hero-image-Collective Gathering

Flashback | 29 May 2024

Collective Gathering

We make the Swiss startup and innovation landscape more feminine.

Powerhouse of networking

On May 29, 2024, 120 female decision-makers, thought leaders, investors, board members, entrepreneurs, and researchers gathered for the first time at the Collective Gathering. The program was diverse: Marisa Tschopp, Rita Sevastjanova and Isabelle Siegrist delved into the deep intersection of artificial intelligence and technology with empathy. Ursula Oesterle shared personal stories highlighting a life full of innovation. The Gathering provided a powerful platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and trust-building among individuals who are actively shaping the Swiss startup ecosystem.

Collective Gathering 2024

Slide through our Collective Gathering gallery.

The Collective community has clear objectives and shared priorities. We aim to promote inclusivity in the Swiss startup and innovation landscape by encouraging women to participate. To accomplish this, we have established three task forces that focus on strengthening the following topics.

Role Models

Through our collective efforts, we aim to create a platform that not only celebrates female founders but also provides the resources and encouragement needed for others to follow in their footsteps. Our primary goal is to increase visibility for female founders, highlighting their stories, learnings, and journeys.

Leader

Merle Zur

Task Force Leader, Co-Lead Female Founders Initiative Switzerland

Access to Funding

Only 12.8% of female founders in Switzerland secured capital in 2023 (EY Startup Barometer). There are three fundraising challenges: (1) Unaware of all existing funding opportunities, as an overview is missing. (2) Uncertain where to focus efforts to raise funding. (3) Unclear how best to move forward. Our goal is to address the challenges with efforts focused on designing a tangible and actionable toolkit.

Leader

Jérôme Michaud

Task Force Leader, Coach & Mentor at Tech4Eva

Public support

We want to make entrepreneurship more accessible and attractive for women. That’s why we identify government institutions that promote gender equality in entrepreneurship and determine best practices. Additionally, we’re working on an overview of policies, initiatives, and distribution of funding, intended to promote women in entrepreneurship.

Leader

Patricia M. Montesinos

Task Force Leader, President FE+MALE Think Tank

Speakers

Rita Sevastjanova

Research Associate, IVIA lab at ETH Zurich

Rita is a research associate in the IVIA lab at ETH Zurich. Her research focuses on developing visual analytics approaches that reveal properties encoded in Large Language Models (LLMs), including diverse linguistic aspects and social and gender-related biases. linkedin Rita Sevastjanova

Marisa Tschopp

Human-AI-Interaction Researcher

Marisa Tschopp is a researcher at scip AG, CRO at Women in AI NPO, and Co-Chair of the IEEE Trust and Agency in AI Systems committee. She researches AI from a psychological perspective and is an international speaker, e.g. TEDx. linkedin Marisa Tschopp

Isabelle Siegrist

Founder, Investor and Author

Isabelle Siegrist has been building and investing in companies across Switzerland since 2016 with her company Sandborn, with a special focus on driving diversity. Currently, she conducts research on the use of AI in VC decision making at ETH Zurich. linkedin Isabelle Siegrist

Ursula Oesterle

Vice President for Innovation at EPFL

Ursula Oesterle holds a PhD in physics from EPFL and a Master’s degree in physics and chemistry from ETH Zurich. Before joining the EPFL, she has been for 20 years the Vice President for Innovation at the Swisscom Innovation outposts in Silicon Valley and Asia. linkedin Ursula Oesterle
BPW Switzerland
FE+MALE Think Tank
Female Founders Initiative
Fempreneurs
Girls Getting Started
MassChallenge Switzerland
POWHER Award
Privilège Ventures
Product Academy
SICTIC
Startup @HSG
Startupticker
Swiss Startup Association
Tech4Eva
Wecoco
Women in Digital Switzerland
Women in Tech Switzerland
Women who start up - bring your ideas to life
feminno