Zurich – F10, Switzerland’s premiere Fintech Incubator and Accelerator offers two, six-month “Prototype to Product (P2)” programs per year which assist up to 20 selected, promising Startups to transition their prototype into a sellable product.
After a really successful Grand Opening of the P2 program’s winter session on November 7th, which included such prominent guests as Member of the Swiss National Council Fathi Derder (FDP), F10 is now opening up applications for the next batch of Startups to join the next session in 2017.
Markus Graf, Head of F10, was deeply impressed at the level of the pitches that were presented by the first batch and is looking forward to the new applications. As for what the current batch of Startups will produce in the next six months the members of the F10 Association, Julius Bär Bank and PwC Switzerland had this to say:
“We can really expect fresh, innovative ideas that will lead to the next level of digital solutions.”
Holger Greif, PwC Switzerland“It is not about having investment opportunities, it is really about going back to the roots of innovation.”
Christoph Hartgens, Julius Bär
Throughout the six-month period, the Startup teams will attend lessons and workshops grouped into five units:
- Vision, Team & Strategy;
- Business, Product & Technology;
- Marketing & Sales;
- Legal & Regulations and
- Demo Day & Graduation.
The program can be partially completed online / off-site with only certain dates requiring actual on-site presence at F10’s office in Zurich. The teams will be allocated coaches from F10 and external mentors to support them and assist them in achieving their milestones.
By the end of the program, the teams will have gained in-depth experience of all aspects of the financial industry and top level contact to big financial players, they will have access to the F10 association members’ global network of banks and benefit from SIX, Julius Bär, PwC Switzerland, regulators, angel investors and venture capitalists.
The current batch of 11 Startups are already off to a good start. Their first week of the ongoing session began with a number of different Education Modules as well as Office Hours with the Heads of Innovation of PwC Switzerland and SIX.
As for the applications for the next session in 2017, the dates are as follows:
- Application Period: December 1st – April 28th
- Selection Period: April 29th – June 6th
- Program: July 3rd – December 7th
Participation for the selected startups is free and F10 does not take equity in the Startups.