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.
Our Working Groups
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
Ursula Oesterle
Vice President for Innovation at EPFL
Meet our Member Organisations at the Gathering

















