Why it matters
Geneva has the talent. GSE helps Geneva’s talent become the founders and early teams of tomorrow.
Geneva brings together an exceptional concentration of scientific and technological talent across UNIGE, CERN, HES-SO and Campus Biotech, alongside a growing group of successful tech and life-science companies. There is still significant potential to turn more of that research and talent into new ventures.
GSE contributes by building a visible, student-led community across all of Geneva’s institutions. It complements the programmes already in place and connects students to them early.
Founding partners
CHF 300,000 commitment
GSE is launched with a CHF 300,000 commitment from three Geneva organisations that know first-hand what it takes to build a company. Alongside funding, they contribute entrepreneurial experience and an initial platform from which a student-run organisation can grow.
Proton Foundation
The primary owner of the Geneva technology company Proton SA.
Sonar
A deeptech unicorn founded in Geneva providing market-leading Code solutions that empower developers to write secure and maintainable software.
FONGIT
The Fondation Genevoise pour l’Innovation Technologique, Geneva’s longstanding startup incubator. FONGIT also provides GSE with back-office and administrative support.
Supported by
University of Geneva (UNIGE)
GSE’s home base and a partner in helping knowledge and scientific discovery create positive impact for society.
State of Geneva
GSE contributes to the canton’s Plan directeur de l’innovation 2025–2027, in which training the next generation of entrepreneurs is one of four pillars.
GSE brings together students and researchers from across Geneva’s academic and research landscape, including CERN, HES-SO Geneva / HEPIA and Campus Biotech.
“Training the next generation of entrepreneurs is a priority for Geneva and one of the four pillars of our Plan directeur de l’innovation. Geneva Student Entrepreneurs brings this priority to life: local entrepreneurs fund it and share their expertise, public institutions back it, and students lead it. It embodies the public-private model at the heart of Geneva’s innovation strategy.”
“At UNIGE, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful way to turn knowledge and scientific discovery into positive impact for society. By connecting students, entrepreneurs, the University, and the State, Geneva Student Entrepreneurs strengthens Geneva’s innovation ecosystem and helps shape solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.”
“In the past 10 years, the Geneva tech ecosystem has created multiple tech unicorns, proving that we have what it takes to compete. Focused support for students, combined with the wealth of knowledge from our existing unicorns, will allow us to create many more unicorns in the years to come.”
Our roadmap
What we aim to achieve in our first three years
Year 1
Putting entrepreneurship on the map
Entrepreneurship is visible on every Geneva campus, with a regular programme of events, an active membership and a recognised brand.
Year 2
Forming the first teams
The first cohorts of student entrepreneurs come together, with projects maturing towards incubation and support.
Year 3
Launching companies
Startups born in the GSE community are incorporated and raising external funding.
Partner with us
Would your organisation like to be part of the story?
We’d love to welcome more companies, foundations and institutions who want to help GSE grow. Partnering with us is a great way to meet exceptional students early, share your expertise with people who are eager to learn, and play a visible role in building Geneva’s innovation ecosystem.