Caption: Thomas Maron, Cornelia Gut-Villa, Janine Brühwiler, Peter Frischknecht, Gabi Badertscher, Hans Ebinger (from left to right)
The Startnetzwerk Thurgau goes together with Startfeld, the start-up funding of Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG. The two start-up supporters have entered into a cooperation that allows Thurgau start-ups to benefit from Startfeld’s funding opportunities.
The Startnetzwerk Thurgau has been supporting young companies in Thurgau for 10 years. The start network has been cooperating with the start field to promote start-ups since April 2023. Startfeld has been supporting ambitious founders in the cantons of St.Gallen, Appenzell Ausser- and Innerrhoden in all phases of innovation for many years. Startfeld has been part of Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG (SIP Ost) since 2022. The start-up support ranges from the initial consultation to so-called seed financing, which is provided by the Startfeld Foundation. This was founded in 2011 by the St.Galler Kantonalbank (SGKB) and equipped with the appropriate capital.
Thanks to the cooperation between Startnetzwerk Thurgau and Startfeld, Thurgau start-ups can now also benefit from the SIP Ost funding program without having to relocate their company headquarters to St.Gallen or the Appenzellerland. This additional support is available to start-ups that have particularly innovative business ideas. You benefit from a larger network, knowledge and money. The seed financing in the form of debt or equity is up to CHF 300,000 per start-up. The new offer can be realized thanks to the support of the Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB), which participates in the capital of the Startfeld Foundation. Furthermore, the bank is also involved in the capital increase of SIP Ost AG, which is necessary in connection with the cooperation.
The Startnetzwerk Thurgau brings young entrepreneurs to success. The Startnetzwerk Thurgau has been supporting Thurgau founders with various offers on their way to self-employment for 10 years. The sponsors of the association are the Thurgauer Kantonalbank, the Canton of Thurgau, the Thurgau Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Thurgau Trade Association.
About Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG
Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG aims to strengthen cooperation between companies and local cutting-edge research. As an innovation hub, it enables faster development and direct market access for innovations. In the areas of health, sensor technology and digitization, the Innovationspark Ost supports everything from the idea to innovation to the development of business models. Founded in 2021, Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG merged with the Startfeld and Startfeld Innovationszentrum associations in 2022. The Startfeld brand will be continued for start-up funding.
The Switzerland Innovation Park Ost in St. Gallen is part of the Switzerland Innovation network and one of six main locations in Switzerland alongside Basel, Biel, Lausanne, Villigen and Zurich. The network is based on a joint initiative by public institutions, science and the private sector and a statutory mandate from the Federal Council.
About starting field
Since 2010, the Startfeld brand has stood for start-up support for all things Säntis. This includes advice and coaching on the one hand and financing in the early phase of start-ups on the other. Empa, the Fachhochschule Ost, the city of St.Gallen and the university founded the Startfeld association for the former. This merged with Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG in 2022. The St.Galler Kantonalbank founded the Startfeld Foundation in 2011 to provide the financing.
Startfeld’s results are impressive: of the 1,600 projects examined, 180 were funded by a funding package, and 29 were funded by the foundation with a total of CHF 6.7 million. Private investors invested more than CHF 150 million in these start-ups. This resulted in more than 930 jobs.
