Switzerland Innovation Park Ost

Startup Lunch Rapperswil
2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-19 12:00, 2026-10-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-12-01 12:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Zurich) | Startup Space Rapperswil, New Jonastrasse 59, Rapperswil-Jona, St. Gallen, 8640
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

Date

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

Location

Business model : Innovative business idea?
Positioning : differentiation in the market?
Competence & Team : Know-how and partnerships?
Finances : Understandable financial plan?

Prize money

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.

Language

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.

Starting field diamond

More info

Starting field Partner Lunch
2026-05-19 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Starting field Partner Lunch in Buchs
2026-05-26 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Starting field diamond
2026-06-03 18:30 - 23:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Technology Day 2026
2026-06-09 13:00 - 18:00 | EAST – Eastern Swiss University of Applied Sciences (Campus Buchs), Werdenbergstrasse 4, St. Gallen, book, 9471, Schweiz

Startfeld Investors Day
2026-06-10 17:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-11 17:30 - 20:30 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Partner Lunch Rapperswil - LEXR
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Startup Space Rapperswil, New Jonastrasse 59, Rapperswil-Jona, St. Gallen, 8640

Startfeld Partner Lunch - Level East
2026-06-24 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Beer at 4!
2026-07-02 16:00 - 18:00, 2026-09-24 16:00 - 18:00, 2026-12-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Starting field Partner Lunch - Wenger Vieli
2026-07-08 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Partner Lunch at Startfeld - Keller Schneider AG
2026-08-18 11:45 - 13:00, 2026-11-19 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

15th SWISS AUTOMATION
2026-09-10 09:30 - 16:00 | FH OST, Campus Rapperswil-Jona, Oberseestrasse 10, Rapperswil, 8640, Schweiz

1. Liechtenstein Innovation & Startup Forum
2026-09-11 09:30 - 17:00 | Liechtenstein Technopark, 27 Schaanerstrasse, Vaduz, 9490, Liechtenstein

Partner Lunch at Startfeld - Helbling Technik AG
2026-09-15 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Startfeld Partner Lunch - Syna
2026-09-29 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Partner Lunch in Rapperswil - AlphaLum
2026-09-30 11:45 - 13:00 | Startup Space Rapperswil, New Jonastrasse 59, Rapperswil-Jona, St. Gallen, 8640

Startup Lunch Rapperswil
2026-09-30 12:00 - 13:00 | FH OST, Campus Rapperswil-Jona, Oberseestrasse 10, Rapperswil, 8640, Schweiz

Partner Lunch Lineup - Phoenix Mecano
2026-10-20 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Beer at 4! at the OST in Rapperswil
2026-10-29 16:00 - 18:00 | FH OST, Campus Rapperswil-Jona, Oberseestrasse 10, Rapperswil, 8640, Schweiz

Partner Lunch Lineup - OBT AG
2026-11-03 11:45 - 13:00 | Innovation Park East, Lerchenfeldstrasse 3, St. Gallen, 9014, Schweiz

Startup Lunch Rapperswil - schochauer ag
2026-11-18 11:45 - 13:00 | Startup Space Rapperswil, New Jonastrasse 59, Rapperswil-Jona, St. Gallen, 8640
