Young Entrepreneur Prize 2024

The Young Entrepreneur Prize rewards students from selected schools in Switzerland with an outstanding entrepreneurial project. The prize aims to promote a mutually beneficial relationship between Switzerland and France.

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This challenge is reserved for students of the following schools.
University of Saint Gallen (HSG), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Zurich (ETHZ) , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL), EHL Hospitality Business School, Università della Svizzera Italiana à Lugano, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana à Manno, University of Geneva, Haute Ecole d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD).


Why should you participate?

If you are creative, determined and confident, you have all the qualities of an entrepreneur. You have an idea or a project you want to develop? Submit it and try to win one year of support for your project from the French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCEF)! If you reach the Final, it will also be a great opportunity to reach out and network with the CCEF members and other partners. Make your dreams come true! 

 
What is the Young Entrepreneur Prize?

The Young Entrepreneur Prize, is a challenge whose main goal is to award the best Swiss student entrepreneurial project in relation to France. You will have to demonstrate your ability to be creative, and pitch your project in front of the French Foreign Trade Advisors in Switzerland and our Partners, who can't wait to discover your projects!
 

Context

 
For a long time, Switzerland and France had a remarkable business relationship. For the past 30 years, many industries were born, allowing businesses to grow all over the world. Entrepreneurs are generating more and more ideas to simplify life.
 

Selection criteria

 Here are the indicative criteria used to select projects with their weights:
  • (10) Feasibility of the business plan.
  • (10) Strength of the team. Will the team be able to execute the idea?
  • (5) Innovation. Is the project a copy of some other project or is it an innovative business or technological idea?
  • (5) Demonstration of a prototype. Does the project exist just on paper, or is there a prototype/website/interface...
  • (3) Impact on the environment and the society.
  • (3) Link with France. Is there a French partner or a possible expansion in France or with French coroporate?

Participate to the challenge and change the world too! 

Timeline

 
  • APPLICATION

    until 8/04

    Collaborate with others or apply individually. Upload your project in the platform.

  • SCHOOL JURYS

    10/04 - 26/04

    Pitch your project in front of your school! Up to 2 teams per school will move to the next round.

  • GRAND JURY

    13/05

    If you get to this stage, you will be pitching in front of a jury composed by entrepreneurs and top management of companies

Your chances to win

Three Prizes will be allocated:
  • First prize: Support for its project development during twelve months by members of the French Foreign Trade Advisors and a cash prize of 10,000 CHF
  • Second prize: 1,200 CHF
  • Third prize: 800 CHF
 

 Each member of the Runner-up team will win:
  • Cash Prize of 100 CHF

13.05.2022

Final Event
The final event will take place in the Résidence de France in Bern on May 13th 2024. You will pitch your projects in front of French Foreign Trade Advisers, the president of this jury will be the current president of the French Foreign Trade Advisers.
It will be a great networking opportunity, with a cocktail at the end of the event.