Venture Kick

Venture Kick is a private philanthropic initiative based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 2007 to support Swiss startups at the pre-seed stage. It provides up to 150,000 Swiss francs in funding and offers structured entrepreneurial training aimed at developing sustainable businesses. Entrepreneurs participate in a competitive process, pitching their ideas up to three times for increasing funding amounts, while receiving valuable feedback from expert juries. To date, Venture Kick has supported 600 startup projects with a total of 24.9 million francs, leading to the incorporation of 454 active companies that have created over 6,000 jobs and attracted approximately 2.49 billion francs in subsequent investments. Companies founded by Venture Kick alumni have notably achieved significant recognition, with 55 percent of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award in 2018 represented by these ventures. In 2019, the initiative aimed to allocate 4.35 million francs to support idea-stage projects, facilitating the transition of Swiss scientific innovations to global markets.

Beat Schillig

Founder

Past deals in Mechanical Engineering

Helix Robotics

Pre Seed Round in 2025
Helix Robotics is developing the first commercial soft robot manipulator, addressing the need for human-friendly and reliable robotics.

VAULT

Pre Seed Round in 2017
VAULT GmbH, founded in 2016 and based in Bassersdorf, Switzerland, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling luxury mechanical watches. The company is known for its unique timepieces that draw inspiration from the classic bank vault, featuring an autonomous rotary movement. VAULT focuses on creating bespoke watches that aim to redefine traditional mechanical timekeeping, blending innovative design with high-quality craftsmanship.

VAULT

Grant in 2016
VAULT GmbH, founded in 2016 and based in Bassersdorf, Switzerland, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling luxury mechanical watches. The company is known for its unique timepieces that draw inspiration from the classic bank vault, featuring an autonomous rotary movement. VAULT focuses on creating bespoke watches that aim to redefine traditional mechanical timekeeping, blending innovative design with high-quality craftsmanship.

VAULT

Grant in 2016
VAULT GmbH, founded in 2016 and based in Bassersdorf, Switzerland, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling luxury mechanical watches. The company is known for its unique timepieces that draw inspiration from the classic bank vault, featuring an autonomous rotary movement. VAULT focuses on creating bespoke watches that aim to redefine traditional mechanical timekeeping, blending innovative design with high-quality craftsmanship.

MechanicalCrowd

Grant in 2014
MechanicalCrowd is a B2B platform built on top of Mechanical Turk that combines the work of humans and algorithms to make crowdsourcing.

AirWinder

Grant in 2012
AirWinder is a Swiss company based in Renens that specializes in the manufacturing of self-inflating pneumatic bicycle tires. The company focuses on innovative technology that enhances the performance of traditional pneumatic tires. By harnessing mechanical energy generated from riding, AirWinder's tires automatically reinflate, allowing users to maintain a consistent pressure within a narrow band at their preferred setting. This unique approach aims to eliminate the need for regular maintenance, making the cycling experience more convenient and efficient for users.

AirWinder

Grant in 2012
AirWinder is a Swiss company based in Renens that specializes in the manufacturing of self-inflating pneumatic bicycle tires. The company focuses on innovative technology that enhances the performance of traditional pneumatic tires. By harnessing mechanical energy generated from riding, AirWinder's tires automatically reinflate, allowing users to maintain a consistent pressure within a narrow band at their preferred setting. This unique approach aims to eliminate the need for regular maintenance, making the cycling experience more convenient and efficient for users.

Thelkin

Pre Seed Round in 2011
Thelkin specializes in the development of advanced test systems and simulators for the mechanical characterization of various products, components, and materials. Utilizing innovative servo-electric actuator technology, the company offers solutions that cater to industries such as orthopedic implants, plastics, microelectronics, and transportation. Thelkin's products and services aim to enhance testing efficiency by significantly reducing both testing times and costs while simultaneously improving data accuracy. In addition to manufacturing and selling testing equipment, Thelkin also provides mechanical device testing as a service, ensuring high-quality and technically sophisticated options for its clients.

Thelkin

Grant in 2010
Thelkin specializes in the development of advanced test systems and simulators for the mechanical characterization of various products, components, and materials. Utilizing innovative servo-electric actuator technology, the company offers solutions that cater to industries such as orthopedic implants, plastics, microelectronics, and transportation. Thelkin's products and services aim to enhance testing efficiency by significantly reducing both testing times and costs while simultaneously improving data accuracy. In addition to manufacturing and selling testing equipment, Thelkin also provides mechanical device testing as a service, ensuring high-quality and technically sophisticated options for its clients.

JAUMANN-werke

Grant in 2010
JAUMANN-werke's purpose is development, production and sale of machine tools

Thelkin

Grant in 2010
Thelkin specializes in the development of advanced test systems and simulators for the mechanical characterization of various products, components, and materials. Utilizing innovative servo-electric actuator technology, the company offers solutions that cater to industries such as orthopedic implants, plastics, microelectronics, and transportation. Thelkin's products and services aim to enhance testing efficiency by significantly reducing both testing times and costs while simultaneously improving data accuracy. In addition to manufacturing and selling testing equipment, Thelkin also provides mechanical device testing as a service, ensuring high-quality and technically sophisticated options for its clients.
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