FONGIT's program is designed to support your journey of transforming an idea or technology into a viable product, taking you to the first rounds of funding. Our objective is to help de-risk the entrepreneurial journey for startups. Examples of how FONGIT can help entrepreneurs include: • setting up the company • preparing the full pitch • creating product market fit & finding commercial partners • improving the business model • developing the financial plan and defining the fundraising strategy • providing access to laboratories • connecting with valued IP and legal counsel • setting up administration and accounting • negotiating term sheets

FONGIT supports high-impact deep-tech projects in the fields of ICT, Advanced Engineering, and Life Sciences with a strong technological component and an innovative business model. To apply to FONGIT support programs, you need to be based in the Canton of Geneva or willing to relocate. We have slightly different criteria for each of our programs. You can apply via the dedicated application platform. If you're only interested in financial support, you can read more about the FIF on the dedicated FONGIT Innovation Fund page.

During initial startup support, FONGIT will provide you with intensive startup coaching. Over a 10-week period, your startup coach will help you upgrade your strategy and pitch deck, evaluate your needs and prioritize them for maximum impact in terms of de-risking and value creation. You will have the possibility to work at FONGIT’s HQ during office hours, and to use a desk in our co-working space. This will provide you with the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs and gain insights from their experiences. We encourage you to be present at least once a week. This initial startup support process is offered to you free of charge. It will be followed by a meeting between us to decide whether to proceed to full startup support. If we both decide to proceed to full startup support, a bespoke program will be tailored to your needs according to terms and conditions to be agreed upon. You can apply for this support on our application platform.

FONGIT’s Startup Support is offered free of charge. Applying to any of our programs is also free for entrepreneurs. Each program’s specific terms and conditions will be covered during the initial screening meeting. If both parties decide to move forward to Full Startup Support, a customized package will be developed to match your specific needs. The terms and conditions of this tailored support will be discussed and agreed upon together.

The application is submitted via the external platform F6S. If you already have a pitch deck, it should take no more than 15 minutes. We understand your project is evolving, so don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect. The sooner you apply, the sooner we can start helping you. There are 3 steps on the application portal: 1) Create your profile 2) Add your company profile 3) Apply to FONGIT with your company The application form is set to English by default, but you can easily translate the page using your internet browser settings. We accept applications in French and English. Protecting your confidentiality is important to us. When setting up your company profile, we recommend enabling both "Hide this Page (stealth mode)" and "Disable visibility of this page on search engines" to limit public access. Please note: The information you provide when applying to FONGIT is shared only between you and FONGIT. For added security, we suggest including only non-sensitive details in your public company profile and reserving any confidential information for the third step of the application process, when applying to FONGIT. All information you’ll share with FONGIT will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. Once we have reviewed your application, we will follow up with feedback and a proposal via the same platform. Please note that the evaluation and screening process may take up to three weeks.

Protecting your confidentiality is important to us. That is why you fully own and control your F6S profile and data. FONGIT only receives a copy of the information you choose to share. You can update or delete your profile at any time directly on F6S. Please note that FONGIT cannot access or delete it on your behalf. This ensures maximum control, transparency, and GDPR compliance for applicants.

We conduct a thorough evaluation of your project, focusing on its novelty, potential, and maturity. To begin, please submit your form via our application platform.Once your application has been submitted, the evaluation and screening process may take up to three weeks. During this time, our team carefully reviews your documentation to assess if your project is best served by one of our programs.If your project moves forward, you will be invited to present it formally to a member of our screening committee in a dedicated 1:1 session. In this session, we explore how we can best support you and whether your project aligns with one of our programs.Once the screening report is finalized, the full startup committee evaluates whether your project qualifies for Startup Support.If we determine that your project is not the right fit for FONGIT, we will guide you toward more suitable programs and support tools.

We welcome applications from teams at all stages of development. Some applicants come to us with just a new technical invention, while others are preparing to incorporate, or have already done so and are generating revenue. Our Startup Support is designed to add value regardless of your project's maturity level.

Our policy is not to sign NDAs for initial meetings. There are two main reasons for this: (i) We evaluate a large number of projects each year, and signing NDAs at an early stage could create potential conflicts of interest. (ii) As a foundation supported by the State of Geneva, we are already bound by confidentiality obligations as part of our regular operations. We therefore encourage you to include as much relevant information as possible in your application, without entering into any breach of confidentiality. Please note that all verbal and written information shared with us will be treated in full confidence.

Yes, we assist several startups each year in setting up their companies. We provide all the necessary legal paperwork to ensure your startup is established correctly. We also connect you with experienced lawyers and notaries who offer packages tailored to startups, saving you time, effort, and unnecessary administrative complications.

While there is no obligation to remain in Geneva after completing the program, many of our companies choose to keep their headquarters here, as the region offers attractive business incentives, a strong innovation ecosystem, and valuable growth opportunities.

FONGIT supports startups in preparing for fundraising and developing a smart financing strategy. Our coaches help you craft a compelling elevator pitch, build a strong investor pitch deck, write a clear executive summary, prepare realistic financial projections, and define an attractive valuation. Once you're ready, we can recommend suitable sources of funding, including: non-dilutive financing, awards from venture competitions, smart angel investors, corporate venture capitalists, and VCs. Over the past decade, our startups have closed 100+ financing rounds and have secured over CHF 1B of funds.

Over the years of Startup Support, FONGIT can also provide a startup with up to CHF 150,000. This investment is made both in capital and in services, in tranches that are milestone-dependent and matched by funding from independent, accredited investors to enable the startup to achieve agreed milestones and value inflection points.Startups can also apply for the Fonds pour l’Innovation et le Futur de Genève (FIF). If you are solely looking for financing for your project, you can read more about the FIF on the dedicated page.

Our startups have raised over CHF 1B, launched hundreds of innovative products and services, and created more than 1,800 new jobs. Ten have achieved successful M&A exits, while most continue to grow, contributing positively to the economic and social fabric of the Canton of Geneva. Since our founding 35 years ago, FONGIT has supported over 500 startup ventures, with a success rate much higher than that of non-supported companies. You can read more about our startups and alumni here.