Swiss Entrepreneurship Program

Project completed

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program aims to create jobs in Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Peru, and Vietnam by improving the local entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Program is implemented by Swisscontact and J.E. Austin Associates. It has been awarded by open tender.

Country/region Period Budget
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
North Macedonia
Peru
Serbia
Vietnam
01.10.2014 - 30.06.2019
CHF  15’100’000
Background

People with innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit can be found all over the world. Their businesses bear huge potential for economic growth and job creation, particularly in emerging economies. However, many companies fail because of weak support mechanisms. The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program aims to improve these mechanisms (i.e. the "entrepreneurship ecosystem") in order to increase the survival rate of startups and to allow businesses to grow in a sustainable way.

Objectives

The main objective of the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program is to create jobs. It helps local support organizations (e.g. incubators & accelerators) to improve their business services and to build effective mentoring and investors networks. Furthermore, the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program aims to capitalize the potential of the diaspora by engaging their members as mentors and investors. The program works with media to help improve the prevailing - and often little favourable - image of entrepreneurship in its countries of intervention.

Medium-term outcomes

Improved capacity and availability of accelerators, incubators and mentors.

Improved survival and growth rate of startups/ existing businesses.

More (early stage) investments provided to entrepreneurs by private investors.

Mobilized diaspora for mentoring and investment.

Improved image of entrepreneurship through more and professionalized media coverage.

Results

Expected results:  

Trainings for local support organizations (incubators, accelerators), mentors, investors and media representatives.

Active contacts/ links between entrepreneurs and their diaspora in Switzerland.

Specific support to women entrepreneurs.

Media coverage on entrepreneurship.


Directorate/federal office responsible SECO
Credit area Development cooperation
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    15’100’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF    15’083’882
Project phases Phase 2 01.07.2019 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.10.2014 - 30.06.2019   (Completed)