Givaudan is founding partner of MassChallenge Switzerland

GIVAUDAN is a proponent for innovation as founding partner of MassChallenge in Switzerland, a start-up accelerator helping entrepreneurs in Boston, London and Jerusalem.

“MassChallenge is a perfect fit with Givaudan’s goals to foster open innovation and drive sustained competitive advantage through differentiated flavor, fragrance and active cosmetic ingredient solutions,” said Chris Thoen, Head of Global Science and Technology.

“We are excited about this opportunity to strengthen our own collaborative innovation capabilities in areas of significant impact for our customers and to be part of this initiative to accelerate innovation through partnerships in Switzerland and globally.”

MassChallenge operates as a non-governmental organization (NGO), providing access to a global network of mentors and venture capital investors whilst taking no equity in the start-ups it accelerates. Founding partners have access to thoroughly evaluated and expertly accelerated start-ups, which now counts by the hundreds. Other partners in Switzerland are the Bühler Group, Nestlé, Inartis Foundation and the Swiss Economic Forum.

“We are delighted to host the expansion of the MassChallenge start-up accelerator in Switzerland and are pleased to welcome Givaudan as a founding partner. We are excited to be expanding into a country well-known for its support of entrepreneurs and innovation in food tech, manufacturing and life sciences,” said Benoît Dubuis who is a member of the MassChallenge Switzerland supervisory board, Director of Campus Biotech and President of the Inartis Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Lausanne that focuses on fostering trans-disciplinary R&D projects to deliver ‘Innovations Made in Switzerland’.

MassChallenge attracts more than 2,000 new business ventures per year. In 2015, the accelerator supported 128 start-ups in Boston and 90 in London. The Swiss accelerator will be open to start-ups from all sectors but aims to build focus in food, life sciences, sensors and precision engineering. Selected entrepreneurs receive mentorship and access to a vast network of resources during four months of acceleration, culminating in an award of no-equity, non-dilutive grants to the start-ups demonstrating the highest impact and potential.

The official launch of the Swiss accelerator, the MassChallenge Startup Summit will take place at Campus Biotech in Geneva on 10 February 2016.