - 10h00-12h00

Location: Innovation Office, Basel
• Overview of different ways of entrepreneurship.
• Developing entrepreneurial thinking: risk-taking, creativity, and innovation.
• Entrepreneurship competences and self-reflection.
Thursday 10th of April - 13h30-17h00

Location: Innovation Office, Basel

Gain a clear understanding of the journey from research to commercialization.

Recognize key milestones in life sciences product development.

Learn strategic approaches to developing a viable business case.
Friday 11th of April- 09h00-12h00

Location: Innovation Office, Basel

Understand the TPP framework for life sciences ventures.

Draft a preliminary TPP document tailored to the venture.

Identify and prioritize key R&D and business milestones.
Thursday 08th of May - 09h00-12h00

Location: Online via Zoom

Learn techniques to identify and validate market needs.

Conduct industry and market analysis to define target customers.

Refine value propositions based on customer and market insights.
Thursday 12th of June - 09h00-12h00

Location: Innovation Office, Basel

Discover leadership styles using 3h, DiSC, or Gallup models.

Identify personal strengths and their impact on team dynamics.

Develop strategies to build and manage effective teams.
Thursday 12th of June - 13h00-17h00

Location: Innovation Office, Basel

What is a pivot and why should you pivot?

When should you pivot?

Evaluation of ideas to pivot towards.

Good reasons not to pivot.

Extend user feedback on idea.
Friday 13th of June - 09h00-12h00

Location: Innovation Office, Basel

How to gain resilience (going through the process).

Founder’s mentality.

Understand pillars of resilience.

What are the common pitfalls, and how can you build resilience to them?

How competition can motivate you?

Work with examples of resilience within start-ups.

Phase 2 (Aug-Sept)

Wednesday 27th of August - 10h30-12h30

Location: EPFL, Lausanne
TBC
Wednesday 27th of August - 13h30-16h30

Location: Innovation Office, Basel
TBC
Thursday 11th of September - 09h00-12h00

Location: Online via Zoom

Understand the essentials of IP management in life sciences.

Explore strategies for protecting and licensing innovations.

Apply knowledge to create or refine an IP strategy for the venture.

Phase 3 (Sept-Feb)

Date & Location TBC

Develop a robust early-stage financial plan.

Explore diverse funding avenues and opportunities.

Learn strategies to effectively approach investors.
Date & Location TBC

Create a professional and compelling pitch deck.

Improve oral pitch delivery through hands-on practice.

Receive feedback to refine and perfect pitching skills.
Date TBC - 3 Online Sessions

Learn from leading international startups and experts.

Gain insights into global market strategies and best practices.

Apply international perspectives to enhance venture scalability.
Date & Location TBC
Teams pitch to a panel of investors, experts, and potential partners.

SPARK Western Switzerland
Pre-incubation Program

2025-2026

Deadline of Application
Monday 07th of March 2025

Potential Startup Projects

Teams with groundbreaking innovations or solutions that target an unmet medical need

Teams working in Life Sciences & Health

Your profiles

Master's students

PhDs, and Postdoctoral researchers

Professors

Mentors and supporters (can be part of your team but not as main applicant)

University Affiliation

Applicants must have a connection or affiliation with a university or academic institution

Unsure about your eligibility ? Contact us here!

SPARK at Stanford program is the cornerstone for our program. It was established by Professor Daria Mochly-Rosen in 2006 for advancing new biomedical research discoveries into promising new treatments for patients. It provides top-notch mentoring and education, and a cost-effective model to generate proof of concept by using industry standards.

SPARK Western Switzerland follows the same principles that have been cornerstones of SPARK at Stanford, and our program is an official member of SPARK Global network since September 2024.

Program

Phase 1

Refining Your Idea & Validating Your Market

Gain the skills to define problems, craft value propositions, validate market demand, and develop a roadmap with key milestones from concept to prototype.

Phase 2

The Fundamentals of Drug & MD Development

Empower your team with essential technical, regulatory, and intellectual property knowledge to confidently advance your project toward success.

Phase 3

Propelling Your Startup Idea

Learn how to secure funding, pitch effectively, and how to enter global markets.

Mentoring

Teams will benefit from tailored advice and diverse perspectives, with one mentor bringing a business background and another providing scientific expertise. Regular mentor meetings will be organised, ensuring that each team stays aligned with their milestones and deliverables, receiving consistent guidance to advance their ideas effectively.