Starting today. Get started tomorrow.
Startfeld Diamant is the St.Galler Kantonalbank’s award for innovative companies in Eastern Switzerland and will be presented for the fourteenth time in 2025.
The prize is endowed with a total of CHF 60,000. The nominated companies are supported and promoted with advice and management coaching. And even more importantly, the young companies gain access to a broad network of knowledge and contacts throughout Eastern Switzerland.
The St.Galler Kantonalbank also awards a public prize worth CHF 2,500 and a rough diamond worth CHF 10,000. Participation is definitely worth it!
The event shortly
The application process for the Starting Field Diamonds is divided into two steps. In a first step, a preliminary jury will nominate six finalists from all the applications received – three in the “Development Phase” category and three in the “Ideas Phase” category.
In the second step, the business model of the nominated startups is critically examined and further optimized in cooperation with experts. In addition, startups benefit from communication measures that significantly increase the visibility of their idea or product.
The application is made via the St.Galler Kantonalbank website.
The most important information in brief
- Target group : Startups – from the idea to the commercial enterprise to the high-tech company
- Region : Based in Eastern Switzerland
- Founded: not yet founded or after January 1, 2019
- Business model : Innovative business idea?
- Positioning : differentiation in the market?
- Competence & Team : Know-how and partnerships?
- Finances : Understandable financial plan?
- Diamond : 30,000 francs
- Rough diamond : 10,000 francs
- Finalists: 5,000 Swiss francs each
In addition to the prize money, all finalists will have the opportunity to participate in exclusive management seminars, receive media coverage and access to an innovation-oriented network.
January 19, 2025
Time schedule
January 19, 2025
Application phase: Startups from Eastern Switzerland can apply for the Startfeld Diamond until January 19.
February 01 - 28, 2025
In February, the public can cast their vote for their favorite startup.
February 2025
From all applications, three startups from the “Diamond” category and three from the “Rough Diamond” category will be nominated.
March - April 2025
The nominated startups can optimize their business model in management seminars.
May 2025
The finalists present their optimized concepts to the jury.
June 4, 2025
The winners from each category will be announced at the awards ceremony.
